Boogie Woogie Piano - Hand Independence Help

Boogie Woogie Piano - Hand Independence Help
• Boogie Woogie Piano - ...
Can’t walk and chew gum at the same time?
Can’t rub your head and pat your tummy together?
Feel like your hands have a mind of their own when it comes time for them to work together?
No worries … Scott tackles this common issue using a Boogie Woogie example in this video
Let’s begin by reviewing the left hand bass pattern taught in our last blog post. You will find a link to that earlier blog post (Boogie Woogie Bass Line) on this page that will teach you step by step how to play the left hand pattern if you missed our last blog post.
Click on the link below to view the video teaching the bass line pattern: • Boogie Woogie Piano Ba...
Next, we’ll focus solely on the right hand part, so we can add a little harmony. There are 3 chords. For the G section, you will play an F and a B. In the C section you will take both notes and move down half a step and play an E and a Bb. Then back to the G section. Next, up a half step to the D section and play an F# and a C. Finally, back to the G section again.
Once you get both hands’ parts down separately, then you’re ready for the challenging part of getting the two hands to work together. The solution to that (as much as I wish I had a magic wand for) is to play it S-L-O-W-L-Y.
This "hand independence" issue is by far what gives players the most trouble. The good news is that it is 100% solvable by simply working through the tune VERY slowly until your brain gets used to telling both your hands what to do at the same time.
So again, the only solution is play R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y for a long, long time until you can start to gradually pick up speed and still be able to keep both hands going independently.
Unquestionably, the trick is to get your brain to understand which hand needs to come down in what order and whether both hands are together or not. For this boogie example you can think of your right hand coming down on the first and fourth note of your left hand playing. Practice doing just that in all 3 sections S-L-O-W-L-Y until your hands have the muscle memory. Then gradually increase your speed. The effort will be worth it when you finally get it right.
Scott’s life goal is to help you learn to play piano through piano lessons that you can take anywhere and at any time to get you started having some fun at a piano or keyboard as quickly as possible.
Scott Houston is the host of The Piano Guy television series on Public Television and has taught hundreds of thousands of folks like yourself, how to have some fun on their piano or keyboard. He wants to help you get there too-as quickly as possible.
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• Boogie Woogie Piano - ...
Boogie Woogie Piano - Hand Independence Help

[@TheBLUETOOTHpoet]

Really YES! Yes! YES! EXACTLY , as slow as necessary, then IT POPS !!!

[@pianoinaflash]

Ha ha! I wasn't lying... It's bizarre but true.

[@e.castlerock8454]

I came across your left-hand video for boogie-woogie yesterday and wished I had something to play in my right hand. Then I came across this video today! Both are excellent videos. Thank you for posting them!

[@pianoinaflash]

You're so welcome! Glad it helped ...

[@josephguida5432]

Scott Houston is the GOAT when it comes to breaking in Boogie Woogie beginners. Change my mind.

[@youssefbejjaj3825]

Simply the best lesson I've ever had ! Thanks o lot Sir!

[@aussiecoastie72]

Fantastic tutorial... a complete beginner like me appreciates it - thank you 🙏🏻

[@vic6695]

Thanks Scott... I'm using your course along with regular piano lessons. Not too much of a fan of the classical stuff, but hand independence comes into play a lot with the intermediate music I'm learning now. My teacher knows I want to play the type of music you do, and encourages me to try whatever I want to. He said once I can play the classical pieces, everything else will come so much easier. It seems like boogie woogie is in the same category.

[@floydraser4603]

This has never been explained better. Such a natural teacher. Thanks.

[@pianoinaflash]

Thanks so much for the nice words Floyd. Much appreciated ...

[@floydraser4603]

@@pianoinaflash You're more than welcome; it's working already! I've now subscribed.

