Agh playing the piano is hard(ish)

[TristanLuigi]

I recently started piano lessons. My first song was Aura Lee and I play really well without a metronome, but I have no sense of rhythm, so when I try and play to the proper beat, everything goes horribly wrong. Most of the time, the high pitch on the metronome occurs halfway through the measure, and when I do play the note at the right time, I play the wrong pitch because I'm too busy focusing on the rhythm. Any tips?

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[psychomutt]

i play the piano but i cant read sheet music. i just memorize keys

[Port]

stop focusing or thinking

i play the piano but i cant read sheet music. i just memorize keys

i just look at sheet music once
then i just play it

looking at the sheets is just distracting

[TristanLuigi]

i play the piano but i cant read sheet music. i just memorize keys

We were forced to learn how to read sheet music in elementary school and I'm taking choir in high school now (again, I was forced to). It really isn't that hard.

stop focusing or thinking

i just look at sheet music once
then i just play it

looking at the sheets is just distracting

I stopped looking at it because I have the song memorized now, but if I don't think then my beat gets really off or I forget up the note.

[dorkdotdan]

Piano is a good first instrument no matter what you decide to pick up later. I'm glad I played piano when I did.

[Sentry]

My first instrument was an Ibanez electric guitar.
After that I got a keyboard and a bass guitar.

[childofdarkness016]

My piano lessons were pretty bad in terms of learning how to actually play, but my teacher taught me like every single chord. Turns out it really helped me start composing.

i still can't play the piano though and am considering getting another teacher

[AfterShock]

Make sure you're tapping your foot to the beat. Or something. You can even bounce your body a little as weird as it would look.

Take the songs slow at first if you can't get it. There's no problem with starting slower and speeding it up. It's how I learn all my songs, as piano isn't my native instrument. Also, you just need patience and constant practice.

[Alkatjo]

Get a metronome, start out on bass keys then move to melody and so forth.

Don't worry about the pedals right now, those are not top priority.

*You need to practice hand-sync to be able to jump from one set of keys to another. This way, it won't sound like a long pause.
Beat is always needed. If you have a counter, set it to 4/4 time and about 90bmp then start playing scales.
Scales include D and G.
Don't worry about the rhythm either. Pitch is key. Memorize your sheet music and measure numbers so you can focus more on playing rather than pausing, looking up, then resuming. This is what got me through band and I'm currently 1st chair strings/piano company. Just practice, over and over.

[carolcat]

i guess try counting stuff out in your head? i dunno man

i never use a metronome or count out my notes because it distracts me a lot but that's probably because i've been practicing for like, 4 or 5 years and never took lessons/had a metronome
i took classes once last year and the teacher kept trying to count as i played and i'd be playing fine up until she'd start counting and it'd forget me up

however i'm taking organ classes starting this saturday, so this means i get to learn to play with my hands and feet at the same time.

this is something from the book i'm learning from so uh yeah

[Katadeus]

Piano is an amazing instrument once you've gotten comfortable with it. It took me years and years to get to where I am, but I have a really easy time of interpreting all sorts of music on the piano. It might take a few minutes to work it out but it's a great skill to have.

[Nonnel]

I can play the song Lady Madonna but that's about it.

[Planr]

Tried to play instruments but Aspergers syndrome makes it nearly impossible. I have naturally poor motor coordination.

[Tetris]

i just look at sheet music once
then i just play it

looking at the sheets is just distracting

are you some kind of savant or something

god damn

[Nasoa]

i'm teaching myself the piano right now

i already know the theory from 7 years of cello, but my right hand does not know how to into coordination