Weird question about piano for those of you on here who have experience

[stavie33]

iirc, FFR had a lot of people who have been playing piano for years and Sprite was majoring in it I think.

So I want to learn either Black Key Etude or Mephisto Waltz, which one is a more difficult piece for the average pianist? I'm pretty good so it should be possible to learn one, but which would be less difficult to master?

Also, is there any sheet music for Piano X Forte piano parts?

[DarknessXoXLight]

Personally, I believe Mephisto Waltz will be more difficult just because of the length. They both seem around the same skill level so just take your pick and dedicate yourself to it and you'll be fine.

I've looked for Piano X Forte sheet music and haven't found any, then again I didn't look that hard. It might be out there, try google, or ask scottish. He found the sheet music for 600 A.D in piano for me. (if you find the sheet music let me know. ;D)

[The-Persian-King]

Both are pretty difficult. It depends on your weaknesses/strengths. Black Key Etude is all black keys. One mistake and you've ruined the whole piece, however, there is very little dynamics, articulation, pedal, in it. Are you skilled enough to play Black Key Etude at it's original tempo? Remember, even if you are able to play it fast enough, can you keep the rhythm consistent throughout the whole piece?

Whereas, Mephisto Waltz is slightly easier, but longer. more dynamics are present in it and there is more feelings contained in it. Are you able to play this piece fast enough AND keep dynamics and articulations appropriate?

If you want to improve your skills at technique, go for Black Key.

[One Winged Angel]

haven't tried playing black key etude but I looked up the sheet music for mephisto waltz a while back...there's some pretty nasty chord chromaticism and ring/pinky trilling which makes me inclined to believe it's the more difficult piece...and some of the arpeggiated sections are really difficult to finger

based just on listening, I really don't think black key etude would be all that difficult but eh

[Frozen Beat]

No sheet music for piano x forte. Computerized song.

Very hard to not make a mistake on black key etude especially at proper tempo.

As for Mephisto waltz, idk.

[stavie33]

Originally Posted by The-Persian-King

Both are pretty difficult. It depends on your weaknesses/strengths. Black Key Etude is all black keys. One mistake and you've ruined the whole piece, however, there is very little dynamics, articulation, pedal, in it. Are you skilled enough to play Black Key Etude at it's original tempo? Remember, even if you are able to play it fast enough, can you keep the rhythm consistent throughout the whole piece?

Whereas, Mephisto Waltz is slightly easier, but longer. more dynamics are present in it and there is more feelings contained in it. Are you able to play this piece fast enough AND keep dynamics and articulations appropriate?

If you want to improve your skills at technique, go for Black Key.

I've heard that about black key too...the other thing that makes it harder in a way is if it's played any slower than it's original speed, it sounds terrible, and if played at a different tempo, it also sounds terrible, so you have to be fast and accurate for it...I guess it does depend what you're good at, I'm really good at chords and staccato, terrible at trills and faster notes, however triplets are my favorite to play, so right now I'm leaning slightly towards Mephisto, and length is never a problem for me

[lxDestinyxl]

Mephisto Waltz is very much harder than the 'Black Key' etude (which is predominantly black keys, but not all, eg. the very first bar in the left hand, and the only white key in the right hand at bar 66). The black key etude is a study for improvement in arpeggiation in the right hand. I would recommend you to, at your level, look at the chopin etudes because they will offer you a great balance of many technical skills in which you can improve, and ultimately master.

I am currently working on Chopin etude op. 25 no. 12 for the audition at the end of the year (and 4 other pieces), to major piano at the conservatorium of music, sydney. Just like the way you wouldn't judge a book by its cover, you shouldn't judge a music based on speed, length and its conceptual features. Making mistakes is normal, and you shouldn't worry about making notational errors. The most important advise I can give you is to understand the stylistic and contextual presentation of the particular piece you are studying, whilst at the same time developing a personal understanding of the era, and thus presenting your own shape and form of what you are playing.

Although the two are not simple pieces, Mephisto Waltz will by far surpass the level of difficulty of Black Key etude. The little 'problems' you encounter (such as those chromaticisms, triplets, arpeggiation, speed etc) are only there to scare you. You don't improve by not playing it because you had trouble with them in the past. By playing the particular passage over and over, little bit at a time, and at a slow tempo (gradually increasing speed throughout your study), these hinderances will become second-nature.

