For both sections, the parts are easily
played when you nail the correct hand
positions. In other words, if you place each
hand over the proper group of five consecutive
notes, the parts practically play themselves.
We’ll play the intro with the left
hand and the riff with the right hand. You
don’t have to play them simultaneously at
first, but once you’ve got them in your fingers,
test your coordination!
Ex. 1. On the recording, the intro figure is split between one synth sound
panned to the right speaker, and a guitar (or guitar-like synth patch) in the
left speaker. In their live performances, MGMT plays this part on guitar, but it
also lends itself well to the keyboard. Place your left hand on the keyboard as
illustrated in Ex. 1a, and you’ll be in the correct D major finger position. The
riff is played by alternating finger 5 with fingers 1, 2, and 3, as shown in 1b.
Note the F# in the key signature of D major.
Ex. 2. The right-hand synth melody that follows is based on the same hand
position in A major; see 2a. The line descends from finger 5 on E down to A
(don’t forget the C# in the key signature of D major). Note that after you get
to A, finger 5 reaches up to the F# (see Ex. 2b for the traditional notation).
MGMT Lesson MP3