A synthesizer today is a very popular instrument that is in demand among amateurs and professionals of various directions and categories. Even children who are going to learn musical spaces, parents acquire this particular instrument. But in order to possess performing skills, musical abilities and certain knowledge of theory are necessary. But in the event that your childhood passed without visiting an art school, and there is no desire to attract tutors, then it is entirely possible to do this yourself and at any age. After all, is there really any obstacle for a person who is obsessed with such a noble goal? Before you learn how to play the synthesizer, you need to get acquainted with this tool.
Tool features
The synthesizer has a bank of instruments with separation by type of timbre. With their help, you can play the whole orchestra or solo on one of them.
Also, the synthesizer has hundreds of backing tracks and arrangements, choosing which, it becomes possible to improvise and compose your own musical rhythmic pattern.
Using the equalizer built into the instrument, you can easily adjust the desired frequency. And with the auto accompaniment function, the accompaniment of the song will be more colorful and vivid, just select the appropriate rhythm and change the chords in your left hand in time. This option allows you to perform compositions without owning musical notation. Before learning how to play the synthesizer, it is necessary to learn the basic principle of performance: the melody belongs to the right hand (that is, what the soloist sings or plays), and the harmonious accompaniment to her left.
It is advisable to initially purchase a simple but high-quality model. In this case, you should pay attention to the keyboard, which should be standard sizes. This must be done so that later you do not have to relearn and get used to a normal instrument.
Teacher or self-study?
By purchasing this tool, you need to decide for yourself how to learn how to play the synthesizer - with the help of a teacher or on your own. There are some differences, and the most significant is that the correction and control of the student’s activities is carried out using stable feedback between him and the teacher.
Such a connection can be of several types. For example, one-sided is characterized by assigning the main role to the teacher. This type is characteristic of music schools, where the student has a low degree of freedom. He only implements a training program on playing the synthesizer, and the teacher exercises control over the activities of the child.
Two-way feedback differs from the one mentioned above in that the training takes into account the interests of the student and in the form of dialogue.
But if you really have a great desire to master this tool, you have a hearing and the ability to self-control, analysis and search, then in this case you can begin to independently master. Here control is carried out by comparing one’s own performance with a certain standard (for example, video recordings, notes, etc.).
Tutorial
Usually tutorials are conditionally divided into telling (but sometimes showing) how and what to play, and contributing to the development of independent creativity skills, that is, those that additionally explain why we learn to play the synthesizer. These collections are especially valuable, but subject to the availability of the submitted material and the use of understandable musical material.
But, unfortunately, the main problem of a large number of tutorials is the very weak connection of the sound or visual example with the text.
Electronic or printed tutorial that does not have sound examples
Usually training on it involves outside help, and the control function here is at an extremely low level. After all, how to learn how to play the synthesizer without owning the technique of performance and poor ability to read notes? It is very difficult to carry out two rather difficult tasks at the same time: to execute a work and exercise control over the quality of one's own performance.
Electronic or printed tutorial with sound examples
In self-instruction manuals on playing any instrument, the presence of sound examples is a mandatory addition. They are used as an auditory assessment of the quality of the exercises performed, and also as a demonstration of examples.
But such sound examples will become effective only if you are able to associate them with textual information, that is, have musical training. There may also be a situation where it is impossible to repeat exactly any example due to the lack of the necessary style or differences in the character of sound in your synthesizer.
A big drawback of such tutorials is the lack of spread fingering, used controls on the instrument, and much more, which causes considerable difficulties.
Video tutorials (video lessons, video courses)
On the expanses of the World Wide Web, you can find not only commercial video courses, but also free tutorials and video lessons. With their help, you can understand how to play songs on the synthesizer only if visual-sound examples are demonstrated at the appropriate level. A significant drawback of such learning methods is the lack of course objectives.
The quality of such video tutorials directly depends on the quality of the material, picture and sound, as well as its presentation. But, unlike other types of tutorials, there is good controllability. Indeed, in addition to the fact that the student hears exercises and examples, he also sees actions.
Literacy
Learning with a synthesizer does not carry any special difficulties, especially if the performer already has a certain level of musical literacy. If it is not there, then you need to learn the very basics of music - notes, because without meeting them it will be impossible to take advantage of the instrument.
So, setting the goal: “I want to learn how to play the synthesizer!” - the first thing to do is to master the musical notation. The keyboard of this power tool has the same structure as the piano (notes are located in octaves). Therefore, before the two black keys there is a note “do”. Where it is written (on an additional line) can be viewed on the display by pressing this white key. All notes follow it in order.
As for the black keys, they correspond to the note and the sign adjacent to it. For example, a sharp is to the right of the specified note, and a flat is to the left. Therefore, when you see a note with a sign, press the black key.
Also, you can not do without knowledge of the duration of notes.
Auto Accompaniment
Learning how to play the synthesizer on your own is impossible without mastering the alphabetic system by which chords are indicated (uppercase letters indicate major and lowercase - minor). Usually, notes are written in one line, and over certain measures there are notation for chords. They are pressed alternately with the left hand. To do this, you need to take simultaneously three sounds located through one key. But at first you can make it much easier. When you see a capital letter in front of you, just click this sound and a complete triad will sound. If you have a capital letter with a sign written next to it, then simply press the corresponding key.
For minor, two keys must be pressed simultaneously, where the first corresponds to the letter, and the second to the third step of the minor chord (for this, three keys must be counted from the main, including black).
When the number seven is indicated next to the letter, you simply press the main key and the adjacent white one on the left side at the same time.
This method only seems complicated. In fact, everything turns out to be very simple, just read the instructions for your instrument first, as this chord system may differ from different manufacturers of synthesizers. Another assistant here will be a display, looking at which it is much easier to control yourself and correct errors. Initially, it is recommended that you practice light and famous songs.
Hand position and fingering
To feel comfortable while playing and not to make a large number of mistakes, you need to sit comfortably, but the main thing here is to keep an eye on the elbows. They should be located approximately at the level of the keys. You can also play on the synthesizer while standing.
Even in songs above notes, numbers can be written. This is the so-called fingering (correct placement of the fingers). Usually it is present in notes for beginners and indicates which finger is more convenient to press a key. Here's how to learn how to play the synthesizer.