Piano for guitar players?

grandinq

grandinq

Power User
I learned basic music theory on piano when I was like 8 years old, but once I discovered guitar I never went back. Now I'd like to get develop some keyboard proficiency, just so I can write some basic accompaniment to songs.

Can anyone recommend an online course or tutorial? I don't need to learn what a staff is or the names of notes, I just want to be a little better than the hack I am right now at keys. I know Google is my friend, but there's so much out there I was wondering if anyone had any positive experiences.

Thanks!
 
I used "Piano With Jonny" and "Playground Sessions" for a while. Also tried Flowkey & "Piano Marvel". They all have their pluses and minuses. None are really geared towards guitar players. I liked "Piano With Jonny" - I thought they were the best for blues / jazz type playing. "Playground Sessions" wasn't bad but not my favorite. "Piano Marvel" was more like being a student in a structured music classroom environment.

It really depends a lot on what you gravitate to or finding a method or instructor that you have some kind of rapport with.
 
I might give Jonny a try, though his intro video was a tad showy. Yeah, I get it Jonny, you're really good!

I may hit up EZ keys as well as it looks interesting, but I would like to actually be able to play a little.

There's a wonderful music near me that gives lesson that I am considering as well, but there's a part of me that doesn't want to drag my butt out the door once a week to go to a lesson, though that could also me more incentivizing. After all, as long as I pay him, Jonny doesn't care whether I actually click on those lessons and practice or not.

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
To play keys reasonably well you need to know formal hand positioning, left & right hand arpeggios, left & right hand rhythmic patterns, etc. - as well as the exercises to make it all muscle memory just like guitar. I don't know about the others mentioned, but I would second a vote for flowkey since it covers a lot of that stuff.

We have friends that love Synthesia. They originally got it for their kids to learn some piano but then the parents started using it too. It looks a little like a Guitar Hero Game for keys. We were over for dinner and got a family recital. They were only using it for a couple months and they didn't suck on the songs they learned. I haven't tried it yet but there is a free trial. It is an application you install. It looks like a good way to learn songs but it isn't going to teach the more formal techniques covered by something like flowkey.

https://synthesiagame.com/
 
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I was about to start a similar thread but saw this one existed...so I'm currently looking at getting a bit more structured with my piano playing. I've played for years, mostly play by ear. I can read sheet music though my sight reading skills are very rusty at the moment. It takes me twice what it used to. I've used musescore. meh. Mostly I use musicnotes which is not bad. Though i find the interface a bit awkward. I'm taking a very strong look right now at Piano Marvel. Might give that a go
 
@Chewie5150
Not sure this is what you’re looking for, but there is some good free resources and also premium. I learned from it and I’m basically a keyboard hack.

https://youtube.com/@JazzSkills?si=jkhfiWw3wMVTEO2A
https://youtube.com/@jazztutorial?si=GXO13auRoWUmc-4e
https://youtube.com/@oysterlovers?si=URqNrSOgpeFvwsL0

She is incredible and has some cool short published books in her store. Link to YT channel too
https://www.nahresol.com/
https://youtube.com/@NahreSol?si=jZUlBE46msqy8pq0
 
GitGuy513 said:
@Chewie5150
Not sure this is what you’re looking for, but there is some good free resources and also premium. I learned from it and I’m basically a keyboard hack.

https://youtube.com/@JazzSkills?si=jkhfiWw3wMVTEO2A
https://youtube.com/@jazztutorial?si=GXO13auRoWUmc-4e
https://youtube.com/@oysterlovers?si=URqNrSOgpeFvwsL0

She is incredible and has some cool short published books in her store. Link to YT channel too
https://www.nahresol.com/
https://youtube.com/@NahreSol?si=jZUlBE46msqy8pq0
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thanks! its funny growing up pre internet I wished for the resources we have today and now its overwhelming how many channels/websites there are. more than you can shake a stick at
 
Chewie5150 said:
thanks! its funny growing up pre internet I wished for the resources we have today and now its overwhelming how many channels/websites there are. more than you can shake a stick at
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s crazy. I try to save all the ones I come across for future use. These are a couple I could round up quickly. Probably not the best for what your looking for. Check the Nahre Sol. She’s a prodigy, but has a knack for bringing it down to a level that even I can grasp. Plus she has a nice way about her.

