How can one play accurately a 8 x 6 cross rhythm? This is found in Fantasie Impromptu in C# minor.?

Question

The treble clef has 8 quavers while the bass clef has only 6 quavers. Hence the difficulty in coordinating both LH and RH.

Answer 1

I've played the piece and my teacher at the time had a great way of teaching 3 against 4. You say, "Pass the gosh darn butter" (but the words were not as nice as those" while patching (or patting) it on your lap. Since the right hand has the 4 and the left as the 3, here's how you do it:

Pass - both hands
the - right
gosh - left
darn - right
but- left
er - right

You'll of course do it in the 3 vs. 4 rhythm. Just keep working with it, and you'll get it soon enough.

Answer 2

Do you mean it's sextuplets or triplets against quavers? This is a complicated rhythm and needs a lot of independance between each hand. Firstly try listening to a recording of it, that way you'll be able to learn at least some of it by ear - just try to replicate the sound you hear. Then try beating 3/4 in your left hand for a few bars, then 2/4 in your right hand, then put the two together. It should sound something like

Right 1 2 | 1 2 |

Left 1 2 3 | 1 2 3 |
or ONE two AND three with the words in capitals where the right hand beats. There's an accent on one, because both are at the same time. If you realise this then it will become less hard to get lost when you're trying to put the two together.

Start off by playing each hand seperately. Lean it by heart (a few bars at a time), so that you will always be able to pick it out. That way if you're playing it wrong when you put them both together you'll notice.

Three against four is a tough one, but you can master it!

*edit* sorry my diagram looks a bit weird when I post it, suffice to say the two in the right hands comes between the two and three in the left.

Answer 3

When you're just learning the piece, I suggest you break up all the groups into 4 x 3 and practice them individually. Then put them together and make sure the first beat of each group falls at the same time in both hands. In reality, when you play the piece up to speed, you won't be dividing the beats precisely in each hand, nor will anybody be able to tell. The most important thing is that the first beat of each group be coordinated: for example, in the third measure:

left hand C# (right hand rest)
left hand E, right hand F##
left hand C#, right hand D#
left hand E, right hand B##

(I hope these notes are accurate; I don't have the score in front of me)

Answer 4

What you're referring to is called tempo rubato or (rob time). There is really no way you can "think out" how to play such contrasting times in both hands. You have to feel it. Also there is no perfect way to play rubato. The performers' quirks and uniqueness will be displayed while playing in the rubato style. A little slower, a little faster, a slight pause for half a second....adds to the drama of the performance. That's all rubato is - drama. It's not meant to be complicated (although it seems that way on paper).