Which of these techniques do you think you need to work on more? 0:00 Intro 00:32 Technique 5 02:27 Technique 4 03:23 Technique 3 04:28 Technique 2 07:42 Technique 1
Definitely the chords! Learned to play the piano as a kid, classical stuff mostly, which means: give me the sheet music and some time to practice, and I'll get it done, but then I have friends who listen to a song and go "oh, so that sounds like these and these chords" and then procede to play the damn thing and I'm just staring at them thinking "what sorcery is this??"
In the chords section, I think inversions is a must to practice since they come up very ofter in songs and sometimes it's hard to know what chord you are playing if you don't practice inversions
I don't use synthesia. I don't like it because it doesn't show you the fingering and the lighting is a bit much. I'll watch other pianists when needed since I can't look at sheet music. Since I learn a bit differently, I find when my fingering is off, the flow is off. The transition to where my fingers need to be next doesn't feel natural. It doesn't come with ease. That's the best way I can explain it. You've given me some new things to work on over the holidays. Thanks. 😁 Learning how to use a sustain peddle will be one of them. The sustain peddle I'm getting has the same style as an acoustic piano. I use my forth finger on the black key for octaves. I wish I could find piano players who break classical pieces down into sections so that I can learn new pieces visually. I'm learning a new piece by ear. Les tendres plaintes- Rameau
Definitely fingering, I (more or less) deal with the other points, but find a way to get the right fingering on non-classical sheets is a recurrent struggle for me. I'm a consistent pinkie user for black and whites key in octaves.
65 year old in the middle of my first week with a piano. I laughed at my musical inability, but now I am excited at this new language. After watching your video yesterday and practicing a basic exercise that I started Sunday, I started to see the keyboard as notes for the first time.
7 months on in my piano adventure, and I'm reviewing this video to see how I'm doing. Oops, I've neglected the pedal. I've got to fix it into a position since the Yamaha keyboard tends to slide around. I've learned all my major and minor scales, but the fingering isn't automatic. I bought a Hanon Book with all the fingerings for scales and arpeggios that Im using it methodically. I'm using the Chopin scale more recently. Chopin thought the B Major scale was ergonomically easier for the student's hand and so started with that one. I'm using it now in warm-ups and it helps. I'm still using your excellent routine almost everyday at the beginning. Legato, staccato, double, triple and quadruple time. I've dabbled in polyrhythms but I've got other things to work on. Your videos have been very helpful and I'd like to say merci beaucoup for your help.
@@lawrencetaylor4101 kickass Lawrence I'd definitely consider the Alfred premier piano books to play using sheet music and lessons if ya haven't alrdy started
For me knowing chords by heart was a breakthrough moment. Suddenly everything started to make sense. Arpeggios based on chords became easy, reading sheet music became much easier (instead of deciphering each note you just see the chord there), and most of all, improvisation became much more fun. That was the reason I started my own channel to help people who had the same problems at the beginning. Fell free to check it out :)
@@recorr well, for me the best connection between chords and scales is placed in the circle of fifths. I know people are sometimes afraid of it (as was I once) but in fact it’s quite easy when you understand the basics. Some time ago I created few short videos about the circle of fifths, maybe it can help you somehow? :) th-cam.com/video/OCyFLIR0cgg/w-d-xo.html
@@kingmalik09 In my case improvising over basic chord notes was the best option. You need to master all inversions of the chord, so wherever your hand is on the keyboard, you need to be able to see where are the chord notes. This is what I did: 1. Choose a chord you want to learn (e.g C major) 2. Pick some nice pattern for left hand (e.g. progression 1-6-4-5) 3. Improvise with right hand using only those base notes of a chord (C E G for Cmajor). Some time ago I did a video about "Learning chords through improvisation" for C Major and C Minor but you can use the idea for all other chords. Cmaj: th-cam.com/video/aEo-ASQargU/w-d-xo.html Cmin: th-cam.com/video/ziFtKewTQ6U/w-d-xo.html I hope it'll help :)
Jazer,... You are a super teacher. Somehow, I seem to get the concepts into my head easier with you as a teacher. I'm still just a beginner though. You seem to be able to get the point across without excessive yapping, therefore keeping someone with a limited attention span like me focused. Thank You
My old age and my novice getting hard to see what the fingers or the keys you playing. Love to see starting very slowly or add anything to help seeing what the keys you playing.
