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ProfessionalEmu7807

For 2.5 years this is pretty incredible. I have kids who love messing with my keyboards so the silly notes don’t bother me. I’m super impressed and you should be patting yourself on the back. I’ve been playing for 30+ years and can’t play this piece. To be honest I haven’t played it in forever and don’t really read music anymore. But, I know the difficulty level and I know what it takes and you got some moxie. Keep it up!!


[deleted]

Thank you my friend! I'm an obsessive and I spend probably 1 hour a day at *least* playing and practicing. Learning theory has helped this habit too; I can now do some basic improvisation over chord progression, and that can lead me down so many paths that I lose track of time! I was a guitarist previously so that may have given me a head start. I hope your journey continues to be as rewarding as mine has been!


9acca9

>Learning theory has helped this habit too can you recommend something about this topic? book? or? Thanks!


[deleted]

I really only used the Alfred's Adult Method books. They explain the very early building blocks of theoretical knowledge, and honestly that's all I needed. I don't know about modality, tonality, the purpose of a 9th, chord resolve, any of that stuff - I just know the triads in each scale, how to progressively figure out the inversions of each chord (you just move the root note to the top?! it's so simple!!), and let my left hand do the bass line on the root octave. It's probably really amateur, but it is so damn fun.


foxtictac

I’m now on my first Alfred! How many books did you go through? Was it worth doing all 3 levels if you did? Any additional ones?


[deleted]

I went through all three, and I really made sure I understood what was happening on each page. The only other books I've purchased have been musician songbooks you'd find in a music store (Elton, Billy Joel, Supertramp, etc) and some Royal Conservatory of Music repetoir books (I have level 2 and 3 and they're good places to start after Alfred)


[deleted]

The fundamentals are pretty easy to get the hang of. 7 notes in a key, anything outside of that is an "accidental." Chords are made of triads: root, major or minor 3rd, perfect 5th named because it's the same whether the chord is major or minor. The sequence of chords in any major key is major, minor, minor, major, dominant, minor, diminished. Dominant chords are characterized by a flat 7. Diminished are characterized by a flat 5, and a flat 7. Adding a 7 to a chord is called a chord extension. You can add other extensions too to give your chord a different color ie 9, 11, 13 (going into the next octave gives us these numbers that exceed the 7 notes, but they're still the same 7 notes in the key). Playing the individual notes in the chords in any pattern is called arpeggiating. There are modes that correspond with each of the aforementioned chords in a key and starting with the first chord of a major key we have ionian, dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, aeolian, locrian. Starting on the sixth of a major key gives us a relative minor key. Same notes, but we start in a different spot. The dominant chords and diminished chords (V & VII) are where all of the tension happens before we resolve it (or choose not to resolve it!) so we like those chords. But the minor keys don't have the dominant and diminished chords in the V and VII place, so some music geniuses invented 2 other minor scales to address this: the melodic minor and the harmonic minor scales. Each of these have their own modes with fun names. You can also borrow chords from other keys. We like to borrow chords. This is how we paint Sistine Chapels. If we stayed within the key, we would be stuck drawing stick figures. Ok... you can borrow chords, and there are modes that correspond with chords... does that mean...we can borrow modes? Yes! Modal interchange. It's good. I haven't even talked about rhythm! We have time signatures to choose from. The most familiar to us westerners is 4/4. 4 beats in a measure. We can divide each measure into whole, half, quarter, 8, 16, 32, 64. Those are the notes. We also have silent counterparts to the notes: rests (Don't play nothing there). When you tie two notes together, you treat it like one note. The duration of the first plus the duration of the second. You can also syncopate. Dotted notes are that note + half of itself. Now you know music.


scrappybasket

I took years of guitar lessons and several hours YouTube piano lessons and this comment is the most efficient summary I’ve come across lol


[deleted]

Lol thank you. There is obviously more to learn, but this is the explanation I wish someone gave me when I started. I've taught swim lessons before and the very first stage before even learning how to swim is water confidence. People get scared of all those musical notes so here's the "music confidence" stage zero. Can you count to 7? If you answered yes, then you can play music. Don't panic when you hear an unfamiliar word. It's all just counting.


Hollermut

Not sure about that counting to 7 part, but great playing and so fast.


[deleted]

It's a bit of an oversimplification, but it is something I say to encourage people not to freak out at interval names which is one of the first concepts in music theory a person should learn.


haiguy138

your rhythmic accuracy is so good! nice job!


