which takes more skill to play a fast paced song or a song with a lot of pickups and sharps/flats.

i think the slow one because you dont have to worry about the speed after memorizing the notes

The true skill lies within the interpretation, not the ability to play.

Contraversial..
In my opinion playing something slow and difficult is mentally challenging than playing a fast pace one

Playing a fast piece requires techniques and skills

Playing a slow but difficult one requires a different kind of skill and also a tough mentality, because a slow difficult piece tend to be draggy and bit boring. Usually people don't have the mental ability to continue because it's usualyl hard to grasp the music.

Neither is harder. Nor easier..

If it's fast paced, making a mistake should be your own mistake. if it's too fast, or slow, it's your own way of playing it. The exception is when it says it MUST be played at a distinct tempo.

But nor is harder, or easier. It can be the fastest song and be in C major, or the slowest with 7 sharps or flats. its the way you make it.

Good Point. me, i always play everything faster like this guy playing Ballade No.1 in 7 and a half minutes!!!

http://s94578089.onlinehome.us/video/chopinballade1.wmv

And this is how i play pathetique 1st mov.

http://s94578089.onlinehome.us/video/beethoven.wmv

^ makes my marry had a little lamb sound like marry had a littler lamb

I was just wondering how you all felt about it because if neither is harder or easier what makes one a (insert intrument here) player?

A musician should be able to play fast and slow songs. It doesn't matter about how hard or how easy the song is. It's a matter of what your ambition is. To be able to play all of Chopin's piece or be able to play Fur Elise.

Then if it doesnt matter what makes a great musician great?

The ability to entertain people

The ability to entertain people

Agreed. Technical/musical prowess doesn't matter if no one's willing to listen to it...


But nor is harder, or easier. It can be the fastest song and be in C major, or the slowest with 7 sharps or flats. its the way you make it.

C major is actually pretty difficult to play. With no black notes, it's harder to change hand positions, and you can get fatigued a lot more easily.

So what takes more skill? How about both? :P Try something like Ravel's Ondine, which sounds like a slow piece (and needs to have its atmosphere) but is actually insanely fast, in multiple key signatures varying from 0 to 7 sharps, multiple time signatures, both white and black key glissandos, and basically no respect whatsoever for what hand should be on what side of the keyboard...

Anyhow, which one is easier to learn depends on the person, and on the piece.

No offence, i didnt feel any feeling from him.

from the video?

yes.. not his movments, they way he played.