I've watched this video at least twice before and came away focused on the one thing that was causing me the most problems. But they were all causing me problems. I've focused on all of them with changing degrees of emphasis as I got better. But now that I am focusing more on repertory and studying composers, it has come down to fingering. I've been sight reading sheet music as a pastime for weeks now and I have found that to be the most helpful at this point. I don't fight the recommended fingering on the sheet music even though it is tempting sometimes. After watching your video on connecting points yesterday, I thought through my fingering again as I practiced each piece and discovered the wisdom of the recommended fingering in a few of my problem areas. So I learned to pivot my hand to make it work. I actually enjoy sitting with the sheet music and thinking through the fingering before I start. Even for pieces I have no hope of playing anytime soon. Getting the lay of the land ahead. After what is now almost 4 months of playing, things are beginning to gel. I am wearing out my Hanon and Albert's in my warm ups and quick 5-minute sessions throughout the day. I am feeling more and more comfortable with the keyboard. My fingers are beginning to think for themselves which helps me from having to look down at my fingers as often when I stumble and lose my place returning to the sheet music. I am slowly becoming more efficient with practicing and seem to have settled into a "comfortable" routine. Reviewing these videos has helped greatly. Thank you for that.
Started learning yesterday and I know it isn’t a big deal to others. But as someone who didn’t know a thing about music sheets, I finally can read C D E and sometimes F! E and F confuses me though. I just get happy when I can read it right lol
I am learning piano techniques from you thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I am studying Liturgy and Church Music now in Silliman University at age 58, the oldest student.
Concerning fingering, i would say take fingering seriously as in, always use the same one once you have decided on it. Most of the time i tell my students to ignore the fingerings written by the editors as they are mostly either unpianistic or simply not suited to their hand. Get used to scale and chord fingerings and try to apply them in your pieces as comfortable as possible. Always consider where you came from and where you are going next.
You’re right, fingering is tough for a new pianist. I learn most stuff by ear and struggle to figure out the most efficient fingering to use when going up or down the keyboard. There’s always more than one way, but you could be doing it in a way that creates bad habits. Oh, love the octave exercise! That helps the hands get used to the keyboard. Sometimes just not looking at your hands and trusting them to “feel” where the notes are is helpful in developing comfort on the piano. Awesome tips Jazer! 👌🏼👍🏼
Thank you Jazer for really simplifying the pedal timing. It's something I have been really working on a lot more since watching your earlier video on this topic. I usually incorporate at least a half hour a day of improv with scales in chord progressions in various keys which is really making a huge difference in learning overall.. thanks for your awesome videos.
From experience fingering is absolutely #1. For the same reasons you give. Study any great pianist video and his fingering is highly efficient and without unnecessary movement.
Thank you for your efforts…i am flowing you from Egypt your english easy and clear i can understand you without struggling…really I appreciate your help thanks 🙏
This is very true, I hope I told this to my younger self. For me, the scales, arpeggio and the broken chords needs to be trained for the rest of your life to be fluid as possible (I mean mastering all major, minor, etc).
I use 4th finger for octaves on black when it's next to an octave with 5th finger, like a scale or short leap. But for an occasional octave by itself, I use 5th finger on black octaves.
תודה!!! הרבה פעמים הכתוביות מסתירות את הנגינה שלך ואז לא ברור לי מה אתה עושה 🤔... בכל אופן, אתה מורה מעולה!! לומדת ממך המון!! אשמח להדרכה איך אפשר לפתוח יותר אקורדים🙏🏿
Thank you so much for your videos! You have a way of breaking down lessons into bite size pieces, which makes even the most difficult concepts easy to digest. The biggest feast you can find still goes down one bite at a time, so even the smallest bites will eventually leave you full and satisfied. I think it's brilliant. Thanks to your videos, I'm finally unlocking my full musical potential and tackling things like this lesson that I had put off for years. Thank you very much! I'm Subscribed
CHORDS .. most problematic; brand new at it after decades of sheet music playing; but what I've learned so far has opened up my world! Thanks for this list!
I have a small hand and I’m just trying to play octaves cleanly without hitting the next key. There is very little discussion on TH-cam that helps playing with small hands.
Excellent tips. Been self learning for more than 10 months thru youtube, and seem to be hitting a wall right now. I'm sure this video would help a lot in smoothing things out, thanks Jazer!
Thanks Jazer. You’re clearly a fine pianist. I’ve found these tutorials really useful with some sound advice. Appreciate your engaging and enthusiastic approach.
