LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2

hakigor -- 04/05/2004, 06:27:51 -- #3272

Hi. I know this tune is exxxtremely difficult to play, but I'm willing to do my best and play it (although I'll have to "cut" a few notes). I'm interested if anyone knows this tune and is willing to give me some tips, about fingerings, or tell his/her experience etc. Thanks.

marksdg -- 04/05/2004, 06:59:33 -- #3273

The first half of the piece is very good.  The second half can be fun, but if you are struggling you might want to just learn the first half.  In the first half, the only difficult part are the fast out-of-time runs.  While these look insanely difficult at first, you might find that if you practice them slowly and don't expect to play them too fast, it might work out for you.  I think you can probably work out the fingering, but on the runs it is vital that you practice the same fingering consistently.  The repeating patterns in the runs make them much easier than they seem at first. By the way, I have used this piece as an intro to 'Caravan'.  I use the first page and embellish a few points in a bluesy way.  Then right where it goes into the first part with steady rhythm, I switch to a base vamp for Caravan.

hakigor -- 04/06/2004, 10:15:16 -- #3332

Thanks! I agree with you that first part is easier, and I'm trying to figure out fingerings for those runs... It's something like going up and down the C# minor scale... And I think the ending is very good to use when playing (finishing) a lot of other melodies.

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