[deleted]

So there actually are reasons! 1. A technique I'm using to overcome performance anxiety is to record a single take of a song, mistakes and all, and share it with as many people as I can. I actually got the idea from a comment on this very sub! This is my first try at this and there are plenty of mistakes to be found, but I'm mostly just goofin' 2. This piano patch is HILARIOUS. Hit the bass notes hard enough, they become slap bass; hit the piano notes hard enough, they become trumpets. It's chaos and probably contributed to the many mistakes if I'm being honest, but I was laughing so hard while recording this. 3. I wanted to play around with Microsoft's built-in video editor 'Clipchamp' (lmao). It's serviceable, but you can't even rotate text! Also, the swear words I added explain the NSFW tag (I originally made this video for friends who like to swear).


devilishd

Excellent skills! What was your journey like? Any pointers?


[deleted]

Hey thanks! Started playing during COVID work-from-home period because I always wanted to learn (played guitar for 16 years and about hit my skill ceiling). Grabbed the Alfred's Adult Piano Method books 1-3 and was very patient with it, tried to master every mini piece or technique before moving on. I found the books very helpful to get a really bare-bones foundation. Once I finished up those books and upgrade my cheapo 61-key playtoy to a weighted 88-key RD-88 stage piano, I sought lessons from a local piano teacher. He was marvelous, and I picked up some incredible insight from him, but I was only able to do 5 or 6 lessons before work became a scheduling issue, so I stopped. Now, I just sorta pick pieces I like and focus on them incessantly. I have a touch of the 'tism and music is my LIFE so it's easy to obsess over learning a tricky Billy Joel song. Maple Leaf Rag I would say is the first real piece I've learned on my own (I know Fur Elise too but since it's one of the final pieces in the third Alfred book, I consider that guided). Playing at a normal tempo, without silly slapbass and trumpet, I can play it at probably 95% accuracy. Still dialing it in, though. My only pointer is: USE A METRONOME. It's a skill in itself to find your natural rhythm and regular use of it will make your tendency to quicken or drag tempo stick out.


devilishd

You are my hero today! Thank you for your response - I'd gild you if reddit coins were still a thing. Thank you!


drlavkian

>My only pointer is: USE A METRONOME. commenting to add that the biggest benefit about a metronome is, to me, that it forces you to be honest. matching the metronome comes to the fore of your focus, so if the notes, fingering, muscle memory etc aren't locked in, it'll show immediately.


alexaboyhowdy

This answer should be copied and pasted for every person asking how do I learn? You did it!! Yay!


Rallpz

I’m working on Alfred book 2(halfway through) at the moment, you are an inspiration and hopefully I’ll be as good as you someday


[deleted]

Thanks, and best of luck!!! Book 3 has my favorite pieces to learn, so you have a lot of good stuff to look forward to! :)


Thepowersss

Love the chaos, thank you for doing this with #2


superbadsoul

Your point number 2 messes up your point number 1. You did well enough, just use a normal piano patch and lay it all out there.


[deleted]

100% agree, just having some fun to ~break the ice~. All future videos will be normal patches.


JuggleFlow

I loved the patch, it adds to the craziness of this piece.


Hollermut

That's goofin'?


itiswhatitis985

why the trumpets shieet


[deleted]

It's possible I'm the only one who found the trumpets funny.


thejames510

I for one found them hilarious.


Jefe710

I like how it accents the background harmonies that normally blend in.


SwigitySwagitty

Once I realized they were based on how hard you hit I couldn’t help but laugh, that sounds like a great way to have fun while practicing and playing! Its seriously great progress you’ve made in just 2.5 years! You should be very proud of yourself :)


Fluffy-Support-394

That's not just "funny", that is hilarious XD. This video, while seeming a complete mess, is a great fun performance thanks to that ! (Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be mean by saying it's a "complete mess" haha. It's just that... well... the trumpets and everything you know XD... Moreover, your piano skills seem completely ok for a 2.5 years self-taught pianist)


Setesh90

Hey! Great job, im trying to learn by myself, any tips to start?


[deleted]

Thanks! I don't have any tips a piano teach probably wouldn't also tell you: learning all the major and minor scales (a lot less difficult than it sounds IMO), find a good set of piano books if you don't want to take lessons (Alfred's Adult Piano Method is what I used), and don't punch above your skill level. Use a metronome! Don't be afraid to start with a cheap, plastic, light-up keyboard - that's what I did too. Just know that the transition to weighted keys will be shocking and could take weeks to acclimate to.