I generally like playing four-fingered chords so it depends on what key/chord I am in. I just let my hands and fingers fall on whatever feels comfortable if I am learning a song, I revert back to just one key
I bought my first digital piano then started learning Croatian Rhapsody right away by the ear. I could play the piece after a couple of months but could never do it fluently. Then after learning some basic music theory and piano skills, I realized my fingering was wrong. Now I have to relearn some part of it. It is frustrating but at least I know I will play the piece in the right way, better and faster.
All of them. I have only been playing for less than 3 weeks. But your videos are extremely helpful. I find focusing on chords, all 12 of them, is very beneficial. Your tips have helped me a lot. You are my go-to youtube piano teacher.
On octaves: I have smallish hands, but I can use my third finger for black octaves too. Alternating sometimes can give the fourth and fifth fingers a rest, not sure if it helps the music particularly though (I got the idea from professional fingering in an actual piece of Chopin). This did however pay dividends when the fourth finger on my right hand got stressed a bit. It got more rest! :))
Hey, thank you so much for your tips! For me Octaves are causing the most problems because my hands are really small so I can't do them without it being painful. Do you have any tips for small hands? I came back to the piano after not playing for more than a decade and was struggling a lot with octaves back then as well. Also totally agree with you about scales and chords! My teacher put a lot of emphasis on that when I learned piano as a kid so I have a really strong theoretical basis to this day, and it makes reading the music sheet a lot easier now that I am not used to doing this.
Thanks for these tips, I struggle with octaves because I only have small hands. At a push I can reach 9 notes just about, 10 is a definite no chance. Not too bad with chords, I have come back to the piano after playing organ/arranger keyboards so I love chords, although most of the time I played them with the left hand. I have had to teach myself to read the bas clef, getting better now, thanks again.
I see know that as a child/young teen, I compartmentalized the different aspects of piano lessons. Sight reading/techniques/theory/learning pieces were to me all things I had to learn but didn't really see/understand/appreciate that they are all parts of the whole with a common goal. It's changing the way I practice now. I've gone back to my grade 3 and 4 RCM books and am now up to an hour and a half each day. Have to add more technique to the mix.
Oh they are all are challenge for me. Pedal is my nemesis right now. Fingerings probably the least because I reclaimed right from the start that I need to be consistent and I have always make sure to pay attention to it. And by always I mean since I stayed learning 3 months ago. And I also want to say that your demonstration of using the pedal just made this so much more clear and I just applied it to a song I have been learning all day and it finally makes sense now. Thank you
Something I’ve come up with recently to help me with fingerings. Like I have a problem with using my pinky as strong as the rest of my hand so I will pretend that I only have my pinky and index finger and practice scales that way
When it comes to fingering my problem is that the music I want to learn to play normally doesn't come with fingerings recorded (overwhelmingly just video game music). Synthesia does have the option to add fingerings to the notes, as well as showing the music sheet (music sheet only / both / falling notes only) so I'd say it can properly be used as a learning tool, but the problem is when I find sheet music or midi songs to put into Synthesia it normally doesn't have fingerings recorded so I'm left to figure it out for myself. It's probably unlikely but is there a program out there to analyze sheet music and recommend fingerings?
This is really helpful! I am a beginner and I wasn't understanding what to learn as an beginner. But after some research and this video (mostly this video) i now know what things to work on... Thankyou!🙏🙏
The problem with most editors and music books is that finger patterns that are given are not good and don't make physical sense. I always go through a piece of music and redo all the finger patterns. when teaching chords, teach the 124, 135, 145, 123 patterns for fingering. Also, pay attention to the highest note, the lowest note when determining finger patterns within a passage, and well as where you're coming from and where you're going. Most books use "old school" finger patterns that are incorrect and don't make sense.
I usually play octaves with my 5th finger on the black keys because I have small hands. I know using 4th finger helps with less hand movement so I might try it again
Hi Jazer-these tutorials are brilliant! I've been doing piano via Pianote and Melodics for quite some time now. Pianote is really great (they have a fabulous teacher), but I've mainly been doing Melodics this past year while I've not been well. I've got nearly 200 straight days of practice in Melodics going, and I've made lots of progress, but-hmmm. I keep feeling like I'm not doing things correctly. This video of yours (I've been watching quite a few) with the fingering advice is a clincher. Right now in Melodics I'm working on learning my first big two-handed lesson piece. It's been unbelievably hard for me. The advice given for fingering has been no help, so my right hand fingering for the piece is hopeless. :/ I'm telling you this because watching a lot of your videos is making me think I'm going about this whole project (learning piano) the wrong way. Hmmm. So I've been saving up a lot of your beginner videos to start putting together a new routine. Your work has really helped me see things. I very much appreciate it! ❤️🦑
This is a great tutorial. 👏 my challenge is I have tension on my hand especially right hand. Would You please share yoour advices how to prove the position of the hand in order to expand and play in less tension?