Anyway, if you want me to help you and possibly cam up and give you some advice on a particular part of a song (even if you pick mephisto waltz, I will be glad to help you), message me and we can arrange a time. I would love to help.

[stavie33]

Okay, so I tried Mephisto, I give up, ****in' nuts. It's not the tempo or anything, it's the freakin' chords man! They have Octave and 3 stretches everywhere! With sharps in the middle while expecting you to hit a grace note, and the speed they want you to alternate between these chords is ridiculous, my hands can't do that, I'm sorry. Jesus, I'll try Black Key but seriously...I can do the intro to Mephisto and then I'm like, I quit. Wow. I know Lizt had mad stretches, but when you have 16th triplet arpegio's that are 7 notes apart with one handed while alternating octave and 1 4 note chords with the other, I give up.

[stavie33]

Originally Posted by lxDestinyxl

Mephisto Waltz is very much harder than the 'Black Key' etude (which is predominantly black keys, but not all, eg. the very first bar in the left hand, and the only white key in the right hand at bar 66). The black key etude is a study for improvement in arpeggiation in the right hand. I would recommend you to, at your level, look at the chopin etudes because they will offer you a great balance of many technical skills in which you can improve, and ultimately master.

I am currently working on Chopin etude op. 25 no. 12 for the audition at the end of the year (and 4 other pieces), to major piano at the conservatorium of music, sydney. Just like the way you wouldn't judge a book by its cover, you shouldn't judge a music based on speed, length and its conceptual features. Making mistakes is normal, and you shouldn't worry about making notational errors. The most important advise I can give you is to understand the stylistic and contextual presentation of the particular piece you are studying, whilst at the same time developing a personal understanding of the era, and thus presenting your own shape and form of what you are playing.

Although the two are not simple pieces, Mephisto Waltz will by far surpass the level of difficulty of Black Key etude. The little 'problems' you encounter (such as those chromaticisms, triplets, arpeggiation, speed etc) are only there to scare you. You don't improve by not playing it because you had trouble with them in the past. By playing the particular passage over and over, little bit at a time, and at a slow tempo (gradually increasing speed throughout your study), these hinderances will become second-nature.

Anyway, if you want me to help you and possibly cam up and give you some advice on a particular part of a song (even if you pick mephisto waltz, I will be glad to help you), message me and we can arrange a time. I would love to help.

Awesome advice, I'll definitely look into it!

[The-Persian-King]

Originally Posted by stavie33

I've heard that about black key too...the other thing that makes it harder in a way is if it's played any slower than it's original speed, it sounds terrible, and if played at a different tempo, it also sounds terrible, so you have to be fast and accurate for it...I guess it does depend what you're good at, I'm really good at chords and staccato, terrible at trills and faster notes, however triplets are my favorite to play, so right now I'm leaning slightly towards Mephisto, and length is never a problem for me

looks like Mephisto would be a better choice. Go for it.

[Wineandbread]

I don't play piano, but I do remember that someone tried to transcribe piano x forte. I don't know how to read too well but it's certainly not perfect. But from what I've perused of piano pieces it seems fairly difficult for an average pianist.

Here's the link if you want to take a look anyway though: http://www.mediafire.com/?jhddon44k1n

Also please someone make a better video than the guy who did the sheet music: http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=o3-qYJsYUxY
Huge props to him for trying to play it though

[stavie33]

Originally Posted by Wineandbread

I don't play piano, but I do remember that someone tried to transcribe piano x forte. I don't know how to read too well but it's certainly not perfect. But from what I've perused of piano pieces it seems fairly difficult for an average pianist.

Here's the link if you want to take a look anyway though: http://www.mediafire.com/?jhddon44k1n

Also please someone make a better video than the guy who did the sheet music: http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=o3-qYJsYUxY
Huge props to him for trying to play it though

It's fast and tough, but still looks way easier than Mephisto Waltz, I might try this out, it all depends on how well I can keep tempo at high speeds