Should I be using the arrow keys?

[Sar0nite]

Hi there,
I am fairly new to the community and have recently been called a noob by various individuals because I have been playing FFR with the arrows falling, not rising and with the keys T,Y,U,I as per arrow from the left to right of the screen. So that I do not make the same mistake again and waste 6 months of my life playing like a noob, I ask what keys I should be using, whether they be simply the arrow keys or a different group of keys? And if I should be playing with the arrows rising or falling. Please save me from my noobiness!
Cheers.

[justin_ator]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

It's all a matter of what you prefer and what is comfortable. We have some pretty good downscroll players, and some pretty good spread players that don't use the arrow keys. None of it really makes you a noob or not. Whatever boats your float, go with it.

[bmah]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

It all depends on what you're comfortable with. I used to play quite well only with the arrow keys, but the current trend is choosing a keymap that conforms to a "spread style" such as A,S,K,L (i.e. two keys distanced apart from the other two).

It also depends on your keyboard. When I played on my desktop computer, the keyboard had fat keys, and the arrow keys were wide enough that I could play well on them. Now, with my laptop, the arrow keys are tiny little buttons that would spell nothing but disaster if I tried to play on them - it's overly cramped, and the keys are flatter as well. In this case, I was forced to switch to a spread style (initially Z,X,N,M, but then my N key got eternally stuck, so now I'm playing with A,S,K,L).

edit: Scrolling direction is also a matter of preference - whatever you feel is best for yourself.

[ddrxero64]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Hi there,
I am fairly new to the community and have recently been called a noob by various individuals because I have been playing FFR with the arrows falling, not rising and with the keys T,Y,U,I as per arrow from the left to right of the screen. So that I do not make the same mistake again and waste 6 months of my life playing like a noob, I ask what keys I should be using, whether they be simply the arrow keys or a different group of keys? And if I should be playing with the arrows rising or falling. Please save me from my noobiness!
Cheers.

quick question, are you using four fingers on all four arrow keys?

[dore]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

if someone is calling you a noob for not using the arrow keys, then that person is probably more of a noob than you are. The whole reason why there is a keymap function built into FFR is that so many people use a setup based on non-arrow keys . Using TYUI or ASKL or anything like that helps you because none of your fingers overlap like they do if you use the arrow keys, so it's probably better to learn that way anyway (and any time I show FFR to somebody, I always inform them about using spread and they always find it to be easier).

And either way, play with what you're comfortable. There is no difference between upscroll and downscroll other than personal preference. I have a friend who played Guitar Hero before he ever played FFR/DDR and had to use downscroll because that's what he was used to. I started with DDR, so I had some trouble initially playing Guitar Hero because I was so used to upscroll. Now, I can read both up and down about equally well, but I still prefer up. But it's all based on your personal preference.

[benguino]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Spread style is usually encouraged due to the fact that each finger is assigned to a particular direction of arrow and that type of playing style has the fewest finger-to-finger interference. As for scrolling, I play scrolling up but I don't see how any scrolling direction would be physically beneficial for all groups.

[ddrxero64]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Yea that is true reuben, but it's always fun to master different styles, just like spread is different than 6key, but both are fun. I do realize though that a lot of the FFR songs are spread. I remember playing lots of them that were index as well. Whatever happened to those songs? Are there any index songs now? If every song is spread based, then it's very much only taking care of one style in my opinion.

[benguino]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Well songs aren't necessarily geared towards specific playing styles. Although I do have to admit that there are some note patterns where one playing style would be favored over the other. For example, a sixteenth note pattern like 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1... would be harder on spread but more simple on index.

[MrPoptart]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

I can see hands and quads being difficult for index players..

Anyway, your scroll direction and key mapping has nothing to do with being a noob. These so called "various individuals" may just be calling you a noob for being a literal newbie and you therefore suck.

Also I use down scroll.

[MinaciousGrace]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Well songs aren't necessarily geared towards specific playing styles. Although I do have to admit that there are some note patterns where one playing style would be favored over the other. For example, a sixteenth note pattern like 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1... would be harder on spread but more simple on index.

a. u quoted urself
b. p sure there are tons of files which were made specifically for different types of players

[ddrxero64]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Well as a born index player (lol), I find a lot of the files with a lot of JS and hands and quads. FFR songs never really had so much of those, so it gets a bit better harder for index players who prefer single stream and speedy patterns. I do admit my JS is better than most index players, because I used to play spread files with the index style before I knew what index files were (noobish fail haha). Now I can play moderate spread desgined files as index and still score decently.

I do play spread as well, just not as good. I have been practicing, but my disorder is the one reason why spread completely annoys me. Not the style, just personal reasons. I have tried 6 key as well, very fun, but annoying too for personal reasons. I try to be open minded when it comes to playing, so I can get a full understanding. I play pad as well (ddr fan!) and I even tried one handed.

Furthermore, try playing a fast song with no jumps with one finger. That is crazy stuff lol. One finger style ftw!

[bapae]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

I use the arrow keys but i use them with 2 hands 2 fingers on each hand

Like this

Up with left index, Left with left middle, down with right index, and right with right middle.

[TheSaxRunner05]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

I started on the arrow keys then moved to g,h,k,l and had a lot easier time with things, especially jumpstream

[ChrisReams]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Hi there,
I am fairly new to the community and have recently been called a noob by various individuals because I have been playing FFR with the arrows falling, not rising and with the keys T,Y,U,I as per arrow from the left to right of the screen. So that I do not make the same mistake again and waste 6 months of my life playing like a noob, I ask what keys I should be using, whether they be simply the arrow keys or a different group of keys? And if I should be playing with the arrows rising or falling. Please save me from my noobiness!
Cheers.

You're not a noob for using down-scroll. Look at leonid, he's beastly. You're also not a noob for using keymap instead of arrows. When I first started FFR, I used 3-finger one-handed on the arrow keys with 1.0x scroll because I didn't know any better. I quickly switched to spread using DFJK and skill went through the roof.

[Babykari]

Re: Should I be using the arrow keys?

Well try different stuff. I went from the arrow keys to gjhk, to vbnm, zxnm. kl;', then askl, so yeah. try differnt things. Its all about what feels right