The bass clef, or f clef, is used for the lower sounding. As a relative beginner to piano, this book covers a lot of ground regarding chords and their inversions and how to use them, various chord patterns to give rhythmic left hand options. Hal leonard has dozens of fake books for all musical genres to ensure you can play the music you want or need to play. Piano key notes made easy for beginners learn piano, piano. So, the music notation should clearly specify what chord is needed as the melody moves along. So, in this piano lesson we are going to have a look at how to play the piano with your left hand. One of the things i do when im doing a set is to get that fixed in my head first.
Any time youre faced with playing straight chords or even playing melodies from a fake book which pretty much just gives the chord names, youre left to your. It is like an outline of the song and the piano player improvises the rest. When i was learning to play piano as a kid, i could not understand why anyone would publish music with just the treble clef ie the melody line. The included fun fake book 100 songs in the key of c is a gold mine all by itself. Left hand chording and a fake book question piano world. Play piano with your left hand music theory academy. The left hand is still only playing the root of the chord. If you havent explored left hand piano styles and patterns before, your students may not understand what. How to play the same song 100 different ways includes the fun fake book by jerald simon. Having a vast and diverse collections of tunes ensured that you got the gig. Let us take a look at how you can use these melodies to become a better pianist. Here are a number of books that will help you get the most out of your music fake books. In this tutorial, i take a look at three patterns block. Any time youre faced with playing straight chords or even playing melodies from a fake book which pretty much just gives the chord names, youre left to your own resources to supply an interestingsounding bass line.
In a jazz band, you want to be able to play nice sounding voicings in your left hand that complement the rest of the band, while playing a melodysolo in your right. She can work on the left hand parts of the pieces she is or would normally be working on. Heres the jeffrey chappell stepbystep method for approaching a fake book lead sheet. This is to supplement my normal classical piano lessons. But no matter how much you enjoy playing melodies with the right and left hands separately, the time comes when you have to get these two great friends together. The easy sixties fake book fake books hal leonard corp. James marchand, pianist this site features a catalogue of more than 700 composers who wrote piano music for the left hand alone, along with links and information about the performers of this rare musical discipline. Piano pronto music for lefthand only in a variety of levels and genres.
Fake books provide an excellent form of musical notation for arranger keyboards. Include chord tones in the right hand as well as the left hand. Jul 21, 2014 4 ways to play with the left hand for gospel piano july 21, 2014 in my years of teaching, i have discovered that a common problem that many musicians have is how to use the left hand. Im a piano teacher who has used this book extensively with my students, and we appreciate being able to play and in many cases, sightread popular songs and jazz piano standards in the key of c. Left hand piano accompaniment patterns you should know youtube. It was commissioned by the austrian pianist paul wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during world war i. Here are five piano exercises that will help make your left hand stronger, faster, and ready to move with the right. Heres a free printable piano chords chart pdf for beginners. Quickly and easily learn to play popular songs in piano fake. Of course, there are an infinite variations on how to play those chords. How to play left hand notes even if the sheet music does. Both hands generally flesh things out by adding harmony. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at.
As youre playing the piano, does it feel like your left hand just cant keep up with the right. How to use a fake book featuring 100 left hand patterns every. Depending on how adept you are, the right hand can fill in some of the harmony, too. It contains a lot of melodies written in a concise format that includes only the melody and chord names. The best way to learn each of the left hands is to choose a lh pattern and then play 20 different fake songs with that lh pattern. The hand with a mind of its own, the hand that lags behind the right, and the hand that does not seem that smart.
Studio license 100 left hand patterns every piano player. You might need to learn by chords for the left hand bass, named by c, g, d, f instead of actual individual notes. All notes written in the bass clef are usually played with the left hand on the lower registers of the piano. Depending on the song, its mood, or tempo, or rhythm, you might try some left hand arpeggio work, or block chords moving up the piano, or just solid repeated chords on the. All songs in c, with simplified chord harmonizations.
As a brasswind player, when you play from a fake book or lead sheet, your primary concern is going to be the melody. As someone mentioned it is pretty simple, play the chords with the left hand and the melody with the rh. If you consider middle c the middle of the piano, you generally play notes above middle c with your right hand and those below middle c with your left. Fake books use only a melody line in the treble clef and chord symbols above the melody line no bass clef. The piano lessons feature piano chord playing techniques such as broken chords with alternate bass, alternate block hand style, chord substitution, and more. I have bought this book at least 5 times now over the years and theres always a copy in my book bag that i take around to gigs. Left hand patterns are a really popular way of starting to develop your handstogether improvisation skills on the piano or keyboard.
