I think It's really important to be eloquent and precise when it comes down to explaining jazz piano and when teaching a musical instrument in general. And you have all those abilities! :-) Very good explanation! Peace out!
@loongjnhr Sure thing - if you look back in my timeline you'll find a tutorial called something like "split chords - the basics", which should get you started :)
@rudynyc1 Yes, I know - sorry! This is one of my old vids when I was having problems with my setup and editing software. All my more recent piano tutorials *should* sound just fine :)
Bill, would you please clarify what 'showtunes' I could seek out, and if possible, what book (or kind of book) of showtunes do you recommend. I'm not very sure what to look for XD
@EarlOfEs Basically I'm talking about stuff from the so-called Golden Age of the Broadway musical - stuff by people like Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter and people like that. Songs like that form the majority of the cocktail repertoire. A book like "Showtunes" (in the Hal Leonard budget books series) would be pretty good. If you're browsing a music store, make sure you get one with the vocal line and chords written in, rather than a collection of piano solo arrangements :)
@wankenobi1000 There's a bunch of videos on piano chords way back in my timeline - check them out. You could also try the Piano World chord tool (Google it!) which is great for helping to figure out chords.
Fantastic playing! I think you need to break it up into more digestible pieces! There is so much information here. I am now off to look at more of your videos!
With all due respect, Bill, it really does irk me when you say it is "dead easy". I must be some kind of idiot then because to me that certainly is not easy at all. If I achieve this kind of playing in my lifetime I would feel I have learnt one helluva lot of piano expertise. I am not a complete beginner by any means; I can knock out any tune with my right hand in about two minutes it's just the two hand stuff that completely eludes me. I try to see what keys you are depressing but your han
Hi, I've been watching a few of your videos and I've come across with many books like urs and I cannot decide which one to buy. this is the product which I wanted to buy before i saw urs: Piano Improvisation: A powerful practical system
I just want to ask if I am not satisfied with ur book can i get a refund?
In your key a good substitution for the I,VI,II,V sequence which I sometimes use to alter the verse - instead of the Eb, Cm, Fm, Bb7 -try Gm, F#m, Fm, E7b9.
For even more variety, play 8 chords to the bar....
Blue / Moon, you saw me standing alone
FII,E9b5/ Eb,Db9,Cm,F#9,Fm7, B9, Bb7,E9 - Eb
adding the melody note to each relevant chord will give you the alteration, usually written on the score in brackets as is transitory, eg, E9(b5)
@lennyharris no not random notes, say take an Eb in the left hand, then "just" after play the note with your thumb an octave higher,followed by the right hand take g above middle c, followed by Bb, then Db, (that is arpeggiation/glissando, breaking the chord up from the bottom to the top swiftly), that leads you into putting a melody in the right hand. from there you need to play with the right hand, in swing time remembering the Db is the longer note of the swing pair, next note short. Any note
It's a thing called a Korg sp 200, my mate is lending me one to see how I get along with it. I'm fairly adept musically and as a gardener will have more spare time from now on in. I shall be following ur channel and charming videos. I am keen on the cocktail style...there is great room for humour within its cheesy walls.
I will of course be buying your book too...just as soon as I have crossed my landlords palm. Stay cool Daddio.
@ukulelalienation Spiffing! Hope it's a good one. If it's an acoustic, you should be able to play it like a ukulele: just tape a felt plectrum to a broomstick, take the front off the piano and away you go. Bonne chance, mon brave!
Watching from the top it's really hard to tell what notes you are playing, suggest going slightly from the side to note depressed keys? PS. Turn your piano up...
Thanks very much for the tutorial it was most excellent.
@billhiltonbiz Bill, I very much enjoyed your cocktail piano video. Thank you for providing it. Question: You use the term "split chords". Can you elaborate? When I play w/ simple block chords, it sounds kind of empty -- no bounce at all -- a bit like when you demoed without the split chords. How exactly are you splitting so that the rhythm moves so beautifully? Can you explain? I know that you suggest it is "dead easy", but it is not at all so for me. Thank you for any help you can provide.
@lennyharris a split chord to me is where you take, say, Eb7, take the root in the left hand (Eb), then the remainder (G Bb Db) in the right. This turns the right hand chord into a diminished 5th which is a very powerful chord, while the Eb grounds it. The split chord is not a rhythm, it's merely a chord structure, try a glissando (break it up starting with the bottom note) then play around with your right hand in swing to get going with some rhythm. (sorry I'm not Bill, hope the answer was ok)
@starshapedhalos Thanks for your response. You mention "get going with some rhythm". I guess that's the thing I have difficulty with. Are you saying that rather than just playing the chord as a block (split between the 2 hands), one should play individual random notes of the chord? If so, for some reason I have a problem dong that so that it sounds interesting. I suspect I play these notes on the beat and it sounds rather dull -- doesn't move. Any suggestions on how to get past this?
