Practicing triplets over eighth notes in Debussy's Arabesque no. 1

My full recording of the piece: • Claude Debussy, Arabes...
When encountering passages with tricky polyrhythms one effective approach I've used is to first focus only on the rhythm, and in baby steps add in the correct notes one hand at a time. I decided to make this short video attempting to demonstrate how I did that on my first day practicing Debussy's Arabesque no.1.
check out my website at www.jacktinney.com

[@thales2501]

this non-ironically the hardest part of the piece so don't give up! took me 3 weeks to learn it and probably will take more to perfect it

[@swagjam1]

nah the beginning 2 measures are non-ironically the hardest

[@thales2501]

@@swagjam1 thats not true not in the slightest

[@swagjam1]

@@thales2501 wdym

[@thales2501]

@@swagjam1 the measures you're speaking about are just slightly fast arppegios and I got them down in like 20 minutes. the part taught in the video is a polyrhythm and I took 3 *months* to get it perfect.

[@swagjam1]

@@thales2501 idk bout you but the polyrhythm is easy, the hard part is playing it with a quiet lh and trying to play the rh evenly w/phrasing
the beginning might just be fast arpeggios, but the challenge isnt just playing the notes (ofc its very easy if you do that), but rather trying to play it relatively quiet and even, bc it is v e r y easy to accidentally accent a note or play one too early, not to mention that its the start of the piece, so you need to start with the correct tempo and volume to set the stage for the rest of it, which, once again, is very easy to accidentally play too slow/fast or loud/quiet
also i wouldn't focus on just playing the notes, its debussy, focus more on the phrasing and pushing/pulling of the notes

[@AheadOfTomorrow]

Wow, thank you. Simplifying it to that degree is exactly what I needed to do.

[@jacktinney]

You're welcome!

[@rosataco5551]

Omg, thank you so much. I was struggling a lot with this part, but you made it very simple and easy! (:

[@jacktinney]

You’re welcome!! Happy it helped!

[@nicki5519]

It was simple?

[@samu_0695]

​@@nicki5519its easyer but not really simple

[@josephpanjaitan7774]

This is way more helpful than other piano lessons on youtube

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@classicalroach]

The best 1:21 spent on RUclips in a while. Thanks boss

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@adelemariebianco411]

Reallll

[@alonsohidalgofernandez9265]

One of the clearest and most helpful videos I've seen in a while. I salute you!

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@akiblue]

Thank God there's nothing on RUclips that explains this properly

[@zerosense870]

was struggling with this part for an hour or so and tried looking up how to do it properly, this helped me get down essentially the basics of the polyrhythm in a few minutes, much thanks!

[@cosmocode75]

You can also use the method my piano teacher told me:
Counting to 6:
1 (both hands play), 2, 3 (right hand plays), 4 (left hand plays), 5 (right hand plays), 6
Example (L = left hand, R = right hand):
1 2 3 4 5 6
R R R
L L

[@Luvotomy24]

eh this is simpler, lol thank you

[@emmaoderso]

This literally kept me from giving up. Thank you so much!

[@elshazari2340]

After 3 days i've finally been able to play it!! Thank you so much, your video helped me understand the rythm better!

[@jacktinney]

Congrats!!

[@Elena03100]

Bro I've been struggling with this for a long time now but you made it WAY EASIER for me with a 1 minute long video. Thank you so so so much!! I can finally learn the next part :D

[@jacktinney]

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

[@Hecker9974]

This took me about three weeks of practice. I noticed that if i kept trying too hard in one day I would get stuck and no progress was made that one day. If I just practiced this for a bit each day, every day was an actual improvement, I think coming back to it with a clear mind every time helped a lot to figure out the things I was missing

[@robbreeze8794]

This is dope. I would never have even sniffed these two measures without your assistance. Straight pedagogical gangster.

[@LydiaThomas-i3z]

Omg I never thought I’d be able to move past this section in WEEKS and you’ve just solved it for me in 10 minutes, beaming :D

[@jacktinney]

Awesome!

[@irisalejandria5637]

Have you heard of the saying "Those who can't , teach " ? Well that's an utter lie, I've never seen such a simple explanation for something that used to lead me into frustration. Thank you so much.

[@jacktinney]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@griot444]

You gotta give this video 10/10 for how direct, simple, and fast it gave this lesson. Very nice!

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@-A-HuynhAnhNgoc]

Thanks you guy. I’ve been crazy with that part for a long time.

[@justbringingmusiqe]

I had ended up giving up on this part, however due to this video I had accomplished it! 🎉
Appreciate the tutorial :)

[@jacktinney]

Awesome! Thank You!