[@simplyput5615]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU!!!!!❤

[@arjenpunter3108]

Splendid explanation about getting hand independence. I spoke 30+ years ago about this with a lady who played in a band. She said that it occurs suddenly, so in the years after when I was exercising playing the piano, I thought about her remark. I still didn't manage it, but now the explanation from Scott is enlightening in that he confirms that it occurs suddenly. So no slow improvements (what feels so frustrating), but just exercise slooowly and it will come. Great!

[@paulwest2821]

An excellent teacher - one of those you never forget. Thank you, Scott. Don't disappear

[@patriciabrownell6159]

Love your teaching style. Thank you. You are the best.

[@dasaradhinayakzeetelugusin652]

Your way of teaching is very nice my dear Sir.🎉 Let God bless you!

[@wendyflixon5041]

You’re a great teacher, thank you

[@elsgeurts9362]

Thank you for the instruction, you're a good teacher with a lot of humor, from PieterDuker in The Netherlands

[@shrimp6792]

that is the best intro i have ever seen

[@thearno2885]

Wow, it’s amazing. It’s like irony has been wiped from our collective memory

[@chersmithtrunks-up8198]

I apppreciate your u tube videos so much..!!! They are informative and fun!! Thank you for sharing your incredible talent with the world!!

[@pianoinaflash]

Thanks for the nice words!

[@fradenX]

I screamed "Steve Jobs!" when I first saw you haha

[@temesgenwahed372]

me too

[@crbohannon]

Thank you! Been playing a couple years and using boogie woogie to get my left hand out of lazy town. I think it's the next step I'm ready for and you reinforced me that super slow is the key.

[@pianoinaflash]

You're so welcome! Glad it helped. :-)

[@vic6695]

How's your progress going with boogie woogie? That left hand had a mind of it's own!

[@kavaleao1528]

❤❤❤! Awesome TUTORIAL & I HAVE THAT ISSUES PLAYING BOOGIE

[@raybrdjr]

THANKS FOR THE LESSONS! IM A MIDDLE AGED BEGINNER!

[@pianoinaflash]

You're welcome!

[@michaelkennedy5126]

thanks for this video, I made legit boogie noises after watching it.

[@garygross1085]

I've been wanting to learn piano for years now. Glad I found you. I love everything about the blues. I'll be practicing what you teach Thank you.

[@pianoinaflash]

Welcome!

[@wongowonga]

Great video, thankyou. Subbed. This is an analogy for 'breaking through the wall' that I remind myself. When I was a child I taught myself to juggle with 3 balls. For days I was just hopelessly throwing the balls into the air and dropping them. Then one day, all of a sudden It just happened, something clicked and I started to juggle. From that point on I could do it almost every time. This seems similar to me. I'm only a couple of weeks into my piano journey and needless to say I haven't broke through the wall yet but I always remember, keep going when everything seems helpless and eventually I will 'catch those balls'.

[@pianoinaflash]

That's a crack up, because I too learned to juggle 3 balls when I was a kid. Ha! Although I had the benefit of being told by someone that could do it that the trick was being able to keep two in the air with one hand. He said, don't worry about 3 until you can keep two in the air with one hand, then adding the third will be as easy as falling off a log. He was right...

[@wongowonga]

@@pianoinaflash I guess people like myself, who are trying to learn a skill, are lucky to have the internet with people like you guiding us. Saves a lot of time just throwing balls into the air! Oh and after watching this video, I was able to finally do simple boogie with both hands! Thanks!

[@hollieabbott1164]

Your videos are great thank-you

[@bethannjohnson9987]

You're a great teacher, Scott. Loved this video!

[@pianoinaflash]

Thanks :-)

[@christophermarquis8399]

THIS HELPS WITH HAND STRNGTH ALSO, FINDING MY LEFT HAND GETTING TIRED AFTER AWHILE THX

[@JS45678]

As a beginner, I’m convinced I will need a second person with a second brain to play the left hand pattern and then I’ll handle the right hand fun stuff. 🤯

[@mattdrat3087]

Very nicely explained and played, thank you! Matthew

[@sengokugensui4129]

I really reconize the "breaking through the wall" part thank you for this :)

[@pianoinaflash]

+Sengoku Gensui You're welcome!