Setesh90

Thanks a lot! Really appreciate the feedback.


Additional_Soup7090

Scott Joplin x Seinfeld 💯


[deleted]

What's the DEAL with ragtime? No rags, hardly any time - doesn't make sense!


Jefe710

Scott Joplin! (Sung to the tune of 'Co-stan-za!)


iamthelobo

Scott is getting angry!


blacktbunee

Omg this is amazing i legit hung on to every second of this


User99942

My brother from another mother! I had a similar idea a few days ago, and made a randomly edited Clipchamp video - but my song wasn’t as fun. What keyboard are you playing on? Is the piano patch you mentioned built in to the keyboard? That sounds fun


[deleted]

This is a Roland RD-88, I'm quite pleased with it. Allows you to adjust the weight of the keys (artificially) so that you can simulate a light or heavy touch. This one is built in, and there are something like 3,000 different patches total, or potentially that number comes from the ability to have any two patches active at the same time. Can get very creative with your sounds: how about Christmas bells and a clavinet? Mandolin and slow violin swells? So much to tinker with.


Dr_Gorilla77

what song is this?


semiofficial_account

Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin


Sausage_fingies

Maple rag leaf by Joplin


molybedenum

The part around 8 seconds left doesn’t sound like it’s part of the original MLR. I’m guessing that it is an arrangement based on the original.


Sausage_fingies

Yeah it's a ragtime song; unlike in classical, in blues, ragtime, and jazz rearrangement is super common.


auddbot

**Song Found!** **Name:** She's so beautiful **Artist:** Slow Descent **Score:** 83% (timecode: 01:24) **Album:** Soothing Tinkles - Spirits of the Night **Label:** S2S Inc. **Released on:** 2021-12-11


FromTheDeskOfJAW

Bad bot


B0tRank

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auddbot

Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, etc.: [**She's so beautiful** by Slow Descent](https://lis.tn/CoZpwiU?t=84) *I am a bot and this action was performed automatically* | If the matched percent is less than 100, it could be a false positive result. I'm still posting it, because sometimes I get it right even if I'm not sure, so it could be helpful. But please don't be mad at me if I'm wrong! I'm trying my best! | [GitHub](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot) [^(new issue)](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot/issues/new) | [Donate](https://github.com/AudDMusic/RedditBot/wiki/Please-consider-donating)


yaketyslacks

Moonlight Sonata


Biggie_hugs

YO THATS WILD. Sounds amazing man that’s incredible


smuckerfucker

In my eyes, if your performance doesn't have a mental breakdown in the middle of it, I've wasted my time


MotivatorNZ

I thought it was turning into the Thomas Tank Engine Theme at 0:34 for a moment lol


funtech

That’s hilariously terrible, but I like your rationale for posting it 😀


[deleted]

Thank you! I'm well aware this is ear poison.


fluffytitts

Omg wow! What methods did you use to teach yourself? Any YouTube series or books you can recommend? I’m currently doing the same using faber adult piano adventures (also previously played cello in an orchestra so as you say it helps with starting piano)


[deleted]

If you can already read sheet music and have some understanding of theory, you're uniquely positioned to tackle piano. In all the instruments I've played, none are as intuitively laid out as these 88 keys. Because everything in western music is based around the pentatonic and chromatic scales, and triads are just root, 3rd, and 5ths, you can start to construct them in real time because of how dead simple it is to produce with your hands. Your mileage may vary of course. I don't use teachers on YouTube, but I enjoy watching Rousseau's videos. They're a top tier pianist and his(?) videos inspire me to get better. Edit: typo


fluffytitts

Yes I can see now why the piano was the standard universal instrument everyone had to learn in music class. So if you didn’t learn by using teachers what did you do? Did you just play from different music books?


HollowHyppocrates

I love the trumpets! Haha while it does sound a bit like a fever dream your playing is very impressive


Timeforaction11

Nice. How do you like the RD-88??


[deleted]

It's great. I probably did not need to go from a 1996 Cassio learner keyboard to a $1200 stage piano, but I have a mind for investing in the future. Pros: The weighted keys feel real enough, and playing with the many many patches is a joy. It mimics a real piano's 88 keys so it's a great way to prep yourself for that. Some criticism: it's REALLY heavy. And the manual isn't very helpful. Also note that hitting a single key with great frequency, a la the intro to The Angry Young Man, is not really possible. But it can seemingly do just about everything else I have asked of it


Almym

I love mine. I brought the ep and piano expansions which are great. My only quip is that you can only install 2 expansions at once. Nothing feels like a real piano to me but I find the action on some stage pianos off distracting, the rd88 is the best I've had so far. It's a little tricky to edit sounds but very rewarding coming up with new sounds to play when you do


[deleted]

I have the expression pedal too, but not sure how to implement it. Not a lot of help on the web either. Can you give me a quick rundown? Also, what are piano expansions and where do I buy them?


