Guitarist looking to learn keyboards

[GuitarCozmo]

Thought this would be the perfect place to come for advice. I have been playing guitar for about 18 years (completely self-taught) and am reasonably advanced. After seeing Dream Theater again, recently, I have really gotten the itch to learn to play the keyboard, as Jordan really was just unbelievable. I figure if I taught myself the guitar, surely I can I teach myself keyboards.

I have a decent grasp on music theory and can read music, albeit very slowly (being a guitarist, I, of course, rely on tablature an awful lot). I have a Casio CTK-558 keyboard (seen here (http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Touch-Sensitive-Portable-Electronic-Keyboard/dp/tech-data/B00004YZKX/ref=de_a_smtd/105-4344855-0268401)), which I received a few years ago. I know, for me, I realized early on with guitar, that certain guitars are easier to learn on, i.e. electric is easier to learn on than an acoustic, etc. If I'd had an electric guitar to learn on instead of an acoustic, I feel I probably would've progressed much faster. Didn't know if the same kinda thing holds true for keyboards and if having a better keyboard would make learning easier for me or if what I have is fine.

Aside from that, any information that anybody would be willing to offer would be greatly appreciated, i.e. good instructional books or DVDs or whatever for beginners, any tips that may have helped you progress in the beginning, any websites you've frequented that would be useful to me, or anything. I'm pretty much a blank slate at this point. I HAVE played around on my keyboard here and there (I can play the intro to "Love Walks In", by Van Halen, if that accounts for anything), but have no form to speak of and I don't think I've played enough to acquire any bad habits. Unfortunately, due to work schedules, band practices, and the other constraints of life, I won't be able to devote TONS of time to it, so I'm just wanting to get the most out of the time I CAN put into it, as possible.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any info.

[OliBeau]

Play with an apple in your hand (well, imagine you have one) just for the right hand position. My teacher was always telling me this and it became an habbit + you play faster an alot better like this.

Well if you can read music start with right hand, than try left hand and after go for the 2 hands But SLOW !!! after you can go faster.

Playing pieces is a good way to become a better player.

(+ scales and a little bit of technique and practice)

Good luck and have fun,

[PaddyShadow]

Hey that pushes me to rank 2 on the cheapest keyboard list (CTK900)^^

Well, whatever... I did something similar to you when switching from guitar to keyboard for physical reasons just a few weeks ago. But I was lucky I had played before cause I had to take it into the band from day one.

Another good point about technique: Always make sure you don't over-bend your wrists. In general your hand and forearm shold always form a straight line.
Overbending would cause pain and Tenosynovitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenosynovitis) which is not 100% repairable. So always try to keep natural playing positions and movement. That apple thing is a very good start.

Next thing is correct fingering. For example normal chords are to be done by using the 1st, 3rd and 5th finger. I had to do quite some corrections to my finger choices but now everything works more fluently and again is much healthier.

[fireStarta66]

I remember that one of the biggest challeges when starting was really getting left/right hand coordination. One of the most helpful things I learned was to simply put both of my hands on a certain note, like C, an octave apart (so my left hand pinky was on the lower C, and my right thumb on the higher one). Then I'd arrange my hand so that each consecutive white note had its own finger on it. Without moving my arms at all, I would simply play up and down the five notes in both hands symmetrically (C D E F G F E D C). Playing top to bottom, bottom to top, and going in opposite direcitons with each hand really gets your mind in the mode to play a keyboard. Focus on playing the notes evenly, and keep your hands in proper position.

[PaddyShadow]

That's one of many possible exercises. There's also the chomatic thing and lots of extensions to that. But there are so many little things in "Keyboard Madness" that I'll really have to take notes :D

That reminds me of the touch sensitivity exercises. Play the same thing that fireStarta66 wrote and make shure touch sensitivity is turned on. Now in triplets accent the first note. So it goes like this

C D E F G F E D C D E F G ...
And so on... After a while you'll be back at the starting point. Remember to always use a click. But having been a musician for some time I'm shure you know about its importance.

[twg88]

If you're starting from scratch I'd really consider getting your hands on a keyboard with weighted keys (or better still, a piano!) It'll really help your finger strength to practice with the proper weight from the start.

Also, I don't think you should really start with purely technical exercises and stuff like some of the posts above suggest, you should probably just find some easy pieces that are fun to play. Definitely make sure you're playing with good technique but playing actual music is definitely more fun than Hanon and a much better way to learn!

[romanticshred]

Try to get hold of Carl Czernys 6 easy sonatas from http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?item=6004207&cart=339989797978444

Atleast you will be able to play music in 3 diffirent movements.

IF you want the complete Scales and Arpeggios which covers the trinity guildhall requirements in one book meaning all the grades from 1 to 8 then get this book. http://www.fabermusic.co.uk/serverside/reviews/Details.asp?ID=303

It has every scale and arpeggios in every key. Plus pentatonic scales and whole tone scales. 3rds, contrary motion scales etc and also intruction on how to build eveness, fluency and speed.

Plus get hold of Jordan Rudess keyboard wizardry video because he will teach you in that video how to play rock shredding leads on keyboard.

[Grey Loki]

I think we're all forgetting to pimp the JR Online Conservatory here :D