[@justinbruhn4600]

This was immensely helpful. Thanks boss.

[@estebanod]

Than you! Literally nailed it in like 10 minutes thanks to you

[@jacktinney]

Let’s go!!

[@Xico10catl]

I've been learning his short piece Beau Soir (beautiful evening) and halfway thru he starts doing the same triplets over eighths, your method definitely helps to make short work of it!

[@jacktinney]

Great! Glad to hear

[@codeblaze3]

I searched triplets over eighth notes and this popped up, exactly what I was struggling with thank you so much

[@jacktinney]

Awesome! Youre welcome!

[@ramen5243]

Thank you so much! I didn't think I'd be able to play this section😁

[@jacktinney]

Glad I could help!

[@esksun9528]

Thank you so much, this video is so helpful!!

[@jacktinney]

You’re welcome!

[@m4thegoat649]

I appreciate this so much Ive been struggling for the past few days and im already getting the hang of it thank you so much!

[@jacktinney]

Sweet! Glad it helped!

[@pianolentiwals1862]

searched for triplet practice piano, and this is exactly what i looked for, thanks!

[@NateWithMe1]

I am a beginner and had problem playing this part for a while and gave up this piece. One day I changed how I play, and I just make sure where the first and last notes of both hand ends and spread out the notes in between and went with the feeling then boom, it just all fits together.

[@jacktinney]

😎

[@y2kfilo]

Stil helpful after 2 years, thank you 💜💜

[@aran_tripathi]

This video made me realize I was skipping the G sharp on the way down lol. I was playing it incorrectly for so long, but not any more. Thank you!!!

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@tahabirben8649]

Amazing simplified lesson

[@jacktinney]

Thanks! 😃

[@kakahtukat]

fun fact: this is a 2:3 polyrhythm and when the tempo is put up high enough (over 2000 I would say) it starts becoming a perfect 5th

[@sofirazilik]

Beautiful..! Though i'm no longer playing the piano, but i do admire those who could play & willing to give sincere teachings as such...🎉🎉❤

[@jacktinney]

Thanks!!

[@fabulouslyyounique7962]

Love this

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@haroonhamid5352]

That is unbelievably helpful wow

[@jacktinney]

Right on! You’re welcome.

[@WhishoMH]

Wow this is good, really thanks!

[@jacktinney]

Thank you!

[@VictorIgboatuegwu]

Thanks a lot

[@jacktinney]

Thank you

[@franciscovelazquez9427]

Thank you so much

[@mahdimtibaa8009]

Thank you so much

[@esme_starss]

Thank you so much this is amazing!! I’ll always use this technique from now on :))

[@emilyfogerty6438]

Thank you!!! I FINALLY got it!

[@jacktinney]

🥳

[@naveedzubairkhan638]

I learned this by just playing this section super slowly and building up tempo

[@sublimebeyondloss6887]

How long did it take

[@naveedzubairkhan638]

@@sublimebeyondloss6887 about a month

[@sublimebeyondloss6887]

@@naveedzubairkhan638 dang

[@shimuelo1269]

@@naveedzubairkhan638 wait a month to learn the piece right? if it took you a month to learn 2 bars then LMAO

[@naveedzubairkhan638]

@@shimuelo1269 yep. It is laughable. But the joy i had when i learned the whole piece. Wasnt time bound so it doesnt matter how long it took me to learn something as long as i do.

[@eenayeah]

Genius!!!

[@gbg3663]

wow.. thanks

[@abrt2562]

Honestly i advise to learn perfectly both sides alone and then just try over and over to play both at the same time. Then it would just be natural and you won’t think of the rythm

[@windfishletusdream]

I need to do this for philip glass' something she has to do and it's killing me

[@diegoxdmurcia2237]

I have a problem how do i know the fingers positions whitouth numbers

[@diabl2master]

This piece is annoying in that every other bar can be played basically first time but this one takes loads of practice. Lots of chopin pieces like that too. Gorgeous piece though obviously

[@jacktinney]

Yeah the 3 over 2 is the first roadblock

[@potatoisgoodnotacherry]

Thanks for the video. I have a question, my piano teacher has lined up notes on the bass cleff and treble cleff for me. Should i still try it this way or that way?

[@jacktinney]

What ever works! doesn't have to be one or the other you can try both!

[@michel7999]

Thank u ❤ 😘 😅😂

[@jacktinney]

You’re welcome!

[@voidley5854]

0:08

[@Foreveralonebb]

Whats the exact name of your piano?😊

[@jacktinney]

This was at a practice rental place. It was an Essex

[@fabiorevello2693]

00:09