Suggestions on tapping out this rhythm?

[mound]

The time is 3/4.

The RH is playing three repeating sets of quintuplets.
The LH is a quarter note on the first beat, and then 4 eight notes starting on the 2nd beat.

I'm trying to tap it on my knees first, because it's like the 2nd eigth note has to be halfway through the 5 notes in the quintuplet.  I'm having a hell of a time tapping this out! Any suggestions?
thanks
-Paul

[johnnypiano]

Hi! Paul

You have simple rhythmic combinations disguised as complicated ones.
The first of each quintuplet comes on a main beat, so you should be able to practise this hand with confidence, emphasizing each main beat. 

The other hand has three crotchets with two of them split into two quavers.  Initially, leave out the second of each of the quavers and you should have no trouble playing this simplified bar rhythmically and with more and more confidence.  Then insert the extra quavers and plough forward hands together!

Always think, and play, from the first beat of the bar to the first beat of the next bar - and do one bar at  bar  a time.  Keep counting a very accurate first-beat impulse (but no metronome). You need the impetus of a high-jumper to land on the other side, ie. onto the first beat of the next musical bar.  I do hope it works for you.

I think you should forget about the tapping.  It makes it more complicated than it need be.

I am just about to contribute a paragraph in Piano Forum entitled  “Three against Four - A Musical Solution", which you might find interesting.  Good Luck. John

[mound]

Then insert the extra quavers and plough forward hands together!

yeah, everything you suggested I have done, it's the above quoted part that keeps throwing me! I think it'll just gell magically at some point.

I am just about to contribute a paragraph in Piano Forum entitled  “Three against Four - A Musical Solution", which you might find interesting.

I look forward to it!

thanks!
-Paul

[johnnypiano]

 

What is the piece you are doing, Paul?

John

[mound]

Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuena.

This is the only rhythmic element that is messing with my mind.. it's gotta be mental. I can do the RH quintuplets at speed no problem.. The first 3 measures of this clip shown below, no problem. All of it hands seperate, no problem.. but as soon as I try for the 4 eight notes in the left hand starting on the first measure of the 2nd line shown below, my right hand messes up.. I've tried tapping it, doing it slow, dropping notes, everything! I can totally hear it in my mind, but my RH just falls apart, I end up doing too many quintuplets in the time it takes for the LH to finish!



Maybe I should just ignore it for a few days

-Paul

[jazzyprof]

A couple of suggestions:
(1)  If you have an electronic keyboard, sequence that passage on the keyboard and play along with it.  Or you enter it in Finale or Notepad on your computer, have it play it back and play along with it.  Use your ears to get that feel.
(2)  If you have a CD of that piece, download some software like "the Amazing Slow Downer" that can slow down a passage without changing pitch.  Loop that passage and play along with it at a slow speed to internalize the polyrhythm. 
(3)  Listen to a lot of polyrhythmic music like salsa and African drumming.  It will help you feel that 5-pulse and the underlying 2-beat.