How to learn to play the synthesizer?

How to learn to play the synthesizer, and even understand everything yourself? That's what we'll talk about today. Before the start of our conversation, we will give you only two settings.

Well, first of all, there is one universal rule: to learn how to play the keys, you only need to take one day and start playing them. In fact, the game - it is a practical activity, coupled to some extent with the cunning of the mind.

Secondly, we need training, because playing a synthesizer for "young, mischievous" and very green beginners is like playing football. Imagine how many goals a football player will score in a match if he scores on his workouts. I think very little, what do you think? But the constant training allows you to improve and improve their skills. The results usually do not take long to wait - what didn’t work out today is just fine the very next day!

In addition to these "setups", we note that in order for you to start learning how to play the synthesizer and to practice your skills in training, you need to have this same synthesizer. Your own tool with which you are free to do whatever you want. Even if it will be the cheapest model (cheap does not mean bad) or even a “synthesizer-toy” - for the beginning it will come down like that. If you are going to buy a better tool, then how to choose a synthesizer can be found in this article. Here, and now we will return to our main question and deal with them closely.

Introduction to the tool

In general, it is enough just to turn on the instrument in order to start playing it, but it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the main features of the synthesizer. This instrument was called a synthesizer, because it combines hundreds of timbres of various musical instruments and hundreds of ready-made arrangements in all possible styles of instrumental music.

Let's see what function on the keys is responsible for one or another button. So, what can our synthesizers:

1. Play various instrument timbres (instrument bank). In order to make it easier to find the timbre we need, manufacturers of synthesizers group them according to several criteria: instrument type (wind, string, etc.), instrument making material (wood or copper). Each timbre has a serial number (each manufacturer has its own numbering - abbreviated lists are usually displayed on the case, full lists of codes for the instrument bank are published in the user manual).
2. Automatic accompaniment or "self-labeling" - this feature makes it much easier to play the keyboard. With it, you can play a play in any style (blues, hip-hop, rock, and others) or genre (waltz, polka, ballad, march, etc.). The best part is that creating music with a "self-playing" does not even require knowledge of notes. Just start the process - improvise and enjoy.
3. In addition to the styles of ready-made arrangements, you can still experiment with the tempo and pitch of the playing (pitch) of the accompaniment being played.
4. The record button will save the melody you played. You can use it as the second part of your composition: just turn on the recording and play something else on top.

Now let's take a look at the working panel of the simplest synthesizer. Everything is simple and logical in it, there is nothing superfluous. The desktops of synthesizers are mostly of the same type. Look at the picture - on all other models everything is almost the same:

Acquaintance with musical notation

Before you specifically sit down at the keys, it is desirable to inquire about basic musical knowledge. Do not worry, they are not so much! You can be helped by a tutorial on musical notation, which our site gives to everyone. Fill out the form (in the upper right part of this page) to get a simple and understandable textbook for those who are eager to comprehend this beastly science.

What to do if you decide to learn how to play the keyboard yourself?

For those who decide to master everything on their own - a few tips. You need not to get involved in theory, watching video lectures and reading thousands of books for dummies. Your musical perception is so fresh that you can learn a lot intuitively, the main thing is to practice more. This is the first tip.

In order to start something, you will have to devote time to studying the instrument - it is very enthralling, directly “blows the roof off”, so in order not to sit behind the instrument all night long, ask relatives to take you away from the synthesizer from time to time and put you to bed. This was the second tip.

Jokes jokes, but there are real problems that arise for beginners. Many beginners take on the fact that they are temporarily out of their teeth - this is not necessary. If you want to play something difficult - look for a simplified version of this play, and better start with monophonic melodies, simple exercises and maybe even scales (some people like to play scales - they sit for hours without stopping).

Do musicians have such a thing as fingering. This scary word is called the expediency of playing a particular note with one finger or another. In short: what fingers to push the buttons. It may seem to you that this is all ridiculous, but we cannot say the importance of the applicative principles.

Imagine: you need to play five notes in a row, five keys, which are located one after the other on the keyboard. How easier and faster to do it? After all, is it not the same finger to poke all five buttons? Of course not! It is much more convenient to place five fingers of your hand (one above each key), and then with light hammer-like movements, go through five keys.

By the way, the keyboardists' fingers are not called by their names (big, index, middle, etc.), but are numbered: 1 - big, 2 - index, 3 - middle, 4 - nameless, 5 - pinky. In good notes for beginners, fingering is stamped over each note (that is, the “numbers” of the fingers with which these notes should be played).

The next thing you need to learn is to take chords (three sounds taken at the same time). Work out your movements clearly by moving your fingers from the keys to the keys. Some fragment fails - play it again and again, bring the movement to automatism.

Learned the location of the notes - read them from the sheet (that is, try to play an unfamiliar piece at an average pace, making as few mistakes as possible). Reading notes from a sheet is an essential skill for those who wish not only to mechanically play memorized melodies, but quickly and without any difficulty to play completely new plays for themselves directly from the notes (this is especially useful at family meetings and parties). perform songs ordered by your friends).

How to play the synthesizer without knowing the notes?

Do not know the notes and even more can not imagine how to play the synthesizer? Pamper yourself, feel like a mega keyboard player - auto accompaniment will help you. To master the skill of playing on a synthesizer with the help of the "samograjka" is easier than ever, complete the tasks point by point:

1. Turn on the accompaniment feature. We still find all the buttons we need.
2. Know that the left hand is in charge of the accompaniment, and the right hand is in charge of the main melodic line (it’s not even necessary to play the melody).
3. Choose the style of the piece you are going to perform. Decide on his pace.
4. Select the timbre of the instrument of the solo part (if you play any melody, if not, then skip).
5. Turn on the button like "PLAY" or "START" and the synthesizer itself will play the intro.
6. With your left hand in the left half of the keyboard (the closer to the edge, the better), take chords or just press any key. The instrument will play rhythm, bass, accompaniment, pedal and everything else for you.
7. You can try to play a melody with your right hand. In principle, this is not a prerequisite, because under the accompaniment you made you can sing!
8. Is the song over? Press "STOP" and the synthesizer itself will lose to you an interesting ending.

In order to use all of these modes - find on your model a number of buttons that are similar to those shown in the figure:

Learn by yourself or take lessons?

There are several training options, consider each of them.

1. Private lessons at the teacher. A good option for those who do not know how to discipline themselves. Mandatory attendance at classes and regular homework will force you to play something on the keyboard sooner or later.
2. Courses playing a synthesizer. Classes are held in the same way as private ones, only instead of one person, the teacher teaches several at once that is not so effective.
3. Video lessons. A good learning method: download a lesson, view it several times and do everything according to the recommendations of the teacher. The time of classes and the terms of studying the material you set for yourself.
4. Tutorial games (book, website, online magazine, etc.). Another good way to learn the features of the game on a synthesizer. Choose the material you like - and forward to the music barricades. A big plus is that you can always go back and read (view) misunderstood material again and again.
5. With the help of synthesizer "obuchalki". On the display screen, the program tells you which keys, which hand and fingers to press. This method is more like coaching. You, undoubtedly, will have reflexes a la "Pavlov's dog" but this will not help you to advance far in performing skills on a synthesizer.

Of course, to learn everything about how to learn to play the synthesizer at once is impossible. But we helped solve the problems faced by all newbies.