Too old to learn to play piano/keyboards?

gtaus

So here it is, I'm in my mid 40's, play guitar and bass guitar in classic rock cover band. Wondering if I am too old to learn to play keyboards for certain parts in some of our songs. We don't get paid enough to bring on another member just for the few keyboard parts we would like to add. Thought about midi tracks and/or backing tracks, but the other members in the band are anti-tech in that respect.

Don't have time to take piano lessons for years, would prefer to learn some system for rock keyboards playing by ear if possible. Took piano lessons for a short time as a kid. Know how to play major and minor chords and some 7ths. Any hope for me? Any suggestions for a fast(er) track to playing rock keyboards live on stage? This is not a classical concert recital, it's just fun rock and roll that I would like to do, if I can pull it off. Any comments and suggestions most welcome. Thanks.

Manitou

Piano is good. I bet iliace can offer you lots of help, as I remember him saying he's an outstanding pianist.


Be careful to not give in to the Dark Side.
If you end up with an accordion, we'll have to kill you.

Rawb

As I am still trying to get the guitar thing down. I mess around with the keys once in a while. I reckon it's like anything else ie how fast of a learner you are and how much time you commit to it. I say go for it!

I know a guy here in my parts who fronts his band for the last few decades and he just recently embarked on piano a few yrs ago. For the same reasons you want to! So again ... go fer it and git'er done!

shredd

HeII no. It may be too late to be Rick Wakeman, but there's no reason you can't play the basics.
I only started dabbling in KB's a little while ago...granted, my main interest is git'r and bass, but I can throw a riff or two, just by virtue of my understanding of basic chord structure.
Now, if could actually play chords.... :oops:

iliace

I'm by no means outstanding :oops: I used to play a whole lot and went to music school with piano as primary instrument, for 6-7 years. So I can play some keyboards for the band, but I have no idea of any \"shortcuts\" you can take to learn - I can only suggest traditional practice regiments.

gtaus

\iliace\ wrote:

I'm by no means outstanding :oops: I used to play a whole lot and went to music school with piano as primary instrument, for 6-7 years. So I can play some keyboards for the band, but I have no idea of any \"shortcuts\" you can take to learn - I can only suggest traditional practice regiments.

Well, I'm not exactly looking for the \"Easy\" button. I have played saxaphone from 4th-12th grade, guitar for about 30 years, and bass the last 2 years. So I do understand music. I guess maybe I'm looking for something in instruction that we get me where I can actually be useful in a rock band. Like I said, I know how to play chords on the piano and at this point I really don't care too much to learn how to play using sheet music. If I could learn how to throw some licks down on the keyboard based on my knowledge of the chords structure of the song, that would probably be good enough. That's why I wanted to know if anyone knew of a good playing by ear type of instruction.

Granted, every piano teacher I know recommends learning piano the traditional way, which would mean years of practice to do it right. They also recommend that you start about 6 years old. I'm 40 years past that point. My expectations, at this point, are only to use the keyboard to \"fill\" the sound with chords in the background, and maybe, just every once in a while, do a simple riff. At the moment, I am completely hacking away at the keyboard by ear, which is OK. But I am hoping that someone has come accross an instruction method that would bring some system or approach that would be more in line with my simple needs.

As far as traditional learning, I have a Miracle keyboard with software for about 2 years of music instruction. That is a more traditional approach. I am slowly progressing through that instruction set, but my heart is not into \"Hot Crossed Buns\" and \"Mary Had A Little Lamb\" beginners songs for the piano. I am hoping someone would have a suggestion for a method that actually teaches something that I could bring to the band this year. Again, thanks for any comments and suggestions.

iliace

The biggest issue is getting used to scales. On guitar, each scale is the same shape. On a keyboard, each one is different. Same with chord shapes. Keyboard also allows considerably more chord voicings.

As far as useful for rock, learn pentatonic scales and double-stops. Practice them to a beat.

What kinds of songs are you looking to cover with keyboard that you can't arrange for guitar?

BlackIbanezRG270DX

i say the only obstacle should be whether or not you can get a keyboard. if you go into an instrument with the idea of short cuts your not gonna be great at that instrument because youve already decided on it. just play it for a while a few times a week. since you already a guitar/bass player just sit those aside and replace the time youd spend with them with the kb once in a while. music skill is paid by the hour, you can only get better faster by working overtime

iliace

\BlackIbanezRG270DX\ wrote:

music skill is paid by the hour, you can only get better faster by working overtime

Well put.

gtaus

\iliace\ wrote:

...What kinds of songs are you looking to cover with keyboard that you can't arrange for guitar?

We are starting to play some Bruce Springsteen numbers that are more dancable for the crowd. There are some good spots where we really miss the keyboard sound. We have arranged many keyboard parts for guitar, but sometimes it is just not the same. Hats off to the good keyboardists out there. Some songs just don't sound right without those keys in the background. I am just looking to fill in the gaps if I can.

gtaus

\iliace\ wrote:

\BlackIbanezRG270DX\ wrote:

music skill is paid by the hour, you can only get better faster by working overtime

Well put.

I am not trying to learn keyboard without putting some time in on the instrument. I would just like to maximize my time by learning how to play something useful for the band right now. I guess maybe I should have asked if there are any good piano methods for the older beginner who actually has been playing music for 30+ years, understands music, can read notes, but just is not a keyboard player. I have been programming midi data for keyboards for years, but programming and playing live up to tempo are not the same thing.