@lennyharris@starshapedhalos Good to see this discussion! As I've already told Lenny, I'm going to do a video on this. Hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow, but if not it'll be early the week after next (I'm off on holiday on Saturday...)
Excellent tutorial, it clarify me some question i have for several time. Now, in yur book this explanatin about cocktail piano is included?. Anyway Excellent Job, by a humble and Excellent teacher!!!
@fbellom2008 Glad you like it! No, there isn't a specific section on cocktail in the book :( - I'm beginning to wish I'd included one, and I may drop it into the second edition :)
i really love your vidz, and i am very familiar with chords and harmony but i struggle with playing them in a goodrythm. do you have tips or could you make a video where you show different rhythms ? ballad, and bossa nova and whatever, thank you !
Great tutorial. Learning chords are key, but what's the best way to learn chords? What are some good exercises to do to really internalize them and their inversions?
@kevinng14 One way is to get hold of a couple of piano-vocal songbooks that have tunes you know, with simple piano parts and chords marked in. Play through the chords, singing or humming the tune over the top. Do it over and over, trying out different inversions. If you come across a chord that you don't know, just look it up using something like the Piano World chord tool. Mastering your chords this way is a LOT more fun (and, therefore, sustainable) than by working through drills.
I've learnt more from your vids than from 5 yrs of lessons and can't thank you enough as you are covering all of the material that a lot of tutors miss. I've seen a LOT of tutorials on YT but yours are leagues ahead of anything I've seen including some very high profile piano tutors that cannot break things down into easy steps like you. Quality like this is a rarity. To show my appreciation I'm going to order the digital edition of the book. Thanks for everything you deserve every success.
@maccagrabme Thanks for the kind words, Paul, and thanks very much for buying the digital edition of the book - hope you got your download link OK. If you have any questions about any of this stuff, don't hesitate to give me a shout :)
Great Vid and approach..much more instructive than all the walk throughs everywhere..just listening to this would be a great background to anyones evening. please keep it up and thanks! Very instructional...
Are piano teachers afraid of teaching melody or is it just that you guys can't afford the rights to melodies? This is still basically just accompaniment piano. Cocktail piano is much more interesting when playing the melody over chords in the right hand and bass notes in the left. This video is ok if you sing or play in a group but for the vast majority of people that buy a keyboard or piano that's not the case. We want to play our favorite tunes on the piano with the melody.
@veronikawow I disagree with your view of cocktail piano, but your question about why I'm avoiding the melody is an extremely good one. 10% of the answer is worries about copyright. 15% is because I'm not aiming at a beginner audience.
75% is because I don't think posting walkthroughs is a good way of teaching. If people want to know how to play a particular a tune, they'll ultimately learn much more if they work it out for themselves or figure out the sheet music.
Good choice of 'chilling out product'. Cream of Manchester.
captainfabulus 3 weeks ago
I think It's really important to be eloquent and precise when it comes down to explaining jazz piano and when teaching a musical instrument in general. And you have all those abilities! :-) Very good explanation! Peace out!
xangelofdeathx1982 1 month ago
love the video and found it really helpful
SonicWaffleMan 1 month ago
hello sir,
can you offer any tips on splitting chords? should you play inversions and split them as well? (ex. @5:50, over the C minor)
thanks!
loongjnhr 1 month ago
@loongjnhr Sure thing - if you look back in my timeline you'll find a tutorial called something like "split chords - the basics", which should get you started :)
billhiltonbiz 1 month ago
good video, but the volume is too low
rudynyc1 1 month ago
@rudynyc1 Yes, I know - sorry! This is one of my old vids when I was having problems with my setup and editing software. All my more recent piano tutorials *should* sound just fine :)
billhiltonbiz 1 month ago
Bill, would you please clarify what 'showtunes' I could seek out, and if possible, what book (or kind of book) of showtunes do you recommend. I'm not very sure what to look for XD
EarlOfEs 1 month ago
@EarlOfEs Basically I'm talking about stuff from the so-called Golden Age of the Broadway musical - stuff by people like Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter and people like that. Songs like that form the majority of the cocktail repertoire. A book like "Showtunes" (in the Hal Leonard budget books series) would be pretty good. If you're browsing a music store, make sure you get one with the vocal line and chords written in, rather than a collection of piano solo arrangements :)
billhiltonbiz 1 month ago
can u please teach us ?
wankenobi1000 1 month ago
wat 'bout if you don't know ur chords?
wankenobi1000 1 month ago
@wankenobi1000 There's a bunch of videos on piano chords way back in my timeline - check them out. You could also try the Piano World chord tool (Google it!) which is great for helping to figure out chords.
billhiltonbiz 1 month ago
'Good for impressing girls at parties'. One of my main reasons for playing.
