So what do you think are the most difficult/easy songs of each section of the website. I will post mine later.
I apologise if this is a bad idea for a thread.
I had a post typed out then I realized all I was doing was hating on arrangers. This is a bad thread and feelings will get hurt.
Easy: Most arrangements made before there was quality control
Hard: Maestromaestromaestromaestro
^This.
lol oops just realized Maestro is hard
That's gotta be flattering
Quote from: spitllama on January 22, 2013, 07:17:56 PMlol oops just realized Maestro is hard
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
Quote from: SlowPokemon on January 22, 2013, 06:27:39 PMThis is a bad thread and feelings will get hurt.
Difficulty of a song does not necessarily mean that the arranger is bad; it just means that, for whatever reason, the arrangement is difficult to play for the "average person."
Quote from: BlackDragonSlayer on January 22, 2013, 07:36:13 PMDifficulty of a song does not necessarily mean that the arranger is bad; it just means that, for whatever reason, the arrangement is difficult to play for the "person attempting to play said song"
fixed
Quote from: BlackDragonSlayer on January 22, 2013, 07:36:13 PMDifficulty of a song does not necessarily mean that the arranger is bad; it just means that, for whatever reason, the arrangement is difficult to play for the "average person."
Sometimes the only alternative to making it hard is to make it sound simple. Too simple.
(I'm totally jumping off your thought, dragon (if you don't mind me calling you that (I apologize right now if you find that offensive (holy crap I'm using a lot of parentheses!))))
Take the Athletic theme from Mario world. I think we can all agree that the biggest thing making this song one of the hardest video game songs of all time on piano, is the left hand and how it's always jumping so far. But take that away to make it easier -POW! - it sounds mundanely (just made that word up) simple. Boring in fact.
Because all your left with is the bass note every second beat. It just doesn't work.
Quote from: Yugi on January 22, 2013, 07:39:21 PMQuote from: BlackDragonSlayer on January 22, 2013, 07:36:13 PMDifficulty of a song does not necessarily mean that the arranger is bad; it just means that, for whatever reason, the arrangement is difficult to play for the person attempting to play said song.
Fixed.
Fixed punctuation, etc.
I'm sure some people can play the song, but for the "average person," as I said, it's difficult. Often, songs can become too complex, such as too many notes at once (for example, I can stretch my hands a full octave and play well; I can stretch further, although the notes won't sound very good at all), or too much going on between the left and right hands, leading to coordination troubles.
In a few cases, the songs are easy to play at a slow speed, but when played at the regular speed, by an "average person," they sound very messy; especially when one is required to stretch their hands wide distances, the person is unable to press all the way down on the keys, so the sound does not fully emerge.
Quote from: JDMEK5 on January 22, 2013, 07:45:49 PMSometimes the only alternative to making it hard is to make it sound simple. Too simple.
(I'm totally jumping off your thought, dragon (if you don't mind me calling you that (I apologize right now if you find that offensive (holy crap I'm using a lot of parentheses!))))
Whenever I play Gangplank Galleon, I always edit the song slightly, because a few parts in it are incredibly difficult to play without slowing down/sounding ultra-choppy (for example, measures 9 to 24; it sounds a bit jumbled when played on an actual piano, although it might just be my piano, something I doubt). It's a bit easier, and sounds rather good (in my opinion). :P
Quote from: BlackDragonSlayer on January 22, 2013, 07:52:14 PMIt sounds a bit jumbled when played on an actual piano, ...
WARNING: YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ A SENTENCE THAT CONTAINS 100% HONESTY. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Nothing can sound better on an electric piano as compared to an acoustic.* (Grand or upright, doesn't matter)
*assuming you can feel the piano. A skill you don't get playing an electric with weighted keys.
Idk, my friend had this electric piano that I didnt even know was electric for a few months of playing it XD Though I was 10 years old, so maybe thats a factor :P
I've been playing an acoustic upright my whole life.
The second I place my hands on weighted keys, it's like the piano literally screams through my fingers: "we're weighted! Don't bother with making the sound you want, just hit us!"
I never, never finish playing a song on an electric piano feeling satisfied with how it felt and sounded.
Quote from: JDMEK5 on January 22, 2013, 08:01:22 PMWARNING: YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ A SENTENCE THAT CONTAINS 100% HONESTY. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Nothing can sound better on an electric piano as compared to an acoustic.* (Grand or upright, doesn't matter)
*assuming you can feel the piano. A skill you don't get playing an electric with weighted keys.
...by "actual piano," I meant
every piano, when compared to the
midi... :P
Although I do own a Kurzweil RG100SE (we don't have room for a bigger piano D:), my piano teacher has an acoustic piano (though some of the keys require a great amount of force to push down, meaning that it's nearly impossible to play a song quietly). It just depends on each individual piano (unless it's a Steinway :P).
Quote from: JDMEK5 on January 22, 2013, 08:09:58 PMI've been playing an acoustic upright my whole life.