By the way, I envy the younger guys with lots of time on their hands. I am gigging every weekend, usually try to fit in a mid-week practice with the boys, and still have time for making the mortgage while attending school. I'd just love it if I had the time to take lessons and practice everyday. Too much to learn, and never enough time. But hey, I love every minute of it. At least my aging has taught me to make the most out of what I can bring to the party. Showing up counts guys. Even at my age and skill, I have improved a lot this past year playing on stage every weekend. And I constantly look for ways to improve our sound, which is why I am looking at working on the keyboards.

shredd

\gtaus\ wrote:

By the way, I envy the younger guys with lots of time on their hands. I am gigging every weekend, usually try to fit in a mid-week practice with the boys, and still have time for making the mortgage while attending school. I'd just love it if I had the time to take lessons and practice everyday.

SCENE ONE:
Enter 'taus into family kitchen.
LINE: Mrs. 'taus - \"Eek!!! Who the he|| are YOU?!?\"

iliace

If you are comfortable with learning the keys and scales on your own, I would recommend checking out Jordan Rudess's Keyboard Wizardry video (all over YouTube). It has many good exercises for developing finger proficiency, as well as harmonic and melodic exercises, timing, etc. Excellent instruction, even for non-keyboardists.

BlackIbanezRG270DX

id say if your comfortable with all things music but not the feel of the keyboard(which is what it sounds like to me) then just play it whenever you can. if you dont have alot of time to just play then still just play whenever you can. thats what i meant by paid by the hour. if you can only work an hour a week then you aint makin too much. buy a little mini keyboard maybe and play it, try to make it as portable as you can. another lil trick i used to use is air guitar (or air keyboard) just learn what you need your hands to do to play a song and do it whenever you can. i used to practice \"the entertainer\" on my desk in school so it looked like i was tapping my fingers but the next time i hit a keyboard the muscle memory was rock solid. sounds dumb (and looks it to anyone watching you do it) but i swear itll work.

gtaus

\iliace\ wrote:

If you are comfortable with learning the keys and scales on your own, I would recommend checking out Jordan Rudess's Keyboard Wizardry video (all over YouTube). It has many good exercises for developing finger proficiency, as well as harmonic and melodic exercises, timing, etc. Excellent instruction, even for non-keyboardists.

I did not even think about YouTube. I'll check it out and see if there is anything there I can use. Thanks.

shredd

It's like Phoebe Cates said in Fast Times At Ridgemont High:
\"Just keep doing it.\" :twisted:

ednrg

Phoebe Cates

\"Hi Brad\"

shredd

\ednrg\ wrote:

Phoebe Cates
\"Hi Brad\"

\"You know how cute I always thought you were...\"
Life's the same, I'm moving in stereooooo...
Mmmm....Phoebe Cates....

Mike B

Yo Gatus, the key on the very middle of the piano keyboard is \"C\". Good luck from there.


peace

Cobaltblooz

Phoebe Cates.....yum 8)

Go look it up.

Rawb

\Cobaltblooz\ wrote:

Phoebe Cates.....yum 8)

Go look it up.

I second that! 8)

shredd

8^p~~~

gtaus

\Mike B\ wrote:

Yo Gatus, the key on the very middle of the piano keyboard is \"C\". Good luck from there. peace

Thanks, I think the rest should be easy now.

Rawb

\Cobaltblooz\ wrote:

Go look it up.

LMAO

Tal Rules

Profiecency is a relative thing...

If you just want to play a few chords, and some simple licks, shouldn't take you to long, just to add that extra voice...

If you want to play like Oscar Peterson....
Throw away the guitar and start practicing 16 hours a day...LOL...

Naw...40's not too old, or for that matter, any age is not too old..
Knowing some keyboard basics, will help you SEE things (Harmony, Scales, Voice Leading, etcc...) much easier than the fretboard, and will allow you to transfer your keyboard knowledge to the fretboard...

Have fun with it... 8)

Rawb

\Tal Rules\ wrote:

If you want to play like Oscar Peterson....

Have fun with it... 8)

Bill Evans? Maybe some Return To Forever ( Chic Corea )

shredd

Shoot, I'd be happy if I could play like Gregg Rollie. Might meet some chix too. :twisted:

gtaus

Well, I started working on my Miracle Piano System package I bought many years ago. It is a more traditional piano learning system, but it is self paced so I can hack away at it on my own time. Don't know if anyone here remembers the Miracle Piano System, but for its time, it was a great package. Anyway, it has about 2 years of piano instruction lessons (or so I am told). I just finished Lesson 7 and can play some simple songs with both hands. Of course, the songs get more complicated and I am sure the more advanced lessons will be harder to finish. But the computer does a good job in judging my playing and it makes you repeat the exercises or parts of the songs that you mess up. You don't move forward until you get a passing performance. So I like that aspect. Hope I can keep up the practice when the lessons get harder.

It all started with knowing that the middle note on the keyboard was \"C\". After that, things just fell into place. Thanks Mike B.

BlackIbanezRG270DX

id like one of them for guitar

shredd

Is there a \"Miracle Meet Chix Who Don't Spit On You\" package??? 8)

PS, I'm betting you'll find that once you've gotten comfortable on the KB again, it'll come a lot easier than you think. Lots of KB parts are not particularly complex...

gtaus

\shredd\ wrote:

Is there a \"Miracle Meet Chix Who Don't Spit On You\" package??? 8)...

Man, I wish I could help you Shredd. If all else fails, find a job that pays a ton of money - that will attract a certain kind of woman.