LEARNING PIANO (by ear)

[total-recoil]

Been away for a while but figure I'll update the current music scene. Lately I decided I think I could become a better synth player if I applied myself to basic piano so I've been spending some hours with my synth just on piano and using both of my hands. What I did in the past was to simply sequence stuff in multi-layer track recordings in order to get one final complete track. Eventually, though, it dawned on me that I still couldn't play a proper instrument and that bothered me a bit.
I've been doing something like 5 to six hour practice sessions and can now use both of my hands on a keyboard. I simplified my own kind of piano style to use mostly arpeggio left hand and melody right hand. At first this was murderously difficult but now it feels like both hands have a brain of their own. I have worked out songs by artists such as McCartney and John Denver training my ear to find the chords but no immediate plan in mind to tamper with classical piano.
By the way, at this point I should state I was very impressed by some of the talent out there on YouTube. It helped me to check out other people do piano cover of tracks I have chosen to learn myself and watching all the different approaches was educational. Kind of humbling to witness the talent and dedication that is out there and often wondered why some of these people aren't widely recognised (do we need a new X Factor?)
Some of the people I learned from here:
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE / The BEATLES (piano solo) - YouTube
ALYONA YARUSHINA (WATERFALLS) PAUL MCCARTNEY COVER - YouTube
Blues on my Hammond Organ B3 - YouTube
There is a big division between ear players and traditionalists on piano forums. The majority of people believe you cannot learn without lessons and the usual music notation approach but an increasing number of people are self taught and don't use music sheets.
My own view is if you want to learn pop piano, this is not like being a concert performer and not as difficult as has been made out.

 

[Misfate]

Indeed, I may indubitably consociate to this matter. While I can now comprehend sheet music, I began execution of music on my keyboard via auditory sensation (in reminiscence of the c major scale, through the medium of practice, and the c-note, by dint of the bell signaling class in my school: always in the note of c).

 

[total-recoil]

I think a lot of people are put off learning piano because it has this reputation for long, arduous lessons in order to pass grades over a period of many years. So, people just think it's way too difficult and they don't have the time. I'm finding this isn't the case at all. My take on it is you will learn to play basic piano so long as you make the learning process fun and actually enjoy spending time in practice.
Fortunately there are now no end of YouTube tutorials that teach you how to play parts of songs or the whole of a song. However, mosty of these tend to use electric pianos to simplify matters.
There are many styles of piano too. Blues, Boogie Woogie, pop and classical.

 

[total-recoil]

As I understand it, the usual way to learn the piano is by way of regular private lessons and working your way up the grades. I believe this would involve reading musical notation. I have some idea of this approach as years ago I took classes in classical guitar and there were grades for that.
I can understand if you wish to be a genuine pianist and do classical works, knowing how to finger notes correctly is going to be an issue and, yes, at classical level it takes a long time.
My goal is to do more pop/rock piano, partly for songwriting purposes. I try and find songs I think I could figure out and practise and I look for a bit of coaching on YouTube videos or watching other people play the same tunes. Today, I had a bash at Mad World which I picked up easily due to a pretty good YouTube tutorial.
How to Play "Mad World" by Gary Jules on Piano with Synthesia & HD Piano (Part 1) - YouTube

I think a lot of people are put off learning piano because it has this reputation for long, arduous lessons in order to pass grades over a period of many years. So, people just think it's way too difficult and they don't have the time. I'm finding this isn't the case at all. My take on it is you will learn to play basic piano so long as you make the learning process fun and actually enjoy spending time in practice.
Fortunately there are now no end of YouTube tutorials that teach you how to play parts of songs or the whole of a song. However, mosty of these tend to use electric pianos to simplify matters.
There are many styles of piano too. Blues, Boogie Woogie, pop and classical.

 

[Misfate]

I actually am interested in both the modern and classical genres of music. Even so, it happens to be more accessible in my case learning the modern music via hearing or video than classical, in which i prefer sheet music or, if my keyboard has the music in question, key lighting practice.
I cant recall any genres for piano of which i have no interest in -classical to disco; rock to metal; blues to r&b; swing to samba- it goes on and on.

