Learning Keyboard for Producing?

[Tiger Blood]

Hey guys

I am looking into learning piano/keyboard as a form of developing my production in terms of theory and quality of my synth parts.

I was wondering is anyone else doing this / has anyone else done this and can recommend the best way?

I assume since im learning for production i dont really need to be playing 100 year old sheet music (Ive been classically trained before at a younger age and i quit as we were made to do this stuff) so i was wondering how you guys are learning?

Thanks for any advice, its a bit overwhelming where to start out on your own!

[Eridu]

dubstep doesnt really require you to know how to play piano. Just know your scales and chords and let your ear be the judge.

Offcourse you can only benefit by practicing piano if you have the will to do the drill. You can download midi`s and then learn how to play bar by bar a song that`s interesting to you harmonically.

[YeahItsMe]

It's not essential, but for me it helps when creating melodies, rather than stumbling around with my hands when I lacked the skills. Checkout a yourube cideo for hand positioning, learn how to play scales with one hand, both hands, know badic music theory, ie scales and how notes function together.
Inhale... Exhale...
Don't get caught up with all this! Remember, music is somethin that we hear and enjoy or dislike, your ears can't stear you wrong! (Unless you have like tinitus, then sorry your ears will stear you wrong sometimes). Extra knowledge CAN NEVER HURT YOU!! As long as you understand the knowledge lol

[Crimsonghost]

If you were already classically trained (or taking lessons) it really wouldn't hurt to get into some piano lessons. Seeing as you have a background in classical music, and piano is the basis for most written music, I can only be a plus IMO.

Hell, I'm sure you already know more then most people around these parts.

[Sinergy]

Definitely worth it!

It's my last semester of high school, so I signed up for a silly piano class in the morning, and it's honestly helped me more than anything else. Hasn't touch me a ton, but just the basics help.

The most helpful part is, that when I write melodies and chord structure, I can envision what it would look like when playing a piano. Because beforehand, I had no idea how chords and stuff worked at all, and now it sort of makes sense as in the chords being on one hand and the melody on the other, or two different instruments.

fucking around with a keyboard is much more fun than penciling in midi notes. I'll usually get something catchy on a midi keyboard, and then use my mouse to make variations and whatnot.

[aeor]

Axis49, pro tip !

[kxs]

learning how the piano works and how to play it really enlightened me on music theory and how to create harmony for melodies, it is a knowledge you wont regret.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... EED47525A8

this guy is kinda silly but he does a pretty decent job explaining that.

[Tiger Blood]

thanks guys,

im mainly learning so that i can write basslines and chords and melodies just using a keyboard, at the moment im using midi files and drag dropping to make a pattern then messing around in piano roll to make something thats in my head id rather learn to just play.

I produce wider genres than dubstep so i think itll be useful overall and can only benefit to be able to play an instrument, im looking at the garageband learn piano lesson things at the moment since they are free and interactive, ill check out the other recommendations...

[mks]

It's amazing how many non-musician musicians there are.

Do you guys consider yourselves musicians or just producers?

Serious question.

Or noise makers, maybe sound manipulators.

[hifi]

exercises/technique, covers, etc. there are great composers out there that don't know how to play a single instrument. i'll tell you it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to thoroughly learn western music theory w/in a day