Piano And Keyboard All-In-One for Dummies

649 Pages·2016·41.3 MB·English

by  Day Holly et al.

Music/Musical Instruments/Piano & Keyboard
Making Everything Easier!™
Jump into playing piano
and keyboard with this Open the book and find: Pi Piano & Keyboard
complete, easy-to-use guide • Tips on choosing an instrument a
and caring for it
n
If you’ve always wanted to play piano or keyboard, but didn’t • The scoop on reading notes and
know where to start, this book is the resource you need! understanding beats o A L L - I N - O N E
With four hands-on books all wrapped up in one, you’ll get
• How to begin playing, one hand A&
a complete guide to playing like a pro, from understanding at a time L
L
theory and reading music to exploring different genres and -
• An exploration of various IK
N
using practice exercises to improve quickly!
genres of music -e
O
• Meet the keyboard — get started by finding out how to choose • Exercises for developing Ny
an instrument, set it up, and care for it technique E
b
• A different language — dive into the basics of the language of • The skinny on electronic
o
music, including notes, beats, measures, time signatures, and more keyboard effects
a
• Do it with style — explore the different styles of music, including
• Tips on using software to play
jazz, classical, and blues along with recordings r
d
• Practice makes perfect — use the practice exercises to brush up
on technique, master scales, and more
Cover Image: ©Daniel_M/iStockphoto.com 4 BBOOOOKKSS

1
IN
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Piano & Keyboard
ALL-IN-ONE
by Holly Day, Jerry Kovarsky, Blake Neely,
David Pearl, and Michael Pilhofer
Piano & Keyboard All-In-One For Dummies®
Published by:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
111 River Street,
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774,
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Media and software compilation copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013956854
ISBN 978-1-118-83742-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-83756-6 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-118-83744-3 (ePDF)
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents at a Glance
Introduction ................................................................ 1
Book I: Piano & Keyboard 101 ..................................... 5
Chapter 1: Warming Up to the Piano and Keyboard .....................................................7
Chapter 2: Looking at the Different Keyboard Options ..............................................21
Chapter 3: Choosing and Buying Your Keyboard ........................................................41
Chapter 4: The Setup and Care of Your Instrument ....................................................63
Chapter 5: Getting Comf y at the Keyboard ..................................................................81
Book II: Understanding Theory and the
Language of Music .................................................... 97
Chapter 1: Looking at Notes and Beats .........................................................................99
Chapter 2: Stopping for a Rest .....................................................................................109
Chapter 3: Tempo, Measures, and Time Signatures ..................................................115
Chapter 4: Navigating Sheet Music ..............................................................................125
Chapter 5: Varying Beats and Rhythms ......................................................................137
Book III: Beginning to Play ...................................... 153
Chapter 1: Playing a Melody .........................................................................................155
Chapter 2: Working with Scales ...................................................................................171
Chapter 3: Adding the Left Hand .................................................................................187
Chapter 4: Examining Form: Melody, Harmony, and Song Form ................................209
Chapter 5: Keys, Key Signatures, and the Circle of Fifths ........................................235
Chapter 6: Building Chords to Accompany Melodies ...............................................257
Book IV: Refining Your Technique and
Exploring Styles ....................................................... 281
Chapter 1: Adding Effects and Flair to Your Piano Playing ......................................283
Chapter 2: Getting into the Groove .............................................................................305
Chapter 3: Going Classical ............................................................................................325
Chapter 4: Perusing Popular Genres and Forms ........................................................337
Book V: Exercises: Practice, Practice, Practice ........... 357
Chapter 1: Developing Hand Technique .....................................................................359
Chapter 2: Extending Your Scales................................................................................387
Chapter 3: Improving Finger Coordination and Footwork .......................................409
Chapter 4: Jumping Across the Keyboard ..................................................................429
Chapter 5: Exercising with Arpeggios and Alternating Hands .................................443
Chapter 6: Stepping Up to Octaves and Chord Progressions ..................................463
Book VI: Exploring Electronic Keyboard Technology .... 479
Chapter 1: Choosing Sounds and Ef fects ....................................................................481
Chapter 2: Adding Accompaniment, Rhy thm Patterns, and Arpeggiation .............499
Chapter 3: Recording and Editing Your Sounds ........................................................525
Chapter 4: Using Onboard Learning Systems ............................................................551
Chapter 5: Playing Along with Recordings and Using Music Software ...................565
Appendix: Accessing the Audio Tracks ....................... 593
Index ...................................................................... 601
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................. 1
About This Book ..............................................................................................1
Foolish Assumptions .......................................................................................2
Icons Used in This Book .................................................................................3
Beyond the Book .............................................................................................3
Where to Go from Here ...................................................................................4
Book I: Piano & Keyboard 101 ...................................... 5
Chapter 1: Warming Up to the Piano and Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
What’s So Special About the Piano? ..............................................................7
Advantages to playing the piano .........................................................8
