|
Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
|
|
64 members (BWV846, Animisha, benkeys, Anglagard44, brdwyguy, amc252, Bellyman, 15 invisible),
2,289
guests, and
406
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Full Member
|
OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21 |
Sorry if this is a totally noob question, but anyone help me with what this means? In Alfred's basic adult level 1 coursebook I was working on a song called, "Why Am I Blue" which specifies this tempo. After learning it a bit I practiced at 100bpm or a little faster and the tune felt good to play like this, but when I recorded and played back on my DP and read the words with it, it seemed a little fast. So I slowed it down to 90bpm and recorded a video. Tapped the beat in the beginning and it took all my concentration to play it slower (a couple previous takes I kept speeding up even with the metronome). I hate to have anyone look at a boring beginner piece so I guess the larger question: is there an idiot's quide to tempo and rhythm? I'm basically ready to move on from this now, but my imperfect attempt is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLU5sQpCWYAI know a one-on-one teacher could really help here to show me what pieces are supposed to sound like, but I'm on my own for the moment.
Started playing at piano early March, 2011 YouTube channel documenting progress
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 369
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 369 |
Mr. Rubato, I know just what you mean. I found some help with Alfred's #1 on YouTube, and there's a video here that sounds pretty good to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp35e_xkmhcI don't, of course, advise trying to COPY someone else's efforts--a totally impossible task anyway--but a decent performance of the piece you're working on at least can give you an idea of what you want to work toward. Hope this helps, and keep plugging. Pretty soon you won't be blue at all.
I'm getting there--note by note.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,782
6000 Post Club Member
|
6000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,782 |
I have no idea, from a metronome marking, what "moderately slow blues" is :\
But I can say your tempo and rhythm had my feet tapping and my head nodding. It had a 'tude about it that the faster one that Michael posted didn't.
So I guess it depends on what kind of feeling you want to convey. I liked yours.
Cathy
Cathy Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353 |
Mr.R, you playing sounds very nice, and your hand shape is wonderful, which is very important, because the physical aspect of playing the piano is essentially an athletic endeavor, and good form is key.
One thing about Blues music is that the same piece or rhythm can sound good at a wide variety of tempos. For example, I often play a Boogie-Woogie beat at a very slow tempo, and it becomes this down-in-the-alley dirty Blues, but the notes are the same.
The most important thing is that it has that "swing" to it, otherwise the music misses the mark. You sound good.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,313
2000 Post Club Member
|
2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,313 |
Hi rocket88 et al At what tempo do you find that it is too difficult to swing your triplets ?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353 |
I'm not sure...not at a piano right now.
Do you mean RH triplets like Fats Domino's music?
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,313
2000 Post Club Member
|
2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,313 |
Yes rocket88, RH triplets. LH using open rootless chords.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 369
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 369 |
Mr. R, Just watched your video, and it's very nice! Good job. You've got a great rhythm going, and now you can play it at any speed that matches your mood. BTW, what piano are you playing on? It looks fine.
I'm getting there--note by note.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353 |
I never play those too fast because they don't sound good real fast, it becomes a blur, plus you get tired quickly.
I use them on slow and medium shuffles, like Jimmy Reed stuff, and New Orleans/early R&B stuff like Huey "Piano" Smith, Fats, etc.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Full Member
|
OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21 |
One thing about Blues music is that the same piece or rhythm can sound good at a wide variety of tempos. For example, I often play a Boogie-Woogie beat at a very slow tempo, and it becomes this down-in-the-alley dirty Blues, but the notes are the same. Very cool! I just recently discovered how much I like Blues music and especially how you describe it. Thanks.
Started playing at piano early March, 2011 YouTube channel documenting progress
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
4000 Post Club Member
|
4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353 |
Have fun...it is really great music.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Full Member
|
OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21 |
Thanks everyone for the quick replies (I'm amazed how knowledgeable and helpful members are here!) It seems the answer is there is no real answer, because playing is more art than science... I should have realized that before getting a little frustrated. I've got a lot to learn! I was just a bit surprised when hearing myself play on the recording, it didn't sound quite as a good as what was going through my head while playing. But that's more likely from being a beginner.
Started playing at piano early March, 2011 YouTube channel documenting progress
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Full Member
|
OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21 |
Mr. R, Just watched your video, and it's very nice! Good job. You've got a great rhythm going, and now you can play it at any speed that matches your mood. BTW, what piano are you playing on? It looks fine.
It's a Yamaha Clavinova (cvp-209 I think), about 7 or 8 years old. It's got some sticking keys (from my daughter playing it so much) but I like the features. Of course, I'm already starting to pine for a decent acoustic....
Started playing at piano early March, 2011 YouTube channel documenting progress
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,645
1000 Post Club Member
|
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,645 |
I think its so cool you've decided to document your piano journey right from the start. I wish I had done the same. I have no idea how I sounded after only a month at the piano. In a year or two, you'll look back on these "boring beginner piece" videos and smile at how far you've come. With respect to tempo, I don't think there is a magic bullet as to an exact tempo one should use. Sometimes the score will suggest a tempo (m.m. or bpm), but I find this is defined at the subjective whim of the arranger. I often find it useful to jump onto youtube to hear other people's versions of it. Sometimes, it'll be the exact same Alfred's version, while other times, it may be a much more complex arrangement. But by seeing the different possibilities, you can decide for yourself what "feels" right for you. Nobody will haul you off to 'piano jail' for playing something too fast or too slow.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Full Member
|
OP
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21 |
Thanks, Akira! I'll be thrilled if I can stick with piano a couple of years and the vids are a little added motivation.
You and Michael hit the nail on the head with YouTube as a valuable resource, and it's one of the things that pushed me over the edge to start learning piano... lots of great tutorials not to mention so many incredibly talented people posting their stuff.
Started playing at piano early March, 2011 YouTube channel documenting progress
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 525
500 Post Club Member
|
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 525 |
I play blues always a bit more slowly if it sounds more 'fat'. Sorry dont know the translate in english for it. It roles more then. I love your interpretation! It sounds really good!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 243
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 243 |
Very cool! I just recently discovered how much I like Blues music and especially how you describe it. Thanks. It is in my opinion the funniest genre (along with boogie woogie) to play on the piano. Have fun...it is really great music. +1
Nord Stage 2, Nord Lead 4, Rhodes MkII, Yamaha MOX6, Novation SL MkII
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 227
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 227 |
For what it's worth, the CD that accompanies the book has the song played at 96 bpm.
1978 Dittrich Acoustic Upright Alfred's 1 Graduate Currently on Alfred's 2
|
|
|
Forums43
Topics223,403
Posts3,349,419
Members111,636
|
Most Online15,252 Mar 21st, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|