NicenEasyuk 2 months ago 3
@NicenEasyuk It's the only thing that keeps you practising when you're 14...
billhiltonbiz 2 months ago 2
Is there a part in the book for lounge/cocktail piano ? Because if there is one i will certainly buy your book!
Wouviller 2 months ago
@Wouviller Not specifically, no, but if I ever get round to writing a second edition I may include one!
billhiltonbiz 2 months ago
Fantastic playing! I think you need to break it up into more digestible pieces! There is so much information here. I am now off to look at more of your videos!
Pianopod 3 months ago
facking awesome thnx for making this
frequencysoftware 3 months ago
Thanks
TheMusikpoet 3 months ago
I want to learn more on cocktail piano.....would like to make this my profession one day...can help me?
johnjohnjman 3 months ago
With all due respect, Bill, it really does irk me when you say it is "dead easy". I must be some kind of idiot then because to me that certainly is not easy at all. If I achieve this kind of playing in my lifetime I would feel I have learnt one helluva lot of piano expertise. I am not a complete beginner by any means; I can knock out any tune with my right hand in about two minutes it's just the two hand stuff that completely eludes me. I try to see what keys you are depressing but your han
fastLane500 3 months ago
Hi, I've been watching a few of your videos and I've come across with many books like urs and I cannot decide which one to buy. this is the product which I wanted to buy before i saw urs: Piano Improvisation: A powerful practical system
I just want to ask if I am not satisfied with ur book can i get a refund?
johnjohnjman 3 months ago
@johnjohnjman Short answer: yes. Long answer - I've emailed you!
billhiltonbiz 3 months ago
@billhiltonbiz thanks for the reply and the e-mail
johnjohnjman 3 months ago
Man you know you are playing that song. I had to get on my Triton.
Muzikmanflames 3 months ago
Cannot express how helpful this is, thank you so much man.
Laspher 3 months ago
So do you mean buy a fake book of show tunes? I'm new to piano but this is what I want to play. Please help
brydon10 4 months ago
In your key a good substitution for the I,VI,II,V sequence which I sometimes use to alter the verse - instead of the Eb, Cm, Fm, Bb7 -try Gm, F#m, Fm, E7b9.
For even more variety, play 8 chords to the bar....
Blue / Moon, you saw me standing alone
FII,E9b5/ Eb,Db9,Cm,F#9,Fm7, B9, Bb7,E9 - Eb
adding the melody note to each relevant chord will give you the alteration, usually written on the score in brackets as is transitory, eg, E9(b5)
linclinc5 4 months ago
@lennyharris no not random notes, say take an Eb in the left hand, then "just" after play the note with your thumb an octave higher,followed by the right hand take g above middle c, followed by Bb, then Db, (that is arpeggiation/glissando, breaking the chord up from the bottom to the top swiftly), that leads you into putting a melody in the right hand. from there you need to play with the right hand, in swing time remembering the Db is the longer note of the swing pair, next note short. Any note
starshapedhalos 4 months ago
Comment removed
starshapedhalos 4 months ago
It's a thing called a Korg sp 200, my mate is lending me one to see how I get along with it. I'm fairly adept musically and as a gardener will have more spare time from now on in. I shall be following ur channel and charming videos. I am keen on the cocktail style...there is great room for humour within its cheesy walls.
I will of course be buying your book too...just as soon as I have crossed my landlords palm. Stay cool Daddio.
ukulelalienation 4 months ago
Lovely tutorial. Jolly good show. All I need is a piano...Wednesday should bring me on. Peace out dude.
ukulelalienation 4 months ago
@ukulelalienation Spiffing! Hope it's a good one. If it's an acoustic, you should be able to play it like a ukulele: just tape a felt plectrum to a broomstick, take the front off the piano and away you go. Bonne chance, mon brave!
billhiltonbiz 4 months ago
Watching from the top it's really hard to tell what notes you are playing, suggest going slightly from the side to note depressed keys? PS. Turn your piano up...