Advantages to learning music at the piano ........................................8
A skill and an art ....................................................................................9
Why People Learn to Play the Piano (and Why They Often Quit) ............9
Getting to Know the Piano as an Instrument .............................................11
Understanding the Language of Music .......................................................12
Developing an ear for horizontal and vertical music ......................13
Getting to know musical forms and styles........................................13
The Best Way to Play ....................................................................................14
What You Already Know About Playing the Piano ....................................14
Electronic Keyboards and other Keyboard Instruments .........................15
Examining keyboard designs throughout the years........................15
Touching on key weight ......................................................................16
Join the family: Grouping keyboards ................................................16
Making the Most of Your Keyboard’s Basic Features ...............................17
Working with sounds ...........................................................................17
Exploring effects ..................................................................................18
Getting into automatic playing features ...........................................18
Delving into More Advanced Digital Features ...........................................19
Stepping into the virtual recording studio .......................................19
Shaping the sounds you play .............................................................19
Checking out the computer connection ...........................................19
Practicing with and without Help ................................................................20
vi
Piano & Keyboard All-In-One For Dummies
Chapter 2: Looking at the Different Keyboard Options . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Acoustic Pianos .............................................................................................22
Lids ........................................................................................................24
String layout .........................................................................................24
Keys, hammers, and strings ...............................................................24
Electro-Mechanical Keyboards ....................................................................25
Electronic Keyboards ....................................................................................28
Combo organs ......................................................................................28
Synthesizers .........................................................................................29
Portable keyboards .............................................................................31
Workstations ........................................................................................32
Arrangers ..............................................................................................32
Controller keyboards ..........................................................................33
Appreciating How Digital Keyboards Make So Many Sounds ..................34
Considering Key Feel and Response ...........................................................35
Touch sensitivity .................................................................................35
Key weight ............................................................................................37
Paying Attention to Polyphony ....................................................................38
Chapter 3: Choosing and Buying Your Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
First Things First: Acoustic or Electric (or Both)? ....................................42
Pros and cons of acoustic keyboards ...............................................42
Pros and cons of digital keyboards ...................................................43
Looking At What’s Important for the Beginner ..........................................45
Playing Well With Others and Alone ...........................................................46
Going solo .............................................................................................47
Accompanying vocalists .....................................................................47
Performing classical music with others ............................................48
Jamming in a pop, rock, or jazz band ................................................48
Picking the Perfect Acoustic Piano .............................................................49
Taking location into account ..............................................................49
Getting all the pedals you deserve ....................................................50
Finding good buys and avoiding scams ............................................50
If you’ve heard one, you haven’t heard them all .............................51
Looking at specific piano brands .......................................................51
Selecting a Digital Keyboard That Lasts .....................................................52
Digital pianos and organs ...................................................................53
Arrangers ..............................................................................................53
Stage pianos ..........................................................................................53
Workstations ........................................................................................54
Synthesizers .........................................................................................54
Avoiding obsolescence .......................................................................54
Knowing the digital features you want..............................................55
Browsing some specific keyboard brands ........................................56
Before You Drive It Off the Lot: Sealing the Deal .......................................57
Take it for a spin ..................................................................................57
Love it and leave it ...............................................................................58
vii
Table of Contents
Never pay the sticker price ................................................................58
Shopping online ...................................................................................59
The MIDI Places You Can Go ........................................................................59
A mini MIDI primer ..............................................................................60
Keyboard to computer ........................................................................60
Keyboard to keyboard ........................................................................61
MIDI and music notation .....................................................................61
Chapter 4: The Setup and Care of Your Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Unboxing Your New Keyboard ....................................................................63
Providing a Good Place to Put It ..................................................................65
Making It Shine ...............................................................................................66
Calling In a Pro for Tuning, Check-Ups, and Serious Repairs ..................67
Tuning pianos: Leave it to the experts ..............................................68
Keeping digital keyboards happy ......................................................69
Dealing with serious problems ..........................................................69
Setting Up Your Keyboard ............................................................................71
Hook Me Up: Keyboard Connections ..........................................................71
Making the electrical connection.......................................................72
Firing up your keyboard .....................................................................72
Working with headphones ..................................................................73
Connecting to external speakers and amps .....................................74
Protecting Your Investment: Care and Upkeep .........................................77
Avoiding temperature extremes ........................................................77
Combating dust with a keyboard cover ............................................77
Cleaning the keys and case .................................................................78
Moving from place to place ................................................................78
Solving Minor Technical Problems .............................................................79
Chapter 5: Getting Comf y at the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Blake’s E-Z Key Finder ...................................................................................81
The white keys .....................................................................................82
The black keys — sharps and flats ....................................................84
What Your Parents Never Told You About Posture .................................85
To sit or not to sit ................................................................................85
Chairs versus benches ........................................................................86
Stands and racks ..................................................................................89
It’s All in the Hands .......................................................................................90
Arch those hands and fingers ............................................................90
Fingering ...............................................................................................91
When to give your hands and fingers a rest .....................................92
Pedal Power: Getting Your Feet in on the Action ......................................93
Piano pedals .........................................................................................93
Digital keyboard pedals ......................................................................94
viii
Piano & Keyboard All-In-One For Dummies
Book II: Understanding Theory and
the Language of Music ................................................ 97
Chapter 1: Looking at Notes and Beats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Meeting the Beat ..........................................................................................100
Recognizing Notes and Note Values ..........................................................101
Examining the notes and their components ..................................101
Looking at note values ......................................................................103
Whole notes ........................................................................................103
Half notes ............................................................................................104
Quarter notes .....................................................................................104
Eighth notes and beyond ..................................................................105
Extending Notes with Dots and Ties .........................................................106
Using dots to increase a note’s value ..............................................106
Adding notes together with ties .......................................................107
Mixing All the Note Values Together ........................................................107
Chapter 2: Stopping for a Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Getting to Know the Rests ..........................................................................109
Whole and half rests ..........................................................................110
Quarter and eighth rests and beyond .............................................111
Dotted rests ........................................................................................113
Practicing Beats with Notes and Rests .....................................................113
Chapter 3: Tempo, Measures, and Time Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Playing Fast and Slow: Tempo ...................................................................115
Grouping Beats into Measures ...................................................................116
Counting Out Common Time Signatures ..................................................118
Common time: 4/4 meter ..................................................................119
Waltz time: 3/4 meter ........................................................................120
March time: 2/4 meter .......................................................................121
6/8 time................................................................................................122
Chapter 4: Navigating Sheet Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Meeting the Staff, Clefs, and Notes ............................................................125
The treble clef ....................................................................................126
The bass clef .......................................................................................127
The grand staff and ledger lines ......................................................127
Climbing beyond the staff .................................................................129
An octave above, an octave below ..................................................129
Identifying Half Steps, Whole Steps, and Accidentals on the Staff ........130
Working with half steps ....................................................................131
Taking whole steps ............................................................................132
Changing pitch with accidentals ......................................................133
Musical Punctuation: Bar Lines .................................................................136