Two Fingers One Note

Keyboard Action

Hiromi whips through this part on her Nord Lead 2, which has a spring-loaded synth action. In other words, the keys bounce back up very quickly after you strike them, making it easy to hit the same note many times in quick succession. If you can practice on a keyboard with synth action like that of the Nord, you’ll have an easier time learning to play this part. If you have access to an acoustic piano or a weighted keyboard, though, don’t worry: You can still practice this technique and use it effectively, but it might take longer to build up the strength and agility to pull it off. Regardless of the instrument you’re using, remember that even within the categories of synth-action keyboards or acoustic pianos, the action of the keys can vary greatly; to really get this technique down, it might be good to try it on as many different axes as you can.

The Metronome

As you’re training your fingers to hit tight rhythmic fingers, using a metronome will be immensely helpful. Listen to the beats as you play and try to get your notes to lock in and groove, no matter how simple what you’re playing may be.

The Fingers

One way to make these measures less challenging is to use two fingers, one at a time, to play the same note. At the beginning, it may feel cramped to use more than one digit on the same key, but once you’re comfortable with it, you’ll be able to play much faster. To build up to it, first put the thumb of your right hand on C and the middle finger on E. As in Example 1a, alternate the C and E and start slowly, gradually increasing your speed until you can play the two notes quickly and evenly. Next, keep your thumb on C, but move your middle finger to D (Example 1b) and again, start slow and increase speed. Finally, use your thumb and middle finger to alternate hitting C (Example 1c). As before, start very slowly, and only proceed as quickly as you can make each hit of the note clear, clean, and even.