How would you learn to play flats?

[archneko]

I'm now trying to play eternal harvest and fighting (FFVII), but there all in flats! I'm used to doing everything in e-major and read slowly with any kind of flats. Is it normal for a person to play flats slowly? and is there anything I can do to be able to read flats faster?

[thaicheow]

Hi,
Not quite understand your problem. I suppose you have problem playing pieces in D flat major, or G flat major, etc.

Actually, to me, the more flats and sharps, the easier it goes. I suggest you do a lot of scales in the key of that piece, especially arpeggios, in its tonic, dominant, dominant 7th, subdominat, etc. Think of all these chord pattern when you tackle the piece.

Enjoy.

[penguinlover]

I agree with thaicheow.  I always play the scale, arpeggios, and chord pattern of the piece, just to remind me of what is flatted.  If you consistanty make a mistake on a note, just circle it, or put a flat sign next to it to remind yourself.  It always helps knowing the key signatures very well too. 

I don't know that its "normal" for anyone to play flats slowly.  It's all in the experience you have.  If you are more used to sharps, I guess flats would a bit different.  They are just opposite.  Anyway, just keep at it, I promise it will get easier.  You'll probably find that you actually enjoy playing flats.

[archneko]

the strange thing is that while playing sharps, the song is easier played but harder to memorize while the flats are hard to play, but easy to master.. Oh well, thats just me

[pianistimo]

imo, it just 'comes' when you do it enough times.  i vaguely remember writing them in wherever i'd forget them.

also, as mentioned above - if you go through all the flat scales that lead up to the four flats (F, Bb, Eb) then by the time you get to Ab - you are expecting the additional Db.  i suppose having a few sightreading pieces a level or two below what you are playing would help you to start remembering them without having to write them in.  although, personally, i have no problem with just writing it in or circling the note as little reminder.

having correct fingering will automatically remind you, as well.  if you have a really bad fingering that doesn't follow much of a plan (finger-wise) - you'll be forced to go somewhere else at the end of finger patterns and keep making the same mistakes over and over.  get your teacher to finger the patterns correctly.  for the first year or two - having a teacher do this - then gives you the ability to transfer those fingerings into an understandable 'system' in your head.  when you see a pattern - you think of the possibilities that would work. 

if you do your own fingerings for a long time - you are likely to stay with lumps and bumps here and there.

[timothy42b]

It may seem harder to read in a lot of flats, but at least with church music I've been finding it much easier to play once I've learned.

With flats at least one finger is on a black key, usually more, and you know where you are.  I hate playing in C, my hand gets lost.