[@twlson49]

yes I got the breaking through the wall thing. Reminds me of when I was teaching myself how to juggle years ago. For about three weeks I could get know more than 10 throws without dropping a ball, then one day I was really relaxed and did about a 100 throws in a row. After that I could do it anytime then. Like riding a bike I can not juggle for years now and I can pick up three balls and start juggling.

[@pianoinaflash]

Exactly! Funny, I can juggle (3 balls, no more) too and did the exact same thing when I was a young kid.

[@twlson49]

Play Piano In A Flash / PianoGuyTV 3 balls is how far I took it myself...lol

[@realasscracka]

@@pianoinaflash can U please break down the 64th Note Runs in Ray Charles song for you.. Its the Solo Part

[@boldcautionproductions9203]

Great share, the brain is amazing. But then remember what is telling you that.

[@lorraewright3561]

Excellent video lesson Scott, l joined your Webinar today, and learned a lot. Many thanks. Geoff

[@anneslater5437]

Thanks for another fun lesson Scott! 😊👍

[@jasper007s5]

yep. that's a big problem. hope it helps. thanks a lot

[@robertparkerpiano]

So at first I thought, "what the heck is that twisted fingering?", but I found it useful for training the brain for a new task. I also have tried the 1,54321 another commenter mentioned. That felt more natural, but I noticed the ability to create a natural separation of the riff was easier and eliminates the natural tendency to smear in the 54321 upward sequence. I play at a high level, but have NEVER mastered a boogie woogie AND I have a bit of arthritis in both hands at the base of my thumbs. Besides the pain, it just breaks down on me and I fall face forward on the keyboard. I'll definitely use your videos. I'd like to have it down by mid next month for a special occasion. And I almost forget to say, Thank You!

[@pianoinaflash]

Glad it helped... There's ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat with pano riffs so it always makes me giggle (and kind of shrug a bit) when people comment so vehemently about something being "right" or "wrong." Everybody needs to find their own path... Good luck getting this nailed down for your special occasion. Above all... have fun with it! :-)

[@brucejeric6701]

I think rhythmic and interval on beat1 and the second on the “and of two” That’s me. But I will try your way also and count finger strikes and see his many and where that happens. Whatever works best to get into muscle memory mode is what it’s all about. Thanks for thd tips

[@windsorpatb]

always a fine and clear video, PianoguyTV. Thanks for your time and patience to teach us all. :-))

[@scotthouston6780]

Glad I can help!

[@joycefore8214]

Hi

[@user-mn1qf2mm8m]

I had an awesome experience today. I recently bought a nice new digital piano and for the first time I felt te boogie while playing it. Without having to think about it, my left hand was chopping and bouncing the rhythm while my right hand improvising chords and melodies. I LOVE THE BOOGIE WOOGIE. It's so fun to play it will pay off the hard practising. I'm only struggling with the tempo, I go way to fast automatically. Playing slow is a lot harder.

[@pickerprepper]

you are so right, and we keep forgetting, it's not like climbing a hill it's more like I can't, I can't, I can't.....ON AND ON....THEN SUDDENLY.....Hey I can do this!!!!!....and it somehow seems as if we ALWAYS could :) and we forget we maybe tried a 1000 times.....anyway thanks for all your vids and before the 'ol www. thanks for being on educational TV.

[@windsorpatb]

so true. I never understood the concept of “muscle-memory” until I pushed myself , a little each day…and the next…and the next…and then you realize you don’t have to think about it anymore. It’s THERE! You just have to believe that it will happen…eventually.You just persevere until it does. :-)

[@properjob]

Great lesson really well taught. Thanks!