 

[total-recoil]

I just worked out a song called the Lonely Man (may have already mentioned it). It was the theme to the series The Incredible Hulk in the seventies - a sad song that's supposed to portray a man who has to keep moving on from job to job and place to place to find peace. It's a simple piano song and now I think I have it wrapped up to a reasonable level.
I was also doing Brian Wilson's Our Sweet Love but, for some reason, I really struggle with some of the Beach Boys stuff much as I love Wilson's music. Am currently dead stuck on about 3 or 4 chords at the end.
It also dawned on me that when you play piano and sing, it's customary to play chords with the right hand and bass with the left. I started out with left hand on chords arpeggios and right hand lead melody.
I am currently wondering just how independent you can make your hands when playing. I find some arpeggios easy but there are ways I find to do arpeggios that really blow your mind because it's really tough to makje your brain split the two hands to do two tasks at the same time, more so on offbeats.
Anyway, I am still on this. After one whole year of doing synth stuff and sequencing on 6 channels, I am down to just one piano and both hands. My goals is to to learn to play average piano (not classical) in a relatively short time, as well as my synth and also the song-writing which I find easier on piano sometimes. That is, I find the songs I do just using piano make me do more harmony and melody so slower material.
Here is someone doing Lonely Man.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK - "The Lonely Man" (Piano Cover) - YouTube

I actually am interested in both the modern and classical genres of music. Even so, it happens to be more accessible in my case learning the modern music via hearing or video than classical, in which i prefer sheet music or, if my keyboard has the music in question, key lighting practice.
I cant recall any genres for piano of which i have no interest in -classical to disco; rock to metal; blues to r&b; swing to samba- it goes on and on.

 

[Misfate]

I just worked out a song called the Lonely Man (may have already mentioned it). It was the theme to the series The Incredible Hulk in the seventies - a sad song that's supposed to portray a man who has to keep moving on from job to job and place to place to find peace. It's a simple piano song and now I think I have it wrapped up to a reasonable level.
I was also doing Brian Wilson's Our Sweet Love but, for some reason, I really struggle with some of the Beach Boys stuff much as I love Wilson's music. Am currently dead stuck on about 3 or 4 chords at the end.
It also dawned on me that when you play piano and sing, it's customary to play chords with the right hand and bass with the left. I started out with left hand on chords arpeggios and right hand lead melody.
I am currently wondering just how independent you can make your hands when playing. I find some arpeggios easy but there are ways I find to do arpeggios that really blow your mind because it's really tough to makje your brain split the two hands to do two tasks at the same time, more so on offbeats.
Anyway, I am still on this. After one whole year of doing synth stuff and sequencing on 6 channels, I am down to just one piano and both hands. My goals is to to learn to play average piano (not classical) in a relatively short time, as well as my synth and also the song-writing which I find easier on piano sometimes. That is, I find the songs I do just using piano make me do more harmony and melody so slower material.
Here is someone doing Lonely Man.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK - "The Lonely Man" (Piano Cover) - YouTube

I am enamored in this! And, while born in dominance of my right hand, I have been practicing to become ambidextrous to make songs such as hungarian dance and turkish march less burdensome: wikiHow-How to Become Ambidextrous

 

[total-recoil]

After thousands of repetitions I can now use my fingers independently of hand. So, I can get my right hand fingers playing arpeggio notes at one tempo and then play melody with right possibly on offbeats as well. I even used a metronome beat and did exercises such as starting a steady left hand sequence and then playing over with the right melody at the top end of the keyboard. Every time it went off, I would do it again and again and again both slow and fast. Any mistake and I stop and start again. I would try and stress one key to the beat when doing chords to try and get a perfect sequence like a ticking clock. A few days ago I worked out Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. I played it only from memory of hearing it so hopefully it's close to the way it ought to be played and the way I do it there is this big stretch between thumb and little finger I can barely make. For fun I then mixed in a weird synth tone to the piano and did Beethoven like a New Wave eighties sound.
There is little doubt that real playing beats sequencing in terms of quality of sound. The timing is better and smoother and more real than just recording chords on one channel and then overdubbing a melody.
At some point my plan is to rest on piano and go back to my usual drumbeats, bass and special effects but for now I feel these skills will help me become better at fingering and help my songwriting.
P.S. I did get curious about fingering and started experimenting using my little finger a lot more. That is, trying to work out the most effiicent fingering positions for doing a melody. Also I don't want to get into bad habits and limit my playing by bad finger styles.

I am enamored in this! And, while born in dominance of my right hand, I have been practicing to become ambidextrous to make songs such as hungarian dance and turkish march less burdensome: wikiHow-How to Become Ambidextrous

 

[total-recoil]

Thought it best to add, I'm a way from doing the whole of Moonlight Sonata yet. I just worked out the most memorable part of it. I'm not sure how this song is graded in terms of difficulty. It doesn't strike me as being mega difficult so maybe intermediate level.
I'm being careful not to get too drawn into just piano but to try and use it as a stepping stone. I find piano is the easiest way to write songs and the sound of a nice piano is pretty special but I haven't lost sight of the fact stuff like bass, drums, funky riffs and so in are the ingredients that make music come alive and less boring.
Anyway, late last night I came up with a nice "hook". A weird chord on piano that blended nicely with a minor and I could just keep rolling with my left hand. Today I got a song out of it so yet another very soft, all piano number that only really needs subtle mixing (without bass or any need for a drumbeat). Whenever I get in the mood and inspired to write something I drop everything else and just play. If I'm not in the mood I leave music and do other things but when you do feel inspired you have to spend time and try and get the song out.

