Debussy Arabesque #1. I need a lil help.

[appassionata91]

I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that the left and right hands don't match up perfectly. I've played a song before (from pride and prejudice movie) and the notes didn't line up perfectly, but slowly i got the hang of it and can play it well now.
But it's been a while since i played a song like this where they don't line up perfectly. What can I do to learn this part? Please offer some suggestions.

Thanks a ton!

[n00bhippy]

practice slowly w/ a metronome and learn how to count eighth notes against triplets.

[appassionata91]

i kinda have an idea as to what a triplet is, but not 100% sure. I don't take lessons. only what my friends shows me.

[n00bhippy]

three notes evenly to the beat of one quarter in the case of this piece.

[appassionata91]

i don't know why i'm having so much trouble with this.......

[n00bhippy]

It is not a very easy piece. by any means. I played it last semester. getting the rhythm was tricky at first. I imagine it'll be even more difficult for you, as you didn't even know what a triplet was and how to count it. Just be patient and practice.

[appassionata91]

okay thanks. i mean...i know what a triplet is, i just don't play them a lot. I've played them before. Do you think it would help if i lined up the notes and learned the song that way, and then learn to break them up? (does that make sense?)

by the way, thanks for your help

[n00bhippy]

No. I don't think that would help. I would try playing the triplet figures first. [just get the first couple of measures down, if i remember correctly those are all triplets] and then do hands separate in the next section with the triplets in the top staff and the eighths in the bottom, next, put them together, slowly.

edit got the staves mixed up. fixed

[n00bhippy]

and use a metronome for godssake.

[appassionata91]

okay that helps a bit. i was just studying polyrhythyms and that kinda helped me too. i don't have a metronome tho
there is an online one but it gets annoying.

again, thanks!!

[n00bhippy]

well then the first thing you need to do before learning this work is to go buy a metronome

[appassionata91]

i'll borrow my friend's. that'll help.

oh and what should i set the metronome for?  thanks!

[scottmcc]

for 3 vs 2 timing:  instead of counting 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, count 123456 123456 123456 123456 (same period elapsed).  now the hand in triplets will have notes on counts 1, 3, and 5, and the hand in eighths will have notes on 1 and 4.

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
x    x    x   x    x    x    x    x    x   x    x    x
x       x     x       x       x       x     x       x 

make sense?

(minor edit for clarity)