[@properjob]

One thing. Rub your head and pat your tummy? Other way round, surely :-)

[@nadeerahemal8995]

thanks

[@JuJu-he8ck]

Thank you bro this is what it is just the patters. I thought I just have to speed through now I know tho.

[@MrJoseblake]

Buenas tardes. compre el curso me alegre mucho ya que cuando coloque el primer cd. venia con la opción del idioma español pero cuando empece el curso fue una sorpresa no tienen la misma opción que puedo hacer?

[@musasda]

Thanks for the video. been practicing it right all along. thought I was cheating with the "when my left hand presses this key, then press this key on the right"! most videos are like: play the right, now the left, now play them together. period. No explaination after that. So a huge thank you!

[@pianoinaflash]

+Harold Hernandez You're welcome! Glad it helped, or at least made sense...

[@lebinolivier6548]

Hello. Very nice tutorial. I am practicing it with joy. By the way, just a remark : In the video of the left hand pattern You indicate a fingering with Thumb on C; but when You play it up tempo You put the 2nd finger on the C; I have tryed the 2 fingering. Naturally I go for 2nd on C. Sound is more natural. What is Your final Guideline ? What is the best fingering for this pattern ?

[@TheDoubleGGMan]

Thanks steve

[@pianoinaflash]

You're welcome Elvis

[@wisdomoflifeostewisdomofli671]

sir you are amazing wonderful lesson you taught my name is danny and i m from pakistan piano keyboards are my life

[@pianoinaflash]

Glad you enjoyed it Danny. Hope it helps!

[@wisdomoflifeostewisdomofli671]

Play Piano In A Flash / PianoGuyTV yes sir its really effective for my left hand practice

[@kevinknobloch21]

that watch is dope

[@pianoinaflash]

It's a 30+ year old Ebel I have worn all that time :-) I still love it...

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Scott - I love the way you explain the challenge/problem with a little humor but my gosh - could you have picked a more complicated left hand pattern? Doesn't seem like a beginner thing to me. That third finger on the C# seems to get in the way - in my mind anyway!

[@tracerammo]

I do the "fake chords" thing when I mess up, too! 😂

[@terryisaac8195]

Hey Scott, (Practicing) riding a bicycle or a motorcycle TOO SLOWLY will not work, and might even wreck or get you killed. For reasons known only to those who are Lost in the Ozone, there seems to be a minimum speed below which easy control is not possible!!! On a bike or cycle the physics principle is called "precession". As a matter of fact, if you secure the handle-bars and roll a riderless bike fast enough it will keep rolling without falling down!!! Could the same principle work in playing the piano I have often wondered. Why not start at some moderate tempo, ignore all mistakes, continue playing, repeat, and let the music just happen as it may!!! Just a thought, but if the final object is to be happier when playing music, but we start out slogging and struggling through tunes and not enjoying the process, or our slow progress, isn't that very much counter-intuitive? Terry

[@williampaxton871]

Scott, This is marvelous. Just what I needed. Can you suggest any exercises those of us new boogie woogie players can use to build hand independence. I'm thinking drills here like doing a basic pattern and perhaps talking or counting. But again, this video was perfect. You are an excellent teacher. Bill in Los Angeles

[@brucejeric6701]

If you know how to count in music ,then work on hand independence by using a LH bass pattern you first get comfortable with. Then add the right chords. First whole notes for 4 bars, then 2/2 notes for 4 bars, then quarter notes for 4 bars, then eight notes,then triplets. Practice SLOWLY with metronome and increase as you Accomplish flawless playing at each metronome speed. You will gain hand independence that way snx good timing

[@brucejeric6701]

Spelling mistake. 2/2notes. I meant 1/2 notes. Start around 60 bpm on metronome and gradually work to 120 and beyond that it’s then boogie woogie 140,160,180,200 etc. enjoy!!

[@sandyswambo]

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & helps ?