After thousands of repetitions I can now use my fingers independently of hand. So, I can get my right hand fingers playing arpeggio notes at one tempo and then play melody with right possibly on offbeats as well. I even used a metronome beat and did exercises such as starting a steady left hand sequence and then playing over with the right melody at the top end of the keyboard. Every time it went off, I would do it again and again and again both slow and fast. Any mistake and I stop and start again. I would try and stress one key to the beat when doing chords to try and get a perfect sequence like a ticking clock. A few days ago I worked out Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. I played it only from memory of hearing it so hopefully it's close to the way it ought to be played and the way I do it there is this big stretch between thumb and little finger I can barely make. For fun I then mixed in a weird synth tone to the piano and did Beethoven like a New Wave eighties sound.
There is little doubt that real playing beats sequencing in terms of quality of sound. The timing is better and smoother and more real than just recording chords on one channel and then overdubbing a melody.
At some point my plan is to rest on piano and go back to my usual drumbeats, bass and special effects but for now I feel these skills will help me become better at fingering and help my songwriting.
P.S. I did get curious about fingering and started experimenting using my little finger a lot more. That is, trying to work out the most effiicent fingering positions for doing a melody. Also I don't want to get into bad habits and limit my playing by bad finger styles.

 

[Misfate]

Thought it best to add, I'm a way from doing the whole of Moonlight Sonata yet. I just worked out the most memorable part of it. I'm not sure how this song is graded in terms of difficulty. It doesn't strike me as being mega difficult so maybe intermediate level.
I'm being careful not to get too drawn into just piano but to try and use it as a stepping stone. I find piano is the easiest way to write songs and the sound of a nice piano is pretty special but I haven't lost sight of the fact stuff like bass, drums, funky riffs and so in are the ingredients that make music come alive and less boring.
Anyway, late last night I came up with a nice "hook". A weird chord on piano that blended nicely with a minor and I could just keep rolling with my left hand. Today I got a song out of it so yet another very soft, all piano number that only really needs subtle mixing (without bass or any need for a drumbeat). Whenever I get in the mood and inspired to write something I drop everything else and just play. If I'm not in the mood I leave music and do other things but when you do feel inspired you have to spend time and try and get the song out.

In many of your circumstances I can concur. I have had the incumbrance of learning Streamline by Newton just to revise it's pitch when I played it with the music; the same recently for the baseline of Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer, with instance of revamp of the notes for my left hand and practicing intertwinement of bass and treble.

 

[total-recoil]

For some reason I rarely reproduce an exact version of a track I play by ear. I'm sure my chords would not be the exact ones found on any chart but, for some reason, they fit just fine. Sometimes I may actually decide one of my chords is a touch off and change it at a later date so basically it all goes through a stage of gradual development. So, my version of Moonlight Sonata is really what came out of my head by memory and not even worked out by having the original play at the same time. It's also weird the way I now play the first chords is using four notes instead of three which involves a pretty good stretch of the hand.
I have a theory that the way to learn piano far more quickly than normal is not to get hung up on details that should come right over a period of time as you naturally get better. Over time the ear is going to get sharper and more accurate but you will make mistakes along the way.

In many of your circumstances I can concur. I have had the incumbrance of learning Streamline by Newton just to revise it's pitch when I played it with the music; the same recently for the baseline of Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer, with instance of revamp of the notes for my left hand and practicing intertwinement of bass and treble.

 

[Misfate]

While I believe it should develop naturally as well, I am incapable of so due to perfectionism induced by my Aspergers. I am quite hedonistic in exactitude, which can, at times, be indubitably irksome.

 

[Carlito]

I am not certain but I believe some of the best keyboard players through out history were self taught! Mozart; Beethoven and Chopin? Did they all have lessons? Beethoven was already phenomenal at 5 years old!

 

[total-recoil]

Before piano lessons began, the first person who ever played piano learned to play regardless. I can't really give any formula as to how I discovered you can learn piano by yourself but first and foremost has to be a love of music, enthusiasm and curiosity. When I started I was trying to use both of my hands at the same time and didn't have much co-ordination. There was no real plan either as to how to learn but it just comes the more you play. Obviously I'm not what you would call a proper pianist at this stage but seem to be getting to an acceptable intermediate standard. It helps to watch other people play on YouTube and I really enjoy watching other people share the same enthusiasm and dedication to spend hours doing practice.

I am not certain but I believe some of the best keyboard players through out history were self taught! Mozart; Beethoven and Chopin? Did they all have lessons? Beethoven was already phenomenal at 5 years old!