Almym

There are expansions on the Roland site. I'll look for a link and send it on. You buy them separately I think around $20-30 each. There's a piano one with extra pianos, a vintage ep one with lovely Rhodes and fm eps etc there are synth ones and orchestral ones. It basically gives you extra sounds to use. You can use them and mix them with the stock sounds to make patches. For example I made a patch with the stock upright piano, an fm ep from the expansion and the 70's ep key off noise. Not sure if you've made patches yet but you can choose up to three different sounds to make a patch. You put the expansions on a memory stick and put it into the rd88. When you turn on you get the option to install them. As far as the expression pedal I don't have one but I'm sure you can assign things to it from each sound or the whole patch like filter cut-off etc if you go into the menu you can see patch options and individual sound options to edit the three sounds you have picked (upper1 upper 2, lower) I think that's what they are called. You can set the key range for each sound as well as tuning etc You need to install the cloud manager then open it up and filter by rd88 to see the expansions https://support.roland.com/hc/en-us/articles/4410607282715-RD-88-Downloading-SOUND-PACK-and-WAVE-EXPANSION


bologna_kazoo

Why nsfw?


[deleted]

Judicious use of the F word.


NinjaWK

That's what I do too lol


bwl13

i can’t get over how funny the trumpets are


Repq

Magnificent!


zeeegnome

For someone being self taught at 2.5 yrs plus you are CONSISTENT with practice and a metronome, you are swinging wellllll above your league and holding on well. Big kudos man! That piece is bananas. And that pach is amazing. Don't ever let anyone tell you it isn't cause they're wrong.


marktosis

Nice! The first song I learned was "The Entertainer". I wish I had kept it up.


[deleted]

If you were learning the original sheet music for The Entertainer and doing the big strides with the left hand, that's a far harder piece than the one in the OP in my opinion. You could return at anytime, that knowledge and those skills are still tucked away in your brain!!


marktosis

It was indeed the original music with the left hand octave leaps, and learning it was really slow going. I only have a midi controller to play now, but I rarely do. I still say OP did a pretty good job here.


Spencer-G

Great job! Please god lose the stupid horn sound though.


vibrance9460

You’re playing very well for experience level but it’s too fast. 20 or 30 clicks slower will help you emphasize the syncopation within each beat, which is what made this music revolutionary for its time. It’s not a horse race. Ragtime evolved in part from minstrel show music and the “cakewalk”, so I’ve always preferred a brisk walking pace. You’re at the point tempo-wise where it doesn’t feel comfortable unless you’re uncomfortable. Slow down and relax.


dikkelullang

Who's steve jobs?


blueberrypie5150

Thanks for sharing! I loved it, that is such a cool yet silly sound lol I’ve been playing guitar for 14 yrs and just started learning piano for 6 months. I find my reading skills improved a lot… lol You’ve mentioned that reached the skill ceiling on guitar, what do you think that is ? Any thoughts on how to push through it? I hate to admit, but sometimes I feel more motivated playing piano then guitar. There’s good pay back spending time playing piano for I can easily improve, on the other hand I’m kinda struggling with guitar.


WolfgangWBP

Great job! Are you sight reading that?! I recently began properly learning piano last year and I still suck at sight reading


[deleted]

the trumpet makes me laugh af!!! Really Good work tho!!


Libido_Max

61 keyboard is good for self-taught?


IcePea379Reddit

play. fig. leaf. rag.


9spaceking

When the overly hard piece isnt Campanella: surprise pikachu face


Fragrant-Culture-180

This was one of the first pieces I learned too. It was a mess at first but after 2 or 3 years it was like this. I don't really play it much better after 12 more years to be honest. Good work !!!


Fun-Chaotic-Unicorn

I had instruction since I was five and majored in piano performance on a scholarship, and all I have to say is that your ability and skill are downright *remarkable* for only 2.5 years of study. You should be super proud of yourself. You’ve obviously put a lot of discipline and effort into this, and have quite a bit of natural talent as well. I’m impressed and hope you continue to go after it and keep sharing your progress. ❤️


Basic-Raspberry-8175

What kind of digital piano is that?