"Advanced Techniques"...?

[Eight]

I hate to be a nag (and I feel like one whenever I venture on into the BM forums), but I am really, really, really superdy-duper stuck in a technique rut right now. I'm still hanging out around 7s and 8s in RED, and, well... I'm getting my ass kicked good thanks to certain patterns.

Notably: Quick scales (see RESONATE) - neither hand can hit them fast enough. I have no idea how to go faster, though.

Quick chord patterns - I can read them, but again, neither hand can seem to touch them. This is why I still can't pass Genom Screams [a] and V [7k].

Random songs - I still can't beat gigadelic [L7]. Nor can I squeak out a clear for AGEHA [7k]... there are others that I can't think of off the top of my head, but something about AGEHA annoys me especially (ie. it looks simple enough... but I can't freaking do it.)

I was hoping you guys would be able to give me some pointers on hitting "complex" patterns. I can read most stuff besides Scorpion Fire, but I can't even make contact. I know practice is necessary, I'm just hoping you all might have some ideas.

Also, if you know of any especially good videos depicting good tech, I'd love to see them...

My apologies,
Eight.

[nilmind]

Originally Posted by Eight

Quick chord patterns - I can read them, but again, neither hand can seem to touch them. This is why I still can't pass Genom Screams [a] and V [7k].

You actually seem to be about where I am, although I admit that I haven't played for at least 2 months. The last I played, I somehow weasled out an 80% at the end of V [7k], so I'm not sure if I'll be able to help you that well here.

In both Genom Screams [a] and V [7k], there are patterns where the notes are all symmetrical. These shouldn't be too bad since you can just use both hands and use the exact same fingerings between each hand like a mirror is between them. I also noticed that the notes for V [7k] is quite charitable with the scratches. Even though I can't pinky scratch yet, I found V to be very possible to do one handed in these areas. That means that you'll have to constantly switch between one and two handed though. If you still have trouble understanding what I mean by symmetrical fingerings, I guess you can ask again.

The really hard parts in Genom Screams are those areas where the notes are not just all close together and fast, but where they aren't even symmetrical. On these areas, I have to recommend a fingering. (Please excuse me for I don't know the mainstream terms for key labeling) Let's say that from left to right, the keys number 1-7. The parts I'm talking about have notes like this: 1+3; 2+4; 3+5; 2+4; 3+5; 4+6; 5+7. Here, for both hands, I'll start the 1+3 with thumbs on both fingers. Then the 2+4 would be the middle fingers. 3+5 are thumbs again. 2+4 = middle (or 6 ). 3+5 => thumbs. 4+6 => pointers. 5+7 => thumbs. Do this in training for awhile and be patient.

[syk-iidx]

Although I can't do it, there's some footage I saw of DJ 1048 doing jackhammers two-handed. Like alternating presses between each hand on the same key(s). His Scripted Connection (another) video has him doing those nasty five-in-a-row button presses with two hands. Check the BMS 7.0 video thread in this forum to find the video.

[Digi379]

There are many songs with the famous "mirror pattern" you could train yourself with, I'd recommend Distress 7k if you have 9th Style (I assume you have it since you're talking GENOM SCREAMS [a]) or rainbow rainbow. The example not to follow if you want to have proper training on mirror patterns: trying to type rainbow rainbow L7's rapid mirrored chords one-handed. Even though I usually play one-handed on L7 I regularly fail this song by doing so.

[Fei04]

I actually haven't palyed genom[a] so i can't give you advice on that, but umm V[h] is all about being to tell weither or not you can see the 4+5 or 1+7 come down, if you can clearly see which keys to start off then, you can manage to leave enough for a pass

gigadelic [n] - think of the 1,2 sections as really fast alternations, but not as a trill, their on 8th beats so I what im getting to is, go slower than you usally would press them

ageha [h] - you can try random to break up the pattern, or if you are talking about the last 4 measure of the song, where it goes 46,57,46,35,24 (the alternating blue and the white keys that shifts left), try playing them with only your index and middle finger

and finally, personally if you your struggling on 7s and 8s, i dont think you can play resonate yet. if your just going for a clear mark, use random, but if your sticking to the original score for the song, you just to need to get better (no offence intended!), the best way to do that is stick to your good old hard clearing songs =)

p.s btw, using the "jack hammer" technique ( i unno if thats what you call it), is often used for 16th or 32th beats, it is your personal choice to how you play, but i wouldn't suggest trying the technique on resnoate though

[Eight]

My big problem with RESONATE is that I fall behind in the scaling sections pretty quickly, and I can't recover from it. It sucks... I can pass it in practice mode on speed 4 HS4.... With 100%.