The second I place my hands on weighted keys, it's like the piano literally screams through my fingers: "we're weighted! Don't bother with making the sound you want, just hit us!"
I never, never finish playing a song on an electric piano feeling satisfied with how it felt and sounded.
Again, depending on what piano it is, weighted keys can make it easier or harder to play. I can play easily on acoustic pianos (lots of music recitals), but for some, it takes longer to adjust to (yet again, depending on the quality of the piano...).
Quote from: BlackDragonSlayer on January 22, 2013, 08:32:46 PM...by "actual piano," I meant every piano, when compared to the midi... :P
Heh, sorry. My purist nature spilling out again. To me, there's nothing like a vibrating string or reed. (Metaphor implying that I prefer acoustic instruments over artificial any day)
I'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY BREAK THE TARGETS SOMEDAY.
SOMEDAY and here's a normal sentence so I don't break any rules.
Oh, was my stuff too difficult?
My bad.
@About the digital and acoustic piano discussion. Firstly, every piano is acoustic by definition. Digital pianos are digital though and uprights and grands are mechanical. Ofc the (wrong) convention is to split the pianos into digital and acoustic. Secondly, good grands are superior to both digital pianos and uprights, good uprights are superior to bad grands (the small ones) and digital pianos are superior to uprights and are quickly improving. No point in purchasing an upright. It's way better to get a good digital and once you reach a high level of playing go for a concert grand (ofc a concert grand costs crazy amount of money).
No, an upright piano is infinitely better to start on than a digital one.
Quote from: SlowPokemon on January 23, 2013, 08:46:34 AMNo, an upright piano is infinitely better to start on than a digital one.
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.III.17.1
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.III.17.2
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.III.17.3
I'm lucky enough that I get to practice on my teacher's grand when preparing for an upcoming competition.
Twice a year I perform on a Steinway grand piano. Best moments of my life.
Well really incredible anyway.
Quote from: SlowPokemon on January 23, 2013, 09:52:55 AMTwice a year I perform on a Steinway grand piano. Best moments of my life.
Well really incredible anyway.
That must be amazing; the only time I've ever played on a Steinway was in a piano store. :P
You are all way off-topic.
Quote from: Shadoninja on January 23, 2013, 11:56:25 AMYou are all way off-topic.
We were talking about what makes a song easier or harder, and that branched off into types of pianos...
... Which is off-topic
Oh yeah. But, I fail to see the purpose of this topic...
Going back to the original topic (derailing it like this is actually a rather rude thing to do), I'd like to give Break the Targets from SSBM another mention. It goes ridiculously fast.
Pokémon R/B/Y Gym Leader Battle is also a contender for the top spot. Have fun playing those sixteenth notes. At 170 BPM. With your left hand.
Also in the Pokémon section, we've got GreekGeek's arrangement of "Approaching Champion Cynthia". Triplets at 202 BPM... not fun.
As for "Easiest arrangements on site", I'd like to nominate my own two. You'll find them in the Mario section.
Quote from: Cobraroll on January 23, 2013, 02:27:38 PMGoing back to the original topic (derailing it like this is actually a rather rude thing to do),
Sorry. It just sorta veered away... It wasn't my intention.
Can I please nominate Ocean Shrine (http://www.ninsheetm.us/sheets/FinalFantasy/FinalFantasy/OceanShrine.pdf) Some of those chords are unplayable unless you have really streched out fingers.
Quote from: Yugi on February 09, 2013, 05:36:16 PMCan I please nominate Ocean Shrine (http://www.ninsheetm.us/sheets/FinalFantasy/FinalFantasy/OceanShrine.pdf) Some of those chords are unplayable unless you have really streched out fingers.
If it was a matter of ONLY stretching, it would be easy, but it's a matter of stretching AND speed.
Well first Pokémon.. probably all of then.. nah just kidding but to name a few trainer battle, gym leader and champion(just wtf?) from R/B/Y.
Other songs are Tetris A, wow what an arrangement
The Tragic Prince, galoping 16th and a long song, good arrangement btw.
Boss Theme Medley form Brawl, lots of 16th looks hard.
Tal Tal Heights, Omg I want to see anyone actually play this arrangement.
Gourmet race and Athletic theme, both have a difficult left hand.
Battle with Gruntilda, got some fast parts.
Sonic 3 Hydrocity Zones, lots of fast runs, a bit messy sheet maybe.
Thats all I could come up with atm, have fun with the challenge. ^^
Ganondorf Battle (Ocarina of Time)
Opening (Link's Awakening)
Quote from: Tobbeh99 on April 12, 2015, 07:57:01 PMThe Tragic Prince, galoping 16th and a long song, good arrangement btw.
I love that arrangement so much, but I'm never going to be able to play it. :-\
And The Halberd (Kirby Super Star) is just impossible because you can't play a song arranged that badly as written. It's physically impossible.