On fingering, I don't have ideal hands, so I do try out my own fingering when something feels uncomfortable or it is hard to make it sound right. Most often that means crossing the thumb in a different place, or an extra time in extended arpeggios
Hi Jazer, thank you for the video. Really, really like the how you explain everything so clearly. Could you please make a video on how to apply pressure to produce better tones, and how to play with dynamic, please? Thank you so much in advance.
Jazer , you are awesome! I find memorizing scales and chords in different keys very challenging. But with more practice I suppose i'll get there some day. What are your tips for this? Thanks for everything, you teach well and play awesome! Were you like 3 years old when you started playing???
I find fingering techniques similar to home keys on a computer keyboard, except the "home" keys on the piano vary through the piece one is attempting to play. One more thing, the piano does not have a back space or undo key, it has to be right and flow correctly unless you are learning a piece at home.
If I may? I noticed that when you were demonstrating the chords, it was a little difficult to really see what you were doing, whether in real time or whenever you even played them slower. I have seen other piano teachers on youtube that use what I would call 'an extra set of keys' that appears above the actual keyboard. When you strike the keys, or form a chord, etc. the keys are color coded, and that makes it easier for the viewer to see which keys are being struck. thanks.
Such useful tips!! Thank you, Jazer. And thanks for ways to make playing scales and chords more interesting--that really helps. It's so hard to practice scales when it's just the same thing over and over and over and over...
I was trying most of what you've mentioned, except the pedal stuff and the octave practices. Our keyboard doesn't have pedals it in so I can't really get the same effect as your demo. I too believe in getting the fingering correct because it helps transitions smoother and efficient. Thank you so much 😊
For repeated black key octaves, I prefer to use the 5th finger (I find it too straining to the 4th finger). But if it's just one occasional black key octave in between white key octaves, then the 4th finger works fine.
Which of these techniques do you think you need to work on more?
0:00 Intro
00:32 Technique 5
02:27 Technique 4
03:23 Technique 3
04:28 Technique 2
07:42 Technique 1
Definitely the chords! Learned to play the piano as a kid, classical stuff mostly, which means: give me the sheet music and some time to practice, and I'll get it done, but then I have friends who listen to a song and go "oh, so that sounds like these and these chords" and then procede to play the damn thing and I'm just staring at them thinking "what sorcery is this??"
In the chords section, I think inversions is a must to practice since they come up very ofter in songs and sometimes it's hard to know what chord you are playing if you don't practice inversions
Thank you Mr. Lee.
I definitely need to work on fingering which is also extremely important for organists which I am.
I don't use synthesia. I don't like it because it doesn't show you the fingering and the lighting is a bit much. I'll watch other pianists when needed since I can't look at sheet music.
Since I learn a bit differently, I find when my fingering is off, the flow is off. The transition to where my fingers need to be next doesn't feel natural. It doesn't come with ease. That's the best way I can explain it.
You've given me some new things to work on over the holidays. Thanks. 😁
Learning how to use a sustain peddle will be one of them. The sustain peddle I'm getting has the same style as an acoustic piano.
I use my forth finger on the black key for octaves.
I wish I could find piano players who break classical pieces down into sections so that I can learn new pieces visually.
I'm learning a new piece by ear. Les tendres plaintes- Rameau
Definitely fingering, I (more or less) deal with the other points, but find a way to get the right fingering on non-classical sheets is a recurrent struggle for me. I'm a consistent pinkie user for black and whites key in octaves.
Your calm gentle way of giving us your best advice is much appreciated.
65 year old in the middle of my first week with a piano. I laughed at my musical inability, but now I am excited at this new language. After watching your video yesterday and practicing a basic exercise that I started Sunday, I started to see the keyboard as notes for the first time.