Thanks very much for the tutorial it was most excellent.
starshapedhalos 4 months ago
@billhiltonbiz Bill, I very much enjoyed your cocktail piano video. Thank you for providing it. Question: You use the term "split chords". Can you elaborate? When I play w/ simple block chords, it sounds kind of empty -- no bounce at all -- a bit like when you demoed without the split chords. How exactly are you splitting so that the rhythm moves so beautifully? Can you explain? I know that you suggest it is "dead easy", but it is not at all so for me. Thank you for any help you can provide.
lennyharris 4 months ago
@lennyharris a split chord to me is where you take, say, Eb7, take the root in the left hand (Eb), then the remainder (G Bb Db) in the right. This turns the right hand chord into a diminished 5th which is a very powerful chord, while the Eb grounds it. The split chord is not a rhythm, it's merely a chord structure, try a glissando (break it up starting with the bottom note) then play around with your right hand in swing to get going with some rhythm. (sorry I'm not Bill, hope the answer was ok)
starshapedhalos 4 months ago
@starshapedhalos Thanks for your response. You mention "get going with some rhythm". I guess that's the thing I have difficulty with. Are you saying that rather than just playing the chord as a block (split between the 2 hands), one should play individual random notes of the chord? If so, for some reason I have a problem dong that so that it sounds interesting. I suspect I play these notes on the beat and it sounds rather dull -- doesn't move. Any suggestions on how to get past this?
lennyharris 4 months ago
@lennyharris @starshapedhalos Good to see this discussion! As I've already told Lenny, I'm going to do a video on this. Hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow, but if not it'll be early the week after next (I'm off on holiday on Saturday...)
billhiltonbiz 4 months ago
Excellent tutorial, it clarify me some question i have for several time. Now, in yur book this explanatin about cocktail piano is included?. Anyway Excellent Job, by a humble and Excellent teacher!!!
fbellom2008 5 months ago
@fbellom2008 Glad you like it! No, there isn't a specific section on cocktail in the book :( - I'm beginning to wish I'd included one, and I may drop it into the second edition :)
billhiltonbiz 5 months ago
i really love your vidz, and i am very familiar with chords and harmony but i struggle with playing them in a goodrythm. do you have tips or could you make a video where you show different rhythms ? ballad, and bossa nova and whatever, thank you !
entenfang 5 months ago
Beautiful playing
claitontesch 5 months ago
Lovely rendition of "Blue Moon". Liked it a lot. Thank you.
dggd 6 months ago
Weird. I really like to hear elevator music or lounge music lol
Lancevfx 6 months ago
Great tutorial. Learning chords are key, but what's the best way to learn chords? What are some good exercises to do to really internalize them and their inversions?
kevinng14 6 months ago
@kevinng14 One way is to get hold of a couple of piano-vocal songbooks that have tunes you know, with simple piano parts and chords marked in. Play through the chords, singing or humming the tune over the top. Do it over and over, trying out different inversions. If you come across a chord that you don't know, just look it up using something like the Piano World chord tool. Mastering your chords this way is a LOT more fun (and, therefore, sustainable) than by working through drills.
billhiltonbiz 6 months ago
sold me on the book.
1337ASM 6 months ago
Starting to play piano gigs- grade 5 at the moment on the classical lessons front. Your tutorial was very helpful . Wil
geltvaha 7 months ago
@geltvaha Cool! Gigs are incredibly useful practice - make the most of them, and well done!
billhiltonbiz 7 months ago
good video, but the volume is too looooooowww
goldtogreysmoke 8 months ago 6
Great tutorial
LeCatnip 9 months ago
thank you so much
sbojify 9 months ago
I've learnt more from your vids than from 5 yrs of lessons and can't thank you enough as you are covering all of the material that a lot of tutors miss. I've seen a LOT of tutorials on YT but yours are leagues ahead of anything I've seen including some very high profile piano tutors that cannot break things down into easy steps like you. Quality like this is a rarity. To show my appreciation I'm going to order the digital edition of the book. Thanks for everything you deserve every success.
maccagrabme 9 months ago
@maccagrabme Thanks for the kind words, Paul, and thanks very much for buying the digital edition of the book - hope you got your download link OK. If you have any questions about any of this stuff, don't hesitate to give me a shout :)
billhiltonbiz 9 months ago
Sir, I like you.
MrAxSAP 10 months ago 2
thank you, great job man!
DRKVideoProductions 10 months ago
Great Vid and approach..much more instructive than all the walk throughs everywhere..just listening to this would be a