Best way to learn how to play piano

[jontah]

Hey,

I've been wondering what to practice on lately..

What do you guys suggest? what is the absolutely BEST way to practice the piano? is it by playing others songs or by really trying to nail finger techniques and chord progressions/voicings/inversions and drills/runs aswell as scales and such?

My goal is to compose my own music only. I really don't care if I cannot play any other song on the piano. I'm truely in for my own composing and just to express myself on the piano/keyboard.

I always start to practice on a particular song (last was Charlie Brown with Coldplay, I got to 20% of the song), as I cannot nail the first part easily, I really get tired of practicing songs. So I start with something else.

But I've read that it's the best thing to do.. to practice existing songs. Is this true?

If so, what should I keep in mind WHILE learning those songs? (I mean like, what scale is the song is in, what chords were played etc, yeah you get the point).

Lastly, if I practice atleast 3 hours each day, what goal should I have (how many songs should I be able to play in lets say a month?)

The problem with me is that I forget the songs so quickly, so I'm not sure this really is giving me something.. you get my point?

I don't now what to focus on, I'm kind of confused actually! I'd like to learn everything at once..

Answers are highly appreciated since I'm practicing everyday, I don't want to waste more time.

I'm in for this.

Thanks!

[jontah]

oh yeah, and about evolving my knowledge about music theory.. I really don't know WHERE to begin! I know the basics (went to a musical school for a year), I know that there's a HUGE list of things that I'm missing out on, but I'm not sure if it's essential for me to learn? I mean, what more do I need other than basic harmony knowledge, scales, chords, inversions, voicings and abit of coloring and a slight bit of modulation?

The music I want to compose really is only in the same key all the time (mostly).

If you were me, what would you read up on? what am I currently missing?

[ancientsolar]

The answer for this question would also mean alot to me

"best way to practice"

maybe the answer could be divided up into sections

physical Endurance ~
Mental ability to study/learn new pieces, etc

Personally I feel like im going in the right direction. I learn new pieces new sections etc,
some by memory some by sight reading,.. But im sure there are weaknesses in my practice where I am not really doing anything effective to my learning/ endurance. Probably other areas
of practice to.

[brianvds]

My goal is to compose my own music only. I really don't care if I cannot play any other song on the piano. I'm truely in for my own composing and just to express myself on the piano/keyboard.

This guy:

https://www.davidnevue.com/

makes a living playing nothing but his own music, and he cannot even read notes fluently. Go check out his site; he has some pages of advice that may be of some use to you.

[jontah]

I don't see ANYTHING other than him selling his CD's on this site and I've been through all the links and scrolling up and down.

Honestly, I really need some advice on this case. I really feel like I'm stuck and I want to get going as soon as possible. For me, this time is very valuable. I really want to make sure I practice in the right way. Eventhough there is no right way.

I need some suggestions and tips, thoughts. Please? would mean the world to me.

Best,

J

[brianvds]

I don't see ANYTHING other than him selling his CD's on this site and I've been through all the links and scrolling up and down.

Honestly, I really need some advice on this case. I really feel like I'm stuck and I want to get going as soon as possible. For me, this time is very valuable. I really want to make sure I practice in the right way. Eventhough there is no right way.

I need some suggestions and tips, thoughts. Please? would mean the world to me.

Best,

J

These links were of no use whatever?

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice2.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianomyths.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/faq.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/interview.htm

[hfmadopter]

These links were of no use whatever?

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice2.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/pianomyths.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/faq.htm

https://www.davidnevue.com/interview.htm

Indeed, all relevant to the OP's desires. I've found Davids site interesting even downloaded three sample pages of his music to mess around with and will probably order the full scores ( although if I order 4 I'll get a 20 percent discount).

Added to what David has commented on in his FAQs I'd suggest a course similar to one I took some years ago about playing music in your style, which I currently apply to pop music even today.. I don't know if any courses like this are still available today though. But the work involved much as David describes, first it established working with block vs open chording, then working with just a melody line from a book and building your own chord structure. Finally picking a melody line almost out of the air ( could be a song you heard on the radio or one you lke but never played on the piano before) and building cords, what David calls bridges and progressions from there. We had 8 weeks to do it in including the intro information to the class, so really about 3 weeks to work on this., David claims often taking up to 9 months to compose a piece. I remember hearing the theme to the tv shows The Three Stooges and duplicating that by ear for my final performance of the class.. No score, it had to be done by ear. I was the only person to do something this goofy but the class got a chuckle out of it.

[jontah]

That was great read, from David Nevue's homepage. Also, I took the time off in the sun to listen through his amazing songs on spotify. Great pianist! Also did abit of research about him on youtube and so. To watch him in-action.