[pretty2tuff]

yes.. i've been practicing with resonate and i actually can get 100% on hard... (with diffulty 1 though)..oh and sphere too.. just practice it, i just tried slow on training mode until i got that part down, and yeah. sphere is still hard when those fast button presses, but i can do scales no prob. i guess i'm at the same stage as you, but can't do 7+ anothers. and i've been playing fer 1 month

[bandit22]

i'm in about the same place, but i can do ageha [A], but everything else is about right. my big problem is when i have to use my ring finger and pointer finger to hit something like a 4-7 chord, or when i get the 6-7 at the same time. fucks my hand up. should i be using my left hand to reach over and hit 4?

[bmah]

Originally Posted by Eight

My big problem with RESONATE is that I fall behind in the scaling sections pretty quickly, and I can't recover from it. It sucks... I can pass it in practice mode on speed 4 HS4.... With 100%.

I remember having so much problems with scaling/chromatics but now I really love doing it.
It takes practice, so start with a song that has slower scaling.

- What I do is to devote roughly one hand to one half of the keys and the other hand to the other half.
- I used to think that I would have to scale with my fingers in the way I do when playing an actual piano (with one hand), but IIDX keys are too big for comfort.
- It's hard to describe exactly what to do; the method isn't exactly concrete. I hit my pinky finger on the 1 key (first white key), then either the ring or the middle finger hitting on the 2 key (first black key). The fingering can really vary from here, depending on the notechart. My right hand can take care of the other half.

Keep trying! This technique took me a long time to get used to.

[pretty2tuff]

scherzo (10th style) is a good song to practice on for scales? heh but yeah, do u ever have to use thumbs fer the keys? cuz yeah i heard on tha biidx faq v2.0 page that thumbs is necessary fer anothers and i keep trying to use my thumbs somewhere but just end up screwin up.. but yeah i can pinky scratch ok, just can't pinky scratch and press 2+ keys rapidly (u kno those parts).

[nilmind]

Originally Posted by pretty2tuff

heh but yeah, do u ever have to use thumbs fer the keys? cuz yeah i heard on tha biidx faq v2.0 page that thumbs is necessary fer anothers and i keep trying to use my thumbs somewhere but just end up screwin up...

Yes! For me, thumbs are especially important since I use one hand more often than I use both. It's kind of hard to tell you when you should use it, but I can say that they should only be used for the white keys (duh) and using them once in a while will prevent you from having to do the equivalent of double stepping on dancing games.

For example, using my original key to # layout, let's say you have a pattern that quickly goes from 4 to 3 to 2. In this case, it may be very awkward to not use your thumb. I suppose you can press 4 with your middle finger, then 3 and 2 with your index, or very awkwardly go from ring to middle to index. Most ideally, one would press it like middle, then thumb, then index. Beyond that, I wouldn't know how someone would do scaling without a thumb...

[Eight]

I wish someone knew some really good videos of people doing fast scale/chord songs. I seriously think my biggest problem is just bad technique.

[theCHIEF]

SAME HERE, A VID WOULD BE NICE. LIKE A LESSON ON HAND PLACEMENT FOR SUCH COMPLICATED PARTS

[Luigi-Bo 87]

A vid would be very helpful. I think my problem lies in my overdependence of my right hand, as I use it for keys 3-7 and my left for keys 1-2 and the "turnstile" lol. I would use my left hand more but I've tried playing with the keypad on the left side and failed horribly on any song past level 3. Does anyone have any tips for imptoving play with my left hand? I'd greatly appriciate it.

[bumm]

For chords like on V and Ageha [7] where it's something like 1+3 2+4 3+5 4+6 5+7 and vice versa, I just use my middle and ring fingers on one hand.
A good song that's not really too fast or difficult to practice would be Dreamin' Sun [7] from 9th style (at least I think it's that one, it's been a while though).


As for scales, I start with my ring finger on one end, then alternate my middle and index finger going across, and if I can afford to play two-handed in the part I may do something like this:

Let's assume the scale is going 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 and back.
(first letter corresponding to hand, second letter corresponding to which finger. I.e left ring, left middle, left index)
I would treat it like LR, LM, LI, LM/RM, RI, RM, RR, RM, RI, RM, LI, LM, LR.

Alternatively, if I can't use both hands, I would just keep alternating index and middle fingers across the controller and back til the end key and use my ring finger.

This is also due to the fact that I trained myself to play two-handed with a sortofpinky scratch on 1P JKOC. I'm trying to retrain myself at the moment to replay on a 2P IIDASC.