Cross rhythms

Psem5 · 03-20-2011, 01:01 PM

Any advice for playing in two separate times with each hand on the piano? Although it is well out of my league at this stage I would like to one day be able to play Chopin's fantasie impromptu. The right hand plays in 2/2 time but the left hand is nothing but sextuplets meaning it may as well be 12/8. Any advice from people already able to do this and would you suggest any easier pieces of music which serve as a good introduction?
I could also use some help with complex tuplets. Id like to learn Chopin's first nocturne in Bb minor but it contains 11tuplets and 22tuplets (I dont know what to call these).
Easier pieces as good intros is mainly what Im looking for. Practice is the only way to learn.

NGPercussion · 04-26-2011, 07:16 PM

I'm learning basic piano right now, and practice is KEY. I am a percussionist and can play various cross rhythms, and it just takes practice. Make sure you can play both rhythms standalone first at different tempos, and then start VERY slowly...doesn't matter how slow as long as you can get it down. After you hit it successfully five or six times in a row, then start gradually speeding up until you can do it at tempo. Do you have a metronome?

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 04-27-2011, 08:16 PM

Figure out what two rhythms you're playing and play them over, and over, and over, and over again. You'll stumble a LOT, trust me.

Play one with one hand, one with the other. Then try both. Do it slowly. Do it over, and over again.

There is no trick, it's just like learning to play anything else, really.

iELEMENT5 · 04-27-2011, 08:49 PM

Can this be applied to finger tapping? weird - I know lol but could it

Psem5 · 05-03-2011, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.

NGPercussion · 05-03-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iELEMENT5

Can this be applied to finger tapping? weird - I know lol but could it

Of course. Jeff Queen has written a snare drum solo where aside from playing the obvious, he starts it off by playing the snare drums with his fingers, with hard plastic or metal pieces slid on to his fingertips. Check out Double Flag written by Jeff Queen.

mix · 04-14-2013, 04:21 AM

Figure out what two rhythms you're playing and play them over, and over, and over, and over again. You'll stumble a LOT, trust me.

Play one with one hand, one with the other. Then try both. Do it slowly. Do it over, and over again.

There is no trick, it's just like learning to play anything else, really.

zinia7 · 04-14-2013, 04:31 AM

i can play different rhythms at the same time. i find that to hard

zinia7 · 04-14-2013, 04:44 AM

i mean cant

Afro Blue · 04-16-2013, 04:10 AM

you could play different rhythms if you count while playing and know each part for each hand... its just a matter of sub dividing it shouldn't be that hard if you know what you are aming for...

but playing at a different tempo then that's another thing... i wont say its not possible, but who knows.

03-20-2011, 01:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Psem5 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Plymouth Posts: 23	Cross rhythms Any advice for playing in two separate times with each hand on the piano? Although it is well out of my league at this stage I would like to one day be able to play Chopin's fantasie impromptu. The right hand plays in 2/2 time but the left hand is nothing but sextuplets meaning it may as well be 12/8. Any advice from people already able to do this and would you suggest any easier pieces of music which serve as a good introduction? I could also use some help with complex tuplets. Id like to learn Chopin's first nocturne in Bb minor but it contains 11tuplets and 22tuplets (I dont know what to call these). Easier pieces as good intros is mainly what Im looking for. Practice is the only way to learn.

04-26-2011, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
NGPercussion MB Percussionist Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 135	I'm learning basic piano right now, and practice is KEY. I am a percussionist and can play various cross rhythms, and it just takes practice. Make sure you can play both rhythms standalone first at different tempos, and then start VERY slowly...doesn't matter how slow as long as you can get it down. After you hit it successfully five or six times in a row, then start gradually speeding up until you can do it at tempo. Do you have a metronome?

04-27-2011, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
iELEMENT5 Groupie Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2	Can this be applied to finger tapping? weird - I know lol but could it

05-03-2011, 05:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Psem5 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Plymouth Posts: 23	Thanks for the advice guys.

04-14-2013, 04:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
mix Groupie Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1	Figure out what two rhythms you're playing and play them over, and over, and over, and over again. You'll stumble a LOT, trust me. Play one with one hand, one with the other. Then try both. Do it slowly. Do it over, and over again. There is no trick, it's just like learning to play anything else, really.

04-14-2013, 04:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
zinia7 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 117	i can play different rhythms at the same time. i find that to hard

04-14-2013, 04:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
zinia7 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 117	i mean cant

04-16-2013, 04:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Afro Blue Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: in a wave Posts: 54	you could play different rhythms if you count while playing and know each part for each hand... its just a matter of sub dividing it shouldn't be that hard if you know what you are aming for... but playing at a different tempo then that's another thing... i wont say its not possible, but who knows.