Hey everyone! I made this thread because I've decided to learn four new songs: "The Beast II" (Evangelion), "To Good Friends" and "Crossing the Seas" (Chrono Trigger and Chross) and "Tabidachi nichi e" (Princess Mononoke.)

Now, all these songs have pretty simple notes...It's just that they all have really hard (at least for crappy me) rhythms - my left and right hands just like each other too much, and refuse to play seperate rythms together. I've been practicing these songs for about 3 hours now (concentrating on Crossing the Seas at the moment) and I'm not getting anywhere. So, the reason I made this thread was to ask if anybody here had any advice on how to make my left and right hands agree to play seperately...are there any finger exercises I can do? Or do I just have to plug away at these new songs for ten hours a piece until my brain finally gets them? I have a sinking feeling that its the latter, but I figured I'd come ask you guys for help anyway; you always give good advice. :3

Thanks in advance everybody! ^_^

I don't understand why, but I never did experience this problem when I started 1 month ago :\. (Unfortunately, it's going to get harder. I'm playing 2 rhythms in one hand already, and left hand, all 3 being different rhythms).

What "hard" rhythms are you talking about?... Try playing simple half notes on both hands, then try playing quarter notes on one hand, and half notes on the other, and so on...

I feel you man.. i think what he ment clarienetist is that the left and the right hand won't play on diffrent pace or rythm(correct me if i'm wrong hopelesscomposer)

i sort of have the same problem.. i'm practicing the 'Hungarian Dance no 5' there's a part in the song where my right hand plays faster than my left.. but for some freaky reason my left hand plays as fast as my right hand does. what i did is i took it slow(i think i'm getting it now.. )

hehehe.. it might annoy the people at my house cause i have an upright (i wish there was a jack or something so i could just play by myself without disturbing the people.. >:D )

@Clarinetist: I just gave that a try, and its actually pretty helpful, so thanks a lot! ^_^

@P-chan: That's exactly what I mean, it's such a pain! X3 Also, I did what you did and just took it really, REALLY, slow....for about 4 hours straight. I'm finally getting it, but that was one of the most painful musical runs I've ever gone through. XP Still, it's paying off, and I think it'll prove worth it. Good luck with your piece too!

@hopelescomposer: well good luck.. i'm proably stop playing the piece i'm trying to learn now and try to focus on exercises that makes my hands 'stronger' then maybe i'll get back on that piece..

Okay well there's a few things here.
First thing, Play with your hands seperate, then bring it together! Even if you already know the notes and everything, continuesly do it so that not only your brain knows what your going to play, but your hands too.

Now, if the bass is slower than the treble, think of it like this: The bass is what is keeping everything in tempo. Instead of it having its own big part, all it is is a time keeper. In lowest terms, if the peice your working on is 4/4 and the bass goes, Quarter Note, Quarter Note, Half Note. And at the same time Treble goes Eighth Note, Eighth Note, Sixteenth Note, Sixteenth Note, Sixteenth Note, Sixteenth note. Quarter Note, Quarter Note. Then think to yourself *Okay, at first I have to play two eight notes before I can play the next quarter note in the bass. Then I have to play Four Sixteenth notes before I get to play the next Quarter

I hope this wasn't just confusing and waste of reading time, lol