He says on the homepage:

"In my own songs for example, the bass (left hand) is fairly simple - My tendency is just to play octaves and fifths with small embellishments"

Is this very often used by pianists inoverall? to just play the octave and the fifth in the bass? I've tried it out, it sounds so emotional. I'd like to combine that with some phat chord voicings. I found this video:

&feature=plcp

this together with this:

&feature=plcp

is probably what I'm looking for, since I'm at the stage I really get stuck with simple chords as he says in the songwriting chapters (

&feature=plcp)

I'm confused, though, I mean, the open chord voicings really opens up the possibilities of playing around on the piano, BUT, it also opens up so many ways to play these chords on, in inversions and voicings and all that kind of stuff, from the voicing!

So, how do I memorize all this? for me it's really hard to see that it's, let's say a Dminor9 chord forexample, when it's spread out like that! But it sounds amazing.

I'd really love to dig into this.

Another thing I've noticed is that I'm having trouble with knowing when to play forexample the octave and a fifth in the left hand. If I'm doing these phat chord voicings, then there's no room for a moving bassline like a fifth and the octave. You get my point?

How do I know where to throw these kind of things in and how do I know when to put sus2, sus4, add9, major7, 7 etc in? Sure they sound nicer etc, but I'm really confused of when I should be putting them into my playing.

Understanding how they are made is one thing, applying them is another. I need some tips on this whole thing.

Thanks alot for the replies so far! Really appreciate it since its pointing me in the right direction!

[ichky]

Hi Jontah,

I think I might be able to help here. Like you, I only care about what I want to play and write my own songs. I have already composed a few of my own music.

I think the key for you here is learning more Chord Progressions, do you know what that is?
If you don't then I suggest you read it up.
Every piece of music has similar chord structure and pattern which you can take from the songs you like, and just add your own melody to it.

Another tip is if you want to play to Express and not Impress, which is what I do. Then you need to practice on your Tension and Release.

Hope this all helps! 

Best of Luck!

P.S: Check out some of my videos on www.youtube.com/Ichky

[brianvds]

I'm confused, though, I mean, the open chord voicings really opens up the possibilities of playing around on the piano, BUT, it also opens up so many ways to play these chords on, in inversions and voicings and all that kind of stuff, from the voicing!

So, how do I memorize all this? for me it's really hard to see that it's, let's say a Dminor9 chord forexample, when it's spread out like that! But it sounds amazing.

This is precisely why I have never been able to make head or tails of music theory. There are so many ways to write or play a chord (and they all have all those inversions as well!) that I find it all but impossible to recognize chords on sight, or, for that matter, by ear. It all seems to me like more trouble than it's worth.

How do I know where to throw these kind of things in and how do I know when to put sus2, sus4, add9, major7, 7 etc in? Sure they sound nicer etc, but I'm really confused of when I should be putting them into my playing.

As for me, I have no idea what any of those things even are, but it has never stopped me from composing (admittedly extremely humble and simple little things). My own compositions are not so much composed as congealed at the keyboard, from just playing around a bit. My ear soon tells me where the music wants to go, and then my fingers just have to find the right keys for it to happen.

This is of course not the way to compose classical masterpieces, but I have no ambitions to be the next Mozart. I suppose much depends on what you want to achieve.

[jontah]

Hi Jontah,

I think I might be able to help here. Like you, I only care about what I want to play and write my own songs. I have already composed a few of my own music.

I think the key for you here is learning more Chord Progressions, do you know what that is?
If you don't then I suggest you read it up.
Every piece of music has similar chord structure and pattern which you can take from the songs you like, and just add your own melody to it.

Another tip is if you want to play to Express and not Impress, which is what I do. Then you need to practice on your Tension and Release.

Hope this all helps! 

Best of Luck!

P.S: Check out some of my videos on www.youtube.com/Ichky

Hi Ichky! Yes I know how to play chords. I also know how to play major7 and add9 chords. But I'd really like to go wider than that and to express myself over the whole of the keyboard, not just in closed positions.

This is precisely why I have never been able to make head or tails of music theory. There are so many ways to write or play a chord (and they all have all those inversions as well!) that I find it all but impossible to recognize chords on sight, or, for that matter, by ear. It all seems to me like more trouble than it's worth.

As for me, I have no idea what any of those things even are, but it has never stopped me from composing (admittedly extremely humble and simple little things). My own compositions are not so much composed as congealed at the keyboard, from just playing around a bit. My ear soon tells me where the music wants to go, and then my fingers just have to find the right keys for it to happen.

This is of course not the way to compose classical masterpieces, but I have no ambitions to be the next Mozart. I suppose much depends on what you want to achieve.

