Me too in response to your first sentence, Ive been wanting to learn how to play the piano/keyboard lately...im 28 so I guess im somewhat in the same boat as others here.
I second this. You don't really see violinists, violists, cellists, or double bassists flip the instrument and fret with their right hand and bow with their left. There are a few, but it's extremely rare. They also don't make left handed saxophones or flutes or clarinets or french horns. But for some reason, it's become accepted to have lefty guitars. The fact is that when you start out, both hands are equally clumsy and both need training. I have no doubt that I could relearn to play lefty if I wanted to. If anything, I'd say a lefty would have an advantage on a traditional guitar because the left hand does the most work anyway.
Hmmm...this all makes sense... I do happen to play Guitar Hero right-handed because I find it easier. lol Thanks for the input.
i have a good left handed guitar here that you can have. i don't just have the time or motivation to learn.
First, let me say that I'm looking for a lefty acoustic right now since my classical took a nose dive and cracked the head off. If you're giving one away, I'll take it. I am cracking up at you folks who are telling people "yeah you're left, but you should play like a righty" Some of what you say is true regarding availability etc, but it doesn't overcome playing the way you feel comfortable and natural. I am a lefty, and learned originally on OPR, translation: other people's righties. Complete drag and impediment to playing at all. I quickly discovered after obtaining two righty guitars that I was better at playing a righty upside down than I was trying to pick with my right hand. Read that again, playing chords upside down and backwards on a righty with lefty handedness was easier and more natural than playing it correctly. Anyone telling you "just learn righty" is doing you and your handedness a disservice, trying to fit you into their world "for your own good." We lefties have heard that talk all our lives. Is it true that things would be easier in some ways if lefties would just succumb to the majority and do everything their way? In some ways, maybe eventually... but it would also stunt your natural ability to learn your way... in a way that is comfortable and intuitive to you. I know you're leaning towards keyboard, and maybe that's best if you're so worried that one day you'll wanna hop on stage with your right handed buddies and borrow a guitar, but I say, don't listen to them if you are considering their advice on playing right handed guitar. There are plenty of left guitars, and you should play whichever way feels the most comfortable after trying it out. I'm also laughing at the "I'm sure I could play lefty if I wanted to." Yes, I'm sure you could...to an extent... I know, I've done the opposite, but it was by no means the best way for me to learn or be encouraged to continue. Do not succumb to the oppression of Righty.
here, here. i'd love to learn the keyboard, but i don't have a musical bone in my body. general question: what's the best way to learn keyboard once you have one? are there certain lesson plans that are better than others? what's the best way to learn the basics?
No problem! ^^^^ SIX EASY LESSONS, ms. finals: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNG7qwu1SAg&start=16"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNG7qwu1SAg&start=16" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> That's what SHE said.
There are tons of books and videos out there for self-instruction. Alfred Music publishes what are generally considered to be good beginner lessons for keyboard: http://www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Teach-Yourself-Play-Piano/dp/0739033999/ However, if you really want to succeed at the instrument, there really is no substitute for personal instruction, in a classroom, studio, or one-on-one setting. The instructor can make corrections to your technique, answer questions as they pop up, and help you know when you're ready to move on to the next skill/lesson. Obviously, this can get expensive, so you will have to make the call on whether or not you're willing to commit the time/resources. And now, a word about time. The biggest mistake people make in learning an instrument is thinking that working only during their one-hour-a-week lesson will make them better musicians. Much like exercise, one hour a week won't cut it. It takes practice, gobs and gobs of practice to get really good at an instrument. Try to plan an hour every day for practice. It may seem pedantic, but you'll get much better much faster, and you'll enjoy the instrument more for it.
As a beginner, you'll probably want to start with two 1/2 hour sessions, instead of one hour. Believe it or not, a one hour session can be a bit overwhelming at the start. Prices run about $15-$40 per 1/2 hour, depending on your location, the level of experience your teacher has, etc. Some people find they are more successful in a classroom setting, rather than one-on-one. You might want to look into continuing ed lessons through a local community college. They can be more cost effective and a bit more fun. But, as with anything, shop around. You have a lot of options.
My son does a 45-minute lesson, which is 30 minutes with teacher and 15 minutes on computer learning theory and playing computer piano games. That's $168 a month, so about 4 times. It's $224 for the 60-minute lesson. I'm not sure how much it is for adults but it seems it'll probably be about $60-75 per lesson. I've been following along with him on the lessons at home. Partly to enforce him to practice and partly because I've always wanted to learn myself. I played clarinet growing up but piano and guitar were the ones I really wanted to know. It's been 20 years so learning with him has brought back all the music reading that I had forgotten. And with the built-in lessons his keyboard has, I've become pretty good at playing Fur Elise. I need to pick up more songs though.
cool thread. basic musicianship for the win. I picked up a harmonica 10 years ago and haven't been able to put it down since. I now have 10 out of 12 Diatonic (blues) Harmonicas and a Chromatic Harmonica with the slide button for Jazz and Classical songs... for the OP, learning the basic scales starting in the key of C is a great way to start. The C Scale has no sharps and flats and demonstrates the "Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half" concept. count the number of notes in between the keys and you will see what I mean. C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C take that scale and transpose it into other keys and you are on your way. then you can start with major chords and the like... (C-E-G major third)
Easy to pick up? Sure. It's a very small instrument. Probably doesn't even weight a pound. Should be plenty easy to pick up. Now a sousaphone, that's a hard instrument to pick up. :grin:
Are you sure? I'll have no problem picking it up from you, pay for shipping...or whatever. I'll accept your offer if it's still on the table! :grin:
