Q. im 17 and just starting teaching myself how to play piano by guides on the internet, i used to have lessons when i was young but quit because they were expensive. I remember the basics and learnt a few other things about notes on these guides and i think i could learn them all fully in a month. I was just wondering how long did it take you to fully learn piano notes and know which note is where on the piano and stuff. thanks for answering!
A. it took me about a year. however, i was already able to read music for guitar, cello, bass guitar, string bass (believe it or not those two are actually different just because of where you place your hands, the notes are technically the same but you tend to play them in different places), and voice. if you keep at it, you could probably get it in 6 months or so, but a year would be a good bet if you practice alot. this is to be fluent, technically i knew which note was which after like 2 weeks, but i wouldn't be able to look at a simple piece and just play it. i would need to think about it, try a few times, and practice. chord charts are great, so you can just follow chord changes, but i really respect what youre doing. i didnt start piano till i was 16 and i regretted not starting earlier, so it takes massive cajones for anyone to start this late, and props to you boy. or girl. i actually teach keyboard lessons now (rock and pop music only, little bit of hip hop, obviously i cant teach classical on piano if ive only been playing 2 years), so email me for any questions
How do you play notes on piano from guitar chords?
Q. i'm trying to learn a song on piano but i can only find the guitar chords to it. i would like to know how you play the notes out of the chords. thank you
A. Depends on the printed layout you've got for the song in question. If you just have the little grids with pictures, it can be harder to match the chords with note letter names. But if you have the names of the chords, it's best to learn to "fake" the chords on the piano, rather than try to play the exact guitar chord notes on the piano.
If you try to duplicate the notes of the chord on the keyboard, it'll work; but it won't sound as good on the piano as on the guitar. Guitar melody chords are already inverted and voiced to sound good when you're singing along, but they sound thin and incomplete when transferred to a keyboard, which is capable of much more complex chords than your average guitar player's fingers can handle. It's a question of digits: 4 on the fretboard for most guitar chords, vs. up to ten (!) to help you accompany a singer on the keyboard (not to mention what you can do with the pedals).
Learning to fake the chords and picking good voicings on the piano keyboard to make the song work is an art unto itself. It's not quite playing by ear, although there's some of that involved as you advance to alternative voicings and inversions.
If you can read music (and know basic keyboard notes), and you know scales, then you've got a good start on faking chords already. You can pick up the basics in 4 or 5 lessons with a keyboard teacher, or you can get a beginner teach-yourself chord piano book (sometimes listed as "adult" piano methods--self guided or otherwise) and go at your own pace.
Here's a good site for some general information: http://www.pianochordfinder.org/html/piano_chord_charts_flash_8.php (Note: I'm not affiliated with this website, nor did I take any information from it. It looks well done and simple, though)
How do I get better at Jazz Piano?
Q. I play alto in my school's Jazz Band, and I wanted to replace the senior piano player at my school. I've played classical piano on and off since I was 6, but never was to serious with it. My teacher is clueless about jazz, but i have previous chord knowledge from improving on sax. What could I do to help improve my transition into the jazz piano world, reading more complicated jazz rhythms, and comping chords?
A. PRACTICE! is the short answer. As with anything musical, and especially improvisatory and spontaneous music like jazz, developing to the point of sounding competent will take time and dedication and perseverance.
Transcription and listening is important. That's something you should be doing already for the saxophone. Pay attention to pianists on your favorite records, particularly how they comp behind others, since that will be your biggest job in a large jazz ensemble. Transcribe comping rhythms that are attractive to you as well as ones you hear often; even if you don't transcribe the exact voicing, you can still practice using the same rhythms over the changes to standards.
Practice comping in time with a metronome. If you can consistently and accurately play on a steady pulse, you can decidedly play around it. Set the metronome slower and slower while increasing the beats; for example, start with 120 bpm and play one chord every two metronome beats, then decrease it to around 85 and play on every beat, then set it around 50 bpm and treat each pulse as a full bar, playing four even notes between beats. Practice playing in this way to get your time rock solid.
If you are able to get together and play with the rest of the rhythm section from the band, I'd recommend doing so. Get together and play through standards. Work together on building a communication while playing behind (supporting) a horn soloist. Aebersold play alongs are also good for practicing comping "with a band" at home.
Another vital thing for jazz pianists is effective chord voicings. Check out Dan Haerle's book on voicings and work through his exercises. Phil DeGreg also has a really nice progressive (step-by-step) book that's great for getting good-sounding voicings under your fingers. I've studied both.
The only way to get better at reading rhythms is to do it. Sight-read through a hymnal, old songbook, whatever. If you can find piano charts for big band that only have rhythmic notation with chord symbols, those are great for practicing reading rhythm and chord progressions. Start slow and methodical; remember you are striving for accuracy, not speed. Eventually, you'll recognize rhythms from having read them so many times before, and it will come easier to you.
Above all, technique is king. If you don't know how to touch the instrument and can't get around it, all the internal theory and knowledge and tasty licks won't do you much good on the bandstand. Classical lessons aren't necessary, but they challenged me in ways that I wasn't challenged in jazz lessons. Consider taking lessons regularly (either classical or jazz or both, if you have the time).
Good luck!
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Title : how long did it take you to fully learn piano music notes?
Description : Q. im 17 and just starting teaching myself how to play piano by guides on the internet, i used to have lessons when i was young but quit be...