Yes definately it's troubling me right now, but.. without it, to be honest, I wouldn't even find a good chord to play.. since I started out with theory in the first place, it really helped me understand what I was able to play and how.

[ichky]

If thats the case then your problem is easy to solve.

Just study how other pianist play and explore on their chords.

Each and every pianist has their preferred way of playing, a style suited to them.

You will find it very useful to watch how other pianist express their chords over a wider range of keys.

Hope this helps!

Ichky
www.ichkymusic.com

[49410enrique]

if i missed it, then my apologies but i thought w so many replies the  basic formula would have been suggested.
that is if it is in your life situation to be able to, i would suggest,
1. piano lessons, find a reputable teacher, interview them make sure you 'click' with them
2. if the teacher doesn't include it, if you are in the US , go to the local community college and sign up (audit, i.e. just a small percent fee not he full tuition but you don't recieve credit), take the standard music major/musician theory sequence (normally there are 5 semesters of this but a junor college may only offer the first 4).

3. practice practice practice.

i'm not trying to be snarky or smart elicky, but this approach can work remarkably well for most people with at least a small amount of  musical aptitude and motivation.

[hfmadopter]

That was great read, from David Nevue homepage. Also, I took the time off in the sun to listen through his amazing songs on spotify. Great pianist! Also did a bit of research about him on youtube and so. To watch him in-action.

He says on the homepage:

"In my own songs for example, the bass (left hand) is fairly simple - My tendency is just to play octaves and fifths with small embellishments"

Is this very often used by pianists in overall? to just play the octave and the fifth in the bass? I've tried it out, it sounds so emotional. I'd like to combine that with some phat chord voicings.
I'm confused, though, I mean, the open chord voicings really opens up the possibilities of playing around on the piano, BUT, it also opens up so many ways to play these chords on, in inversions and voicings and all that kind of stuff, from the voicing!

So, how do I memorize all this? for me it's really hard to see that it's, let's say a Minor 9 chord for example, when it's spread out like that! But it sounds amazing.

I'd really love to dig into this.

Another thing I've noticed is that I'm having trouble with knowing when to play for example the octave and a fifth in the left hand. If I'm doing these phat chord voicings, then there's no room for a moving bassline like a fifth and the octave. You get my point?

Think about breaking the octave with the fifth up. For example play a lower root note, the fifth and then the octave above root note and see if that works in with your melody. Also nothing says you can't cross over the lower melody chord note at times.  If you are playing the melody for instance as an octave, you also can drop ( as in leave it out for the one beat) the lower octave note just while the left hand occupies that space. I tend to use an octave in the right hand with counter melody or harmony in the middle of the melody chord at times when I want a strong running melody..

What you really need to do is start working with this right away. But start simple. Get some simple music even if it's in C maj and start building that piece up. You can take Mary Had a Little Lamb and turn it into thunder or a light twinkling piece of music by how you construct your chordal arrangements over the keyboard. It will all come in time , don't look at the big picture now, start simple. Soon you can write your own.

Speaking of C Maj, that's a good chord to start experimenting around the key board with. Take the C of C Maj and go low in the base, play a C octave, roll your hand up land on G above the top C of that octave roll up again, either pick up the next C or go right to E, once you have done this up and down a few time, then do it again but after that E go to the 7th note of the scale above the E and from the 7th just go down the scale in progression to G or even F and you now can launch off into another key. But even if you don't do that, start playing the C chords in your right hand while the left is doing what I described and see how it all fits together. Next you can start some light melody or harmony. Do that for practice so you can see the notes under your hands . Once you have C G E and the 7th note mastered as arpeggio up and down. Move to say a G chord and do the same thing. Also play the same notes as octaves. This works in some pieces and it works sometimes to put the counter melody in the left hand between the octaves depending on how close the octave is to the melody ( hand proximity)..

In doing this be aware of your time signature. For the sake of discussion, let's say it's 4/4 ( I work in 4/4 a lot). I might give that first octave a full 1/4 note and the dash up and down the key board  with each note a value of 1/8 notes, so you have to then fit more in. Or you can give each the full value of 1/4 and fit less in. You also can vary how the structure goes. Maybe move the octave up then pick up the G or E in the middle of the octave and roll up the key board from there. Sometimes it works to start the inversion with the octave as well, it most likely will harmonize but may come off unnatural feeling at first.

This is mostly all left hand work because that's the biggest barrier to beat !

We can talk about big melody sound in another thread sometime.

[danhuyle]

You will want to learn some virtuoso classical music.

Anyway, know your basics like scales, rhythm etc. Then if there's pieces you find yourself playing a lot, model that and write a piece along that line.

I recently started writing my own music too. I get the melody, and can't seem to transform the theme like you hear in Liszt pieces.