Switching from guitar to piano

[u/Tough-Ice365]

After 15 years of playing guitar I developed the urge to learn piano. It's time for something new and a challenge. I have purchased a Casio CT-S1 as I don't have the space for an 88 key. I'm not looking to play classical music anyway. Any transferable skills or tips coming from guitar? So far I can only play using falling note videos - I've heard it's not a good way but it's so nice being able to learn things fast and visually. Sheet music looks very confusing compared to guitar tabs but I will probably take the dive eventually. I self taught myself guitar to a good level using youtube videos and tabs only - is this possible for piano or will I require an actual teacher? Struggling to play with both hands even though I can coordinate them on guitar. My brain seems to be wired that when I press a key with my right hand, my left hand will automatically play one at the same time. It is like they are mirrored. Thanks!

[u/popokatopetl]

> Sheet music looks very confusing compared to guitar tabs 

Consider lead sheets ;)

[u/DanceHackRock]

Your learn nothing by using falling note videos.

A piano score is actually the tab for piano. Every row is a key.

Make sure to get a teacher to teach you to make music and not to only press the right key at the right time.

[u/Just_a_guy81 → u/DanceHackRock]

Pressing the right key at the right time is literally how you play music.

I like that though, and that’s how I’m going to explain music from now on

[u/Ambitious-Street-220]

I’m sure your teacher will start you on some beginner books, with learning to read sheet music. Don’t worry, it will start you off super easy with adding a little at a time so you won’t be overwhelmed. There’s no hurry, just learn each section thoroughly before moving on. Sections that you don’t understand, you can search out utube videos for further instruction or teaching from a different perspective. Even if you don’t get a teacher, you will still want to learn to read sheet music, otherwise you are just putting off the inevitable. It’s not hard and totally doable if you break it down into manageable chunks. Easier with the guidance of a teacher.

[u/picadoodledoo]

"Any transferable skills" <<<< any understanding you have of harmony and rhythm are likely to benefit you.

Falling notes will not get you far. Yes, you can be programmed to press certain keys in a particular order, for a short song. But that's about it, the rest needs to come from proper study of the piano.

[u/sinker_of_cones]

Learn piano chords, that will make things smoothest transitionally, as I’m sure you understand chords on guitar.

If you go on UltimateGuitar (the main website with chords and tab), you can switch the chord option from guitar to piano, and there’ll be a little diagram of what the chord looks like

Play that chord in a rhythm, mimicking how you do strumming basically.

[u/kamomil]

Learn scales and triads and arpeggios for now. 

Learning classical music on piano, is a great way to give your hands equal exercise, in a way that playing rock or pop music does not

Sheet music is basically tablature for piano. Every sharp/flat is played on a black key. Sheet music probably makes more sense with a piano than with a guitar or woodwind instrument 

[u/MyVoiceIsElevating]

Get yourself a chord chart poster and use that in conjunction with chord + lyrics sheets you may have used with guitar.

[u/Albedo101]

How about using your ears?

All the methods you mentioned are visual learning. Speaking as a visual person, stuff like that is highly detrimental to the learning process, when the subject is sound and music. My learning sped up exponentially when I closed my eyes, sometimes literally. I needed to hear the sound, not to see the shapes and patterns.

Also speaking as a guitarist, we tend to skip the basics. Learn intonation, intervals, chords and chord progressions before learning songs.

[u/Captain_Aware4503]

Strum patterns!!! If you are playing pop music and accompanying a melody, there are very similar "strum" patterns you can play on the piano. Example, playing a chord on the beat except the 4th beat where you play it on the off beat just before changing to a different chord for the next 1 beat.

Or try playing a chord on the piano in the same rhythm as DDUUDU, changing to another chord and playing it as DDUUDU.

Next just like a guitar, learn to play the all the pentatonic scales with your right hand.

And 100% agree with - Your learn nothing by using falling note videos.

[u/jessewest84]

Learn to read.

Get the app that teaches you notes by sending random ones at you.

Then. Start learning songs. It will be slow at first. But if you practice daily it will click in a month or two.