[distressed_romeo]

Practicing both piano and touch-style guitar, the main problem I have with reading piano notation; if I'm reading one clef then I can get through it fairly smoothly on either instrument, but as soon as I try to read both at once I trip over myself.

I know a few members of the boards (Garry Goodman and Your Majesty) are pretty experienced at this...any tips or approaches to pass on?

Cheers in advance.

[maskofduality]

learn the parts separately first. get good at the different separations. then when you do that, come back to it and play them together, very slowly of course, so that your mind, ears, and hands can get a sense of which note falls where, at what time, after who, before what, etc. and as you get better, speed it up until you're eventually at full speed.

that's how i dealt with piano when i was younger. i hope it helps.

[Sentient]

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

if I'm reading one clef then I can get through it fairly smoothly on either instrument, but as soon as I try to read both at once I trip over myself.

I have always had tremendous admiration for anyone that can do that (reading both clefs at once). The concept just blows me away, and I can't imagine doing it. But then again, I can just barely even read standard notation at all. I've tried to make myself learn to read music a few times, but I never really stick with it long enough to become really disciplined at it. I'm such a tablature whore .

To me, the thoughts of reading both clefs together is hard enough, but then when you throw in the need to know exactly which notes are sharps and flats (which is not indicated on the notes themselves, but way over there on the left of the staff ), then all that together just leaves me shaking my head. I bow before those of you that can put it all together.

I've developed a huge passion for classical guitar over the past few years, and this is where I really wish I could read music better. Because trying to find accurate tab for beautiful classical pieces seems to be much harder than stumbling onto accurate standard notation. And trying to transcribe the standard notation to the fretboard becomes super tedious for my inept abilities. I'm like, "Crap.... Surely somebody's done a powertab for this Bach piece...." But then, alas, I can't find one.

Sorry... I digress. I guess I don't really have anything to add, other than strong admiration for you if you can eventually pull it off. Best of luck.

[Scott]

yeah really, learn the bass clef part first. It's usually the less complicated part, and easier to memorize. It's MUCH easier than trying to learn both at the same time.

[distressed_romeo]

That's what I'm doing at the moment, and it does work, but my real goal is to get it to the stage where I can just read them both simultanously in the same way a pianist can, rather than having to work through a score before playing through it.

[metalfiend666]

Start off with easy pieces (Mary had a little lamb for instance) reading both clefs at once and take it slowly. Gradually work on building the complexity of the piece and the speed until you can read both clefs together competently. That's how I did it with the piano, just don't expect to sight read Rhapsody in Blue!

[distressed_romeo]

Originally Posted by metalfiend666

Start off with easy pieces (Mary had a little lamb for instance) reading both clefs at once and take it slowly. Gradually work on building the complexity of the piece and the speed until you can read both clefs together competently. That's how I did it with the piano, just don't expect to sight read Rhapsody in Blue!

Yeah, that's what I'm doing. I've got some books for fairly easy pieces and etudes. It's frustrating though; I just wanna be able to play some Bach!

[metalfiend666]

I'd love to be able to play like Jeff Loomis, but I know I can't jump straight in at that level. I'm working at it slowly starting with the basics.

[distressed_romeo]

It's true... I'm just being impatient...

Actually, one thing I've found that helps, is playing one clef while singing the other. Sounds wierd, but it works...

[metalfiend666]

Yeah, it's hard to get myself to practice all the scales and stuff I need to to improve my playing. The last thing I want to do after a crappy day at work is practice boring scales but it has to be done. I ought to learn how to read music for the guitar. I can read music, I just can't follow it on the fretboard yet.

If it's any consolation to you, I'm struggling with reading 2 lines of music at once myself now. I haven't played the piano much in the last couple of years and thought I'd have a go again last weekend. The least said about that the better I feel