7 months on in my piano adventure, and I'm reviewing this video to see how I'm doing. Oops, I've neglected the pedal. I've got to fix it into a position since the Yamaha keyboard tends to slide around. I've learned all my major and minor scales, but the fingering isn't automatic. I bought a Hanon Book with all the fingerings for scales and arpeggios that Im using it methodically. I'm using the Chopin scale more recently. Chopin thought the B Major scale was ergonomically easier for the student's hand and so started with that one. I'm using it now in warm-ups and it helps. I'm still using your excellent routine almost everyday at the beginning. Legato, staccato, double, triple and quadruple time. I've dabbled in polyrhythms but I've got other things to work on.
Your videos have been very helpful and I'd like to say merci beaucoup for your help.
@@lawrencetaylor4101 kickass Lawrence I'd definitely consider the Alfred premier piano books to play using sheet music and lessons if ya haven't alrdy started
I can't help but hear The Office's opening theme in the chords you played haha
😁
Skae
Same
Yup! It’s even in the right key.
Absolutely 😃
For me knowing chords by heart was a breakthrough moment. Suddenly everything started to make sense. Arpeggios based on chords became easy, reading sheet music became much easier (instead of deciphering each note you just see the chord there), and most of all, improvisation became much more fun. That was the reason I started my own channel to help people who had the same problems at the beginning. Fell free to check it out :)
You gave me hope. Thank you 🙏
I am afraid of learning chords by themselves not reagarding keys.
But maybe im wrong, now i know keys i m gonna practice chords again
@@recorr well, for me the best connection between chords and scales is placed in the circle of fifths. I know people are sometimes afraid of it (as was I once) but in fact it’s quite easy when you understand the basics. Some time ago I created few short videos about the circle of fifths, maybe it can help you somehow? :)
th-cam.com/video/OCyFLIR0cgg/w-d-xo.html
How did you master chords?
@@kingmalik09 In my case improvising over basic chord notes was the best option. You need to master all inversions of the chord, so wherever your hand is on the keyboard, you need to be able to see where are the chord notes. This is what I did:
1. Choose a chord you want to learn (e.g C major)
2. Pick some nice pattern for left hand (e.g. progression 1-6-4-5)
3. Improvise with right hand using only those base notes of a chord (C E G for Cmajor).
Some time ago I did a video about "Learning chords through improvisation" for C Major and C Minor but you can use the idea for all other chords.
Cmaj: th-cam.com/video/aEo-ASQargU/w-d-xo.html
Cmin: th-cam.com/video/ziFtKewTQ6U/w-d-xo.html
I hope it'll help :)
Great advice Jacer!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOÒO MUCH!!!!!
You're great you helped out so much! Thanks!😄
YOU ARE A FANTASTIC TEACHER !!!!
Jazer,... You are a super teacher. Somehow, I seem to get the concepts into my head easier with you as a teacher. I'm still just a beginner though. You seem to be able to get the point across without excessive yapping, therefore keeping someone with a limited attention span like me focused. Thank You
LOVE THIS MAN. So excellent and engaging a teacher.
My old age and my novice getting hard to see what the fingers or the keys you playing. Love to see starting very slowly or add anything to help seeing what the keys you playing.
I've watched this video at least twice before and came away focused on the one thing that was causing me the most problems. But they were all causing me problems. I've focused on all of them with changing degrees of emphasis as I got better. But now that I am focusing more on repertory and studying composers, it has come down to fingering. I've been sight reading sheet music as a pastime for weeks now and I have found that to be the most helpful at this point. I don't fight the recommended fingering on the sheet music even though it is tempting sometimes. After watching your video on connecting points yesterday, I thought through my fingering again as I practiced each piece and discovered the wisdom of the recommended fingering in a few of my problem areas. So I learned to pivot my hand to make it work. I actually enjoy sitting with the sheet music and thinking through the fingering before I start. Even for pieces I have no hope of playing anytime soon. Getting the lay of the land ahead.
After what is now almost 4 months of playing, things are beginning to gel. I am wearing out my Hanon and Albert's in my warm ups and quick 5-minute sessions throughout the day. I am feeling more and more comfortable with the keyboard. My fingers are beginning to think for themselves which helps me from having to look down at my fingers as often when I stumble and lose my place returning to the sheet music. I am slowly becoming more efficient with practicing and seem to have settled into a "comfortable" routine. Reviewing these videos has helped greatly. Thank you for that.
Started learning yesterday and I know it isn’t a big deal to others. But as someone who didn’t know a thing about music sheets, I finally can read C D E and sometimes F! E and F confuses me though. I just get happy when I can read it right lol
Hope you made some improvements!
I am learning piano techniques from you thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I am studying Liturgy and Church Music now in Silliman University at age 58, the oldest student.
