Learning the Piano

[domi0036]

So, I just got a Piano from Girlfriend's parents because they were moving and didn't want it anymore. I've played guitar for 5 years so I understand that and how chords are put together and that sort of thing. Is it possible to teach yourself like you can with the guitar?

I just went on chord house and found out how to construct the main chords and the main scales. A song like watchtower, Am G F, does it translate directly to the Piano? Could I just play the scales to get the feel of the song?

I guess what I'm wondering is, do I need to take piano lessons, or is it possible to eventually pick it up if I screw around with it enough?

Thanks

[rh41]

from what ive heard about guitar and piano is...

guitar is more difficult to learn the basics. and once you learn the basics you can can play and progress much faster.

piano is easier to learn the basics. much harder to perfect.

(i play guitar, never played piano)

[dobyblue]

I play both and I think the piano is the harder of the two.

I've played piano for 22 years and guitar for 18 years.

[Rob]

Piano is the harder of the two for me. You need an understanding of musical theory to play piano. It's much harder to cover mistakes and lack of knowledge on the piano than it is with a guitar.

Lessons are good to start- you really need to learn the basics with piano. It's far more difficult to pick these up without aid on piano than it is on guitar.

[rochny89]

I played piano for about six years, and I am playing guitar right now. I definitely believe that piano is much easier. The layout of the keyboard is much easier than the layout of the fretboard. On the piano the notes are right in order.

[AcousTronic]

As a longtime player of both insruments, I can see where Piano is both easier and harder than Guitar... On a piano, it is much easier to see chord patterns and scales because it all repeats every 12th note across the board. On guitar, it's a bit more tricky because there are so many different placements of chords, scales etc.

But guitar can be considered easier, because on guitar you typically play one part at a time, where as piano you are playing two. if you are trying to assimilate chords that you have heard on a guitar, to a piano, you may have a tough time with rythmic timing because it is completely different than a strumming instrument, but you can also add and subtract musical interest by breaking down those chords and moving them across the keyboard fairly easily.

To answer your question "can you teach yourself to play without musical knowledge"... ABSOLUTELY!!! I never learned to sightread, but can hold my own among my piano player friends. The way I did it, was to listen to piano music, hear and learn what the bass notes and chords are doing. Then I would learn the right hand melody, and put them together with some practice. Once you learn a couple of songs that way, you will start to see the patterns of what works together, even if you never really know WHY they work together. Then you can change the order of chords slightly, change patterns, rythmic phrases, and PRESTO you are a piano player!! Like with anything, your rate of learning is directly reflected by your desire!!

[domi0036]

cool, thanks for the input. Sounds like i've got my work cut out for me. If anyone has any suggestions on how to learn or how to pick things up, let me know. I'd like to play things like Ben Folds, Beatles and then hopefully learn how to transpose some DMB songs on the piano. Ultimitaly it'd be nice to jam along with a few friends who are on guitars or something.
Anyway, thanks again for your responses.

[Storythree]

to answer the original post: Yes, definitely possible (and fun) to pick up piano without lessons. I learned everything I know from listening to a lot of Tori Amos, DMB and coldplay. And over the years I learned to transpose just about every DMB song in their catalogue. A lot of fun. Screw the lessons.

[LB40]

I agree with the others on this one. It's definitely possible to teach yourself. I took lessons for a few years, and the two things that I gained from it were the ability to sightread music more quickly and the ability to break things down and figure them out on my own. If you have a basic understanding of music theory, you should be just fine. I hope you find great joy in your endeavors with the piano.

P.S. I envy all of you who can play by ear. That's a talent that I would love to have!

[domi0036]

thanks again for all the imput.

I look forword to tackaling a new instrument.

[DrewLeon738]

im just learning to play the piano aswell and was wondering if there is someplace on line with the piano notes or music sheet for steady as we go?