Last year I got a keyboard for christmas, and the other night it dawned on me that it’s been almost a year and I haven’t reached the level of proficiency I thought I would. I can hammer out a half assed “Let It Be”, but that’s about it.
Ya see, it’s a lot harder to teach myself than I thought it would be. I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 years, and when I think back on my early days with that instrument, there were about 7 basic chords I needed to learn to get me going. Once I learned them, it seemed the floodgates opened. (And of course there were the little grids on the sheet music to help me out along the way if I got lost in a song.)
So my question(s): Does the same principal apply to piano? Are there “7 basic chords” I need to learn to send me on my way? Anyone know of any good teaching videos or DVDs? Should I learn to read music, or can I get by playing by ear like I did with the guitar?
If you are just fiddling around staying on all the black keys will be ok. (They form a pentatonic scale.) If you learned to read music (and some rudimentary theory) it would be a lot easier for you. You could then transcribe a lot of the music you already play on the guitar to the piano and suddenly you will feel like you are getting better. With a teacher you would have quicker advancement but that isn’t always an option if you are on a budget.
Dan, a teacher will make a huge difference. Since the pop material is what interests you, you will want someone who teaches that type of stuff.
Chords are important, but they’re only one small tool you’ve got on your side. Learn to read music. Step by step. Learn the theory. Pick up technique. Then you will be able to play without feeling limited in what you can learn.
I have some adult students. They do both pop and classical repertoire. I find the classical stuff is actually an important stepping stone for technique, and it can be FUN!
A good teacher will teach you how to improvise, too (so you can play by ear.) Piano is much harder than guitar, and probably harder to learn than we usually think. Oh - and a side note… going for weekly lessons will also keep you learning, and force you to practice… just for the sake of not looking like an idiot at your next lesson.
A good place to find a teacher (cute ones, at times, too!) is at a local college/university - many music students teach. Their rates are usually better, they are younger and usually more inclined to teach the pop stuff.
Amen to the “technique” advice. I can barely read music, and I don’t have great technique. But I have a killer ear (to the point of distraction), perfect pitch, and can transpose at will. I try to play stuff which is challenging, which means I’m never very polished. The biggest frustration for me is not always being able to get my fingers to do what my brain wants them to do. In other words, I need technique, which takes professional instruction and tons of practice.
I work for Hal Leonard, the world’s largest publisher of printed music. Check out the website at www.halleonard.com. Our company publishes tons of books that can help you teach yourself how to play! And they’re not expensive. Good luck!