We demand a full version of The Office theme now. You've teased us too many times.
Concerning fingering, i would say take fingering seriously as in, always use the same one once you have decided on it. Most of the time i tell my students to ignore the fingerings written by the editors as they are mostly either unpianistic or simply not suited to their hand. Get used to scale and chord fingerings and try to apply them in your pieces as comfortable as possible. Always consider where you came from and where you are going next.
You’re right, fingering is tough for a new pianist. I learn most stuff by ear and struggle to figure out the most efficient fingering to use when going up or down the keyboard. There’s always more than one way, but you could be doing it in a way that creates bad habits. Oh, love the octave exercise! That helps the hands get used to the keyboard. Sometimes just not looking at your hands and trusting them to “feel” where the notes are is helpful in developing comfort on the piano. Awesome tips Jazer! 👌🏼👍🏼
I am the same way as far as learning fingerings with Jazer. I use Let's play Piano as my guide.
The pedal tip made a lot of sense
Thanks!!
Thank you Jazer for really simplifying the pedal timing. It's something I have been really working on a lot more since watching your earlier video on this topic. I usually incorporate at least a half hour a day of improv with scales in chord progressions in various keys which is really making a huge difference in learning overall.. thanks for your awesome videos.
That chord progression immediately made me think of The Office. Iconic chord prog!!
Playing Bohemian Rhapsody was my gate into octaves. It's really cool.
Bro, I learn more from you in less time than my piano teacher. Thanks a ton!
You're the best man!
Thank you Jazer for your suggestions 😊👍🏻🎹🎼
From experience fingering is absolutely #1. For the same reasons you give. Study any great pianist video and his fingering is highly efficient and without unnecessary movement.
Thank you for your efforts…i am flowing you from Egypt your english easy and clear i can understand you without struggling…really I appreciate your help thanks 🙏
Love from France 😂💙
You are SO helpful Jason. THANKYOU!
Happy to help! - Jazer
I love that you wear Ugg boots while you play 😄
This is very true, I hope I told this to my younger self. For me, the scales, arpeggio and the broken chords needs to be trained for the rest of your life to be fluid as possible (I mean mastering all major, minor, etc).
Great job!
I use 4th finger for octaves on black when it's next to an octave with 5th finger, like a scale or short leap. But for an occasional octave by itself, I use 5th finger on black octaves.
You are awesome jazer....... Ur teachings helped me,
תודה!!!
הרבה פעמים הכתוביות מסתירות את הנגינה שלך ואז לא ברור לי מה אתה עושה 🤔...
בכל אופן, אתה מורה מעולה!! לומדת ממך המון!!
אשמח להדרכה איך אפשר לפתוח יותר אקורדים🙏🏿
Thank you so much for your videos! You have a way of breaking down lessons into bite size pieces, which makes even the most difficult concepts easy to digest.
The biggest feast you can find still goes down one bite at a time, so even the smallest bites will eventually leave you full and satisfied.
I think it's brilliant. Thanks to your videos, I'm finally unlocking my full musical potential and tackling things like this lesson that I had put off for years.
Thank you very much! I'm Subscribed
None, I do not have a piano, but I enjoy watching your tutorials :D
CHORDS .. most problematic; brand new at it after decades of sheet music playing; but what I've learned so far has opened up my world! Thanks for this list!
Love you lessons. Thank you
I have a small hand and I’m just trying to play octaves cleanly without hitting the next key. There is very little discussion on TH-cam that helps playing with small hands.
Excellent tips. Been self learning for more than 10 months thru youtube, and seem to be hitting a wall right now. I'm sure this video would help a lot in smoothing things out, thanks Jazer!
Great advice. I’m going to start using the pedal. I’ve never used it before. Thank you from Melbourne Australia
Thanks Jazer. You’re clearly a fine pianist. I’ve found these tutorials really useful with some sound advice. Appreciate your engaging and enthusiastic approach.
Thank you so much!
Thank you very much. Good advise
Thank you for having these tutorials, stopped playing at level 6 and now I am relearning everything
Chords are the hardest for me, but everything in your video x will be helpful to practice. You are a terrific teacher! Thanks so much!
I hate cords! They are so hard!
Great explanations!!
I generally like playing four-fingered chords so it depends on what key/chord I am in. I just let my hands and fingers fall on whatever feels comfortable if I am learning a song, I revert back to just one key
Hi Jazer, I always have problems with " FINGERING ". Just as you started in this efficiency is everything !!!