[@Ohlukei]

i started 5 days ago and I struggle when keys for one hand are far between the fingers, playing the thumb and the small finger where my hand is too small, or playing the pointing finger and the small finger feels terrible, nearly hurts me O.o

[@aaronscalise7682]

Love the videos and thanks so much. Although, this one bugs me since you don't use the correct fingering with your left hand as you teach in the left hand video while playing with the hands together slowly.

[@Nozickfy]

Same here. From B to D he should use 4-3-2-1 fingers and the 5 to the low D. Thank you very much anyway, great lesson.

[@REDRAYNE1992]

great video man! very inspirational :) been working on the c-c-e-c-g-c-a-g progression for months. I'll keep at it

[@thomasmcclain8116]

What level is this?

[@andristefanus]

sir my finger can't stop moving after 3 hours doing that... help..., but thanks... very useful

[@pianoinaflash]

Ha ha! You're welcome...

[@TheSquirrelmender]

Tell us what notes we are playing so we can practice where and how to play. How can one play without knowing the notes?

[@pianoinaflash]

That's why this is video vs. audio, so you can visually see for yourself. The very first 5 secs or so are a great example you can look at.

[@jjrusy7438]

so I started the left hand you gave us and immediately used different fingering like I played this before. then it hit me: bumble boogie and that crossover is not needed. 5, 1 ..4,3,2,1 which sets up the next part as your thumb(1) is now on the top of the 2nd octave then 5, 1 to finish. super efficient and super fast. you aren't doing anyone any favors giving people finger twisters when not needed. look how your 4th finger is just hanging around when it is almost in position already.

[@pianoinaflash]

If that works better for you, great! Thanks for the alternative idea. :-)

[@jaye9056]

what are the actual keys that you are playing

[@albertabouck2545]

Here's the previous link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqK2qIejhp6VeNk

[@DiscipleOfAr1se]

See that happens to all of us

[@andygouberman4903]

I really want to phone call Scott Houston The Piano Guy.

[@NateMaster]

Steve jobs

[@joaocunha7595]

I'm a piano beginner and I got the exercise with 120 BPM after 5 minutes

[@smileeveryday421]

Loll💕👍

[@jamesmaher8595]

Scott, concentrate on the ABC of BW i.e. the LH! Give us the most basic LH patterns and then gradually more difficult LH patterns. Ye, it'll be basic, boring, repetitive but it'll sort out the genuine from the superficial students!

[@MyDreamside]

the music intro is so 80's-90's lol

[@emc2184]

I don't hear you tell them, ..... PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. . There is NO quick fix for hand independence on the piano. . TRY, ... TRY AGAIN, ..... and try again & again & again & again & again, .......... until you have got it. If you get angry, .. take a ten minute break, ..... and then try again & again, ... ect, ect....

[@windsorpatb]

Practice….WHEN DONE CORRECTLY…makes perfect. :-)))

[@mrsceptical6686]

This is NOT teaching independence. This is just showing a sequence. The question is how to achieve hand independence, so that you could play anything with the right while maintaining the rhythm with the left hand.

[@blueskycopywriting2928]

Text all over the image

[@pianoinaflash]

Turn off Closed Captioning maybe?

[@fernandosalazarserantes8785]

For. God's sake that's not independence of both hands. He's just watching his left hand pattern while he does nothing with his right paw!!!

[@pianoinaflash]

Exactly ... This one's not hard at all from a hand independence standpoint compared to tough Boogie patterns for example.

[@mojooftheg5961]

Don't wear pleated pants

[@joepalooka2145]

??? I disagree with your teaching the counting of "1-2-3-4". This is BAD and I'm surprised to see this. Especially for beginners. It's a lot easier to subdivide and count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &". The hands come down either on the downbeat or the upbeat. In this case "1" (& 2 &) "3" (& 4 &).

[@jeffaley2895]

I agree with Joe. Except the melody is on the “1” and on the “a” of 2. 1 (a 2) a (3 a 4 a). I write “a” instead of & because it’s swing time instead of straight time.