There was another guy that was more contemporary (not so jazz or classical) but I can’t find him right now. If I remember or come across I will post it. He had a full lesson program that was reasonable and had a good teaching style.

I’m in the same place as you. Grew up with a piano and mostly self taught except for my sister showing me some stuff and then learned more theory when playing violin in middle school. I’ve had synths and workstations since 1988. Then controllers and VSTi. I recently went all out and purchased a Yamaha Montage M8x as probably my last major keybaord. I never had a top class weighted 88 key keyboard before. I have been wanting to finally become a bit more competent than I have been.
 
GitGuy513 said:
Yeah it’s crazy. I try to save all the ones I come across for future use. These are a couple I could round up quickly. Probably not the best for what your looking for. Check the Nahre Sol. She’s a prodigy, but has a knack for bringing it down to a level that even I can grasp. Plus she has a nice way about her.

There was another guy that was more contemporary (not so jazz or classical) but I can’t find him right now. If I remember or come across I will post it. He had a full lesson program that was reasonable and had a good teaching style.

I’m in the same place as you. Grew up with a piano and mostly self taught except for my sister showing me some stuff and then learned more theory when playing violin in middle school. I’ve had synths and workstations since 1988. Then controllers and VSTi. I recently went all out and purchased a Yamaha Montage M8x as probably my last major keybaord. I never had a top class weighted 88 key keyboard before. I have been wanting to finally become a bit more competent than I have been.
Click to expand...
Oh wow a Montage M8x. you're not messin around! I'd absolutely love one of those but would need to sell a kidney. I've had a number of Yamaha keyboards (Mo8, Moxf8, MM8, currently a MODX+ and also my NI S88 mk2) the Montage has always been on my wish list!!
 
Chewie5150 said:
Oh wow a Montage M8x. you're not messin around! I'd absolutely love one of those but would need to sell a kidney. I've had a number of Yamaha keyboards (Mo8, Moxf8, MM8, currently a MODX+ and also my NI S88 mk2) the Montage has always been on my wish list!!
Click to expand...
That’s a nice list. The last workstation I purchased was the EX5 which is now 25 years old. I was using VST’s along with it and then I got an early Nektar controller. Not the greatest key-bed. When you were looking for and got the NI S88 mk2 I was tempted to go that direction. Actually is was probably easier to talk the Wife into the M8x than an expensive controller. She doesn’t get keyboards that make no sound by themselves.😄

The M8x really is a nice system. It was crazy expensive which gets it some criticism out in the cyber world. Actually I financed it 0% interest from Sweetwater. Making double payments most the time. I like to be able to sit down without booting up a computer, etc. and just play. I imagine it will be my last huge buy gear wise. Although us types are prone to being impulsive.😉 Even though the FM3 just got a complete makeover I do lust a bit for an FM9. Uhg.

Anyway, I’ll send “tickling the keys” improvement vibes in the meantime. 👍
 
A slightly similar story happened to me.
Basically, my good childhood friend had a guitar, and with him I've learned some basics. I wanted my own guitar so badly. But my parents insisted I learn how to play piano.
 
A long time ago I saw a VHS in a music store by Donald Fagan of Steely Dan explaining his approach to playing. I almost bought it even though I didn't play piano because he's one of my top five songwriters of all time. Should have because I've never seen it again.
 
Since this thread has been resurrected I thought I would link to this guy. I came upon him a few days ago. I like his style and the way he has setup his video to show keys, chords, and notation all in one. His early videos are not setup this way, but most are and some of the best ones like Steely Dan are this way. Take a look.

Also, he’s not trying to sell anything, but hopefully a successful YT channel. He does make PDF’s of all the music of a lesson if you want it for a small fee.
https://youtube.com/@pierrejpiscitelli?si=F5No9Vq6VOJ-dYZo
 
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