I bought my first digital piano then started learning Croatian Rhapsody right away by the ear. I could play the piece after a couple of months but could never do it fluently. Then after learning some basic music theory and piano skills, I realized my fingering was wrong. Now I have to relearn some part of it. It is frustrating but at least I know I will play the piece in the right way, better and faster.
All of them. I have only been playing for less than 3 weeks. But your videos are extremely helpful. I find focusing on chords, all 12 of them, is very beneficial. Your tips have helped me a lot. You are my go-to youtube piano teacher.
On octaves: I have smallish hands, but I can use my third finger for black octaves too. Alternating sometimes can give the fourth and fifth fingers a rest, not sure if it helps the music particularly though (I got the idea from professional fingering in an actual piece of Chopin). This did however pay dividends when the fourth finger on my right hand got stressed a bit. It got more rest! :))
Fourth for the black keys.
Hey, thank you so much for your tips! For me Octaves are causing the most problems because my hands are really small so I can't do them without it being painful. Do you have any tips for small hands? I came back to the piano after not playing for more than a decade and was struggling a lot with octaves back then as well.
Also totally agree with you about scales and chords! My teacher put a lot of emphasis on that when I learned piano as a kid so I have a really strong theoretical basis to this day, and it makes reading the music sheet a lot easier now that I am not used to doing this.
Thanks for these tips, I struggle with octaves because I only have small hands. At a push I can reach 9 notes just about, 10 is a definite no chance. Not too bad with chords, I have come back to the piano after playing organ/arranger keyboards so I love chords, although most of the time I played them with the left hand. I have had to teach myself to read the bas clef, getting better now, thanks again.
Thank you
Hi Jazer can you please do a video on how to play the octaves and how to practise them? How we should position our hand and arms? Thank you
Me too. I used to play hymns ver well in church as an organist. But I feel difficult for grade 8 because of my fingering problem.
I see know that as a child/young teen, I compartmentalized the different aspects of piano lessons. Sight reading/techniques/theory/learning pieces were to me all things I had to learn but didn't really see/understand/appreciate that they are all parts of the whole with a common goal. It's changing the way I practice now. I've gone back to my grade 3 and 4 RCM books and am now up to an hour and a half each day. Have to add more technique to the mix.
Thanks for this video Sire
Oh they are all are challenge for me. Pedal is my nemesis right now. Fingerings probably the least because I reclaimed right from the start that I need to be consistent and I have always make sure to pay attention to it. And by always I mean since I stayed learning 3 months ago.
And I also want to say that your demonstration of using the pedal just made this so much more clear and I just applied it to a song I have been learning all day and it finally makes sense now. Thank you
The progression of major chords is definitely a Star Wars thing. John Williams "borrowed" it from Gustav Holz' 'Mars - Bringer of War'.
How is it possible that I made all the mistakes that he mentioned in a single video 😂. Thanks Jazerr
Something I’ve come up with recently to help me with fingerings. Like I have a problem with using my pinky as strong as the rest of my hand so I will pretend that I only have my pinky and index finger and practice scales that way
Wonderful Video, Great Tips 🤩
This was so helpful thanks a lot.
Your videos are amazing. Thank you so much 💖💖
Glad you like them!
Thanks a lot for this amaz info❤❤
When it comes to fingering my problem is that the music I want to learn to play normally doesn't come with fingerings recorded (overwhelmingly just video game music). Synthesia does have the option to add fingerings to the notes, as well as showing the music sheet (music sheet only / both / falling notes only) so I'd say it can properly be used as a learning tool, but the problem is when I find sheet music or midi songs to put into Synthesia it normally doesn't have fingerings recorded so I'm left to figure it out for myself. It's probably unlikely but is there a program out there to analyze sheet music and recommend fingerings?
I‘m facing the exact same problem. Can you tell me if you find out something new?
This is really helpful! I am a beginner and I wasn't understanding what to learn as an beginner. But after some research and this video (mostly this video) i now know what things to work on... Thankyou!🙏🙏
The problem with most editors and music books is that finger patterns that are given are not good and don't make physical sense. I always go through a piece of music and redo all the finger patterns. when teaching chords, teach the 124, 135, 145, 123 patterns for fingering. Also, pay attention to the highest note, the lowest note when determining finger patterns within a passage, and well as where you're coming from and where you're going. Most books use "old school" finger patterns that are incorrect and don't make sense.