The 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book can help piano students, piano teachers, and music professionals take their piano playing to. But even though it doesnt often get to play the melody, your left hand adds some crucial bass notes and accompaniment. How to play from a fake book without gettin the blues index of chapters chapter 1 g, am7 and d7 page 1. The best ever fake book knowing chords is critical to playing an arranger keyboard. The treble clef, or g clef, is used for the higher sounding notes, usually played with the right hand.
This book is my sixth piano book related to playing from fake books and improvising at the piano. If you can read simple trebleclef melody notes, you can quickly and easily learn to play popular songs using our play piano with fake book system. In the play piano with fake book package, youll receive a fake book complete with over 100 most popular piano songs, along with three 60minute dvds demonstrating proper fakebook playing tips. Piano music is written in the bass and treble clefs, though other clefs are used in other instrumentation. Here is a list of the 100 songs found in this fun fake book. My dad played in bands in london in the 50s, he still has his collection of fake books. A fake book can be a source of many inspiring piano exercises. This book takes many of the ideas i put forward in how to speed read piano. Before using this guide, pleas e r ef er to my not es a t ti mtopham. The ultimate jazz fake book c edition by various fakebook.
I got to grade 5 many years ago, and wanted something that would stretch me, but build up on what is still there from the past. When playing the piano, each hand has a specific function. So it certainly stands to reason that our right hand as well as our left can play a significant role when it comes to playing them. One of the most important tools for your piano playing bag of tricks is a good supply of lefthand accompaniment patterns. How to play from a fake book without gettin the blues. One of the great things about the piano is that you can play lots of notes at the same time because you can play the keys with both hands. My new book, 100 left hand patterns every piano player should. I didnt know anything about chords at that point, even though i had taken piano lessons for about 8 years from 6 years old to 14. There are a few early works, which may as well be played with one hand on the organ or the harpsichord, but it was the invention of the sostenuto or forte pedal, that made the whole difference. Once you do that, there are several techniques you can fool around with in the left hand. If youre into the beatles at all, its a total must have.
A quick search will show several threads on playing from fake books but searching on pop piano pro in the subject or just scrolling through the abf until it pops up its usually on the first or second page will get you to a group thats discussing playing from fake books. Jul 24, 2009 prokofiev left hand concerto saintsaens etudes for the left hand alone bachbrahms chaconne alkan grande etude for the left hand alone andriessen trois pieces for the left hand alone wagnercimirro ride of the valkyries may have to get thal to ask him for the score dreyschock variations on god save the king for the left hand alone cohen. Ive given it to friends, had my piano students get it, and it has saved me more times than i can count on piano bar gigs. Which i realize sounds very confusing, so allow me to elaborate. The art of right hand chord piano comes into play here. In my learning of piano, its never been a problem that ive learned one hand too well.
Use these 100 left hand patterns in this book to arrange the 100 songs from the fun fake book or use the left hand. Piano pronto music for left hand only in a variety of levels and genres. The piano concerto for the left hand in d major was composed by maurice ravel between 1929 and 1930, concurrently with his piano concerto in g major. Shop and buy the ultimate jazz fake book c edition sheet music. A piano fake book allows you to read and play music on your piano.
All notes written in the bass clef are usually played with the left hand on the lower registers of. Oct 31, 2015 how to use a fake book by bella payne. By left handed piano, im assuming you mean a piano that is reversestrung so that moving to the left on the keyboard ascends in pitch and moving to the right descends in pitch. If you play the song more than one time thru, use a different left hand on each chorus. There are also some piano notes charts you can look at for a quick reference. This enables you to get a really full and large sound from the piano. How to read the left hand in piano sheet music our pastimes.
Play love songs with lead sheets piano lessons by piano. Thats exactly why left hand patterns are so important and why i created a download especially to help teachers explore this with students. The history of piano music for the left hand alone really began with the invention of the modern piano in the 18th century. Left hand piano patterns made of broken chords you can use. A fake book is a collection of tunessongs consisting of melody and chord changes, it enables freelance musicians to fake their way through a gig playing tunes they might not know. The best left hand pattern for piano the secret sauce duration. Play love songs with lead sheets piano lessons by piano mother. Aug 09, 2018 how to play left hand voicings in jazz piano. I think that its the most informative and welcoming site, that i have seen and read.
Then choose another lh pattern and play 20 songs with it. They handed me a fake book and told me to learn the chords in the songs they were going to play. The right hand, stationed in the trebleclef notes, general plays melodies and the left hand, in the bass quarters, handles the low end. Most fake books for piano have the melody staffs and then the chord notated above so you know what chords to use in your left hand. This is the beginning of the christmas song jingle bells, chosen as a simple example. Your left fifth finger will always play the root of the chord, and you will play the interval of either an octave, seventh. Tips for playing both hands together on the piano dummies. The left hand plays the chords even if only the onefinger variety. On the piano notes diagram page, youll find the notes on the staff in relation to the notes on the keyboard.
These are found in many genre of music including popular, classical, and rock. Learn more about my new book, 100 left hand patterns every piano player should know play the same song 100 different ways includes. There is nothing fake about playing using a fake book. Very rarely did he ever have me doing full on chords with the left hand. Great lefthand accompaniment patterns for the piano or.
Patterns are one of the most fundamental ingredients of music and so students with a solid pattern. How to read a fake book take note sheet music plus. But unlike your typical books, which contain the score as written by the composer or arranger, a fake book is more of a reference for the songs. Your left hand plays a supporting role when youre at the piano. Theres a lot to learn in the area of how to read piano notes.
This is a list of concertos and concertante works for piano lefthand and orchestra. Using the right and left hands to play piano dummies. Reading the bass clef requires you to know where a few key notes hit the scale, whereby finding the. How to read a lead sheet with sheet music april 16, 2016. Well, as we already agree on, a chord is a chord is a chord. Fake books give you just what you need to fake your own version of a song. The key in the middle of the piano, middle c, separates the bass clef from the treble clef, or the left hand from the right hand.
By kevin harper history of fake books and lead sheets imagine this. These next few paragraphs will be the basis for all of our evangelistic improvisation. Fake books are one of the best ways to practice piano because they require you to go beyond just playing chordsif you really want what youre playing to sound good, you have to vary your chord progressions, add in some melody and transitions, and. Occasionally hed have me hit the 7th with the left as well, but very rarely full chords. As i would like to make this base the most complete concerning work for piano left hand alone i urge my readers helene berger or those who are still with me to contact me and let me know a little more about helene berger or preferably get a mail from herself about herself and her piece. The book will help to give earlyintermediate students confidence and will build their repertoire. First, i would like to thank you for your really wonderful web site. I play a bass line with the left hand, and with the right hand. If you consider middle c the middle of the piano, you generally play notes above middle c with your right hand and. Your left fifth finger will always play the root of the chord, and you will play the interval of either an octave, seventh, or fifth in that hand. Im a piano teacher who has used this book extensively with my students, and we appreciate being able to play and in many cases, sightread popular songs and jazzpiano standards in the key of c. If your local pbs station features shows by the piano guy, he teaches the fake book method. The fun fake book featuring 100 songs in fake book format where the right hand melody is shown with corresponding chords.
This list of piano sheet music for the beginner through second year student is all available online and each one is a sure fire winner with the young piano student. We are about to learn a pattern which your left hand will follow, while your right hand plays the melody. How to play left hand notes even if the sheet music does not spell them out and even if you have never played piano before. Jan 12, 2017 fake books are one of the best ways to practice piano because they require you to go beyond just playing chordsif you really want what youre playing to sound good, you have to vary your chord progressions, add in some melody and transitions, and. Pianotreble clef and bass clef wikibooks, open books for. This is not for the faint hearted, or for someone just starting the piano i feel, even though it professes to be a complete guide. Stylegroove usesf e e l main patte rn s imp le v ariat io n s single notes, blocked chords the simples t lh pat ter n is just sing le not es. How to play piano with a fake book 100 left hand patterns every. How to harmonize a melody with chords in your left hand. My new book, 100 left hand patterns every piano player.
Beethovens fifth easy piano sheet music digital print download and print beethovens fifth symphony no. The piano, in a jazz setting, is considered a rhythm instrument, and therefore uses the lefthand chords and accompaniment to help provide the rhythm. The very first such composition was published as late as 1895, by the hungarian count geza zichy. The piano is a popular musical instrument featuring 88 keys in repeating groups of seven notes, labeled a through g. The fun fake book featuring 100 songs in fake book format where the right hand melody is shown with corresponding chords notated above each measure the piano player fakes, or improvises, their own left hand pattern using the 100 left hand patterns taught in the book.
Depending on the song, its mood, or tempo, or rhythm, you might try some left hand arpeggio work, or block chords moving up the piano, or just solid repeated chords on the beat. Now, i want to start getting very good at jamming and improvising on the fly. Then, you can begin modifying the left hand to enhance the right hand. Great lefthand accompaniment patterns for the piano or keyboard.
Similarly, the link on the right goes to amazons page for this book. If you ask yourself what all symbols and the other stuff means when you look at sheet with piano notes, you can find out by reading the following guide. The songs are from your first fake book published by hal leonard. List of works for piano lefthand and orchestra wikipedia. In my early days of playing, this fact was extremely frustrating because i desperately needed to express myself through piano. Tips for playing both hands together on the piano playing the piano with both hands together, is considerably more difficult than just right hand playing. Jason shows how the left hand sets the tone so the right hand can explore. Dec 18, 2014 while all of these conjectures are common, it stems from a lack of detailed attention to developing the accompanying left hand in conjunction with the melodic right hand.
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