My man playing the office lol
Great video. Thanks
I love octaves ❤️ because they challenge me to play with less tension.
Thank you for this Video! I begin playing Piano since the day I came across your beautiful Tutorial Clips
I usually play octaves with my 5th finger on the black keys because I have small hands. I know using 4th finger helps with less hand movement so I might try it again
Hi Jazer-these tutorials are brilliant! I've been doing piano via Pianote and Melodics for quite some time now. Pianote is really great (they have a fabulous teacher), but I've mainly been doing Melodics this past year while I've not been well. I've got nearly 200 straight days of practice in Melodics going, and I've made lots of progress, but-hmmm. I keep feeling like I'm not doing things correctly. This video of yours (I've been watching quite a few) with the fingering advice is a clincher. Right now in Melodics I'm working on learning my first big two-handed lesson piece. It's been unbelievably hard for me. The advice given for fingering has been no help, so my right hand fingering for the piece is hopeless. :/
I'm telling you this because watching a lot of your videos is making me think I'm going about this whole project (learning piano) the wrong way. Hmmm. So I've been saving up a lot of your beginner videos to start putting together a new routine. Your work has really helped me see things. I very much appreciate it! ❤️🦑
I like the way you presented the chords. I know all the chords/keys but I haven't been practicing them the way you showed. But I will! Thanks!
I can't avoid thinking about The Office theme when working with those chords! Nice video!!!
This is a great tutorial. 👏 my challenge is I have tension on my hand especially right hand. Would
You please share yoour advices how to prove the position of the hand in order to expand and play in less tension?
Hey Jazer been wanting to ask this for awhile now can you make a video on things you can do to help writing/composing a song? please :)
Hahaha, my teacher is always after me about fingerings. So much to learn.
Sir, five points are very much important. Thanks for share ... very interesting.
On fingering, I don't have ideal hands, so I do try out my own fingering when something feels uncomfortable or it is hard to make it sound right. Most often that means crossing the thumb in a different place, or an extra time in extended arpeggios
Chords I thought a chord was only played as a single combination not as separate notes as well. Thanks for your great advice
I'll be getting a sustain pedal for my keyboard. That's what I need for one of the pieces I'm composing.
Hi Jazer, thank you for the video. Really, really like the how you explain everything so clearly. Could you please make a video on how to apply pressure to produce better tones, and how to play with dynamic, please? Thank you so much in advance.
Jazer , you are awesome! I find memorizing scales and chords in different keys very challenging. But with more practice I suppose i'll get there some day. What are your tips for this? Thanks for everything, you teach well and play awesome! Were you like 3 years old when you started playing???
Thank you so much. All your videos improved me a lot to play piano.
Yeah!!!!!
This video helped me a lot on my pieces and my scales sound more even toned
Thank you Jazer 👍👍👍
I use my 5th finger for octaves on all keys, but I tend to flatten it out on the black keys.
Beautiful session. Thank you 🙂
I find fingering techniques similar to home keys on a computer keyboard, except the "home" keys on the piano vary through the piece one is attempting to play.
One more thing, the piano does not have a back space or undo key, it has to be right and flow correctly unless you are learning a piece at home.
Sir, wounderful is number five, really don't know it . Thanks for share
If I may? I noticed that when you were demonstrating the chords, it was a little difficult to really see what you were doing, whether in real time or whenever you even played them slower. I have seen other piano teachers on youtube that use what I would call 'an extra set of keys' that appears above the actual keyboard. When you strike the keys, or form a chord, etc. the keys are color coded, and that makes it easier for the viewer to see which keys are being struck. thanks.
YESSSSS FINALLY IM FIFTH FINALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TO COMMENT ON ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PIANO TH-camRS
Congrats you’ve achieved nothing
@@Day-vg1bh Now now, let's all play nice.
Excellent tips! Thanks.
Such useful tips!! Thank you, Jazer. And thanks for ways to make playing scales and chords more interesting--that really helps. It's so hard to practice scales when it's just the same thing over and over and over and over...
I was trying most of what you've mentioned, except the pedal stuff and the octave practices. Our keyboard doesn't have pedals it in so I can't really get the same effect as your demo. I too believe in getting the fingering correct because it helps transitions smoother and efficient. Thank you so much 😊
I would recommend buying a pedal it makes the sound 10x better trust me
For repeated black key octaves, I prefer to use the 5th finger (I find it too straining to the 4th finger). But if it's just one occasional black key octave in between white key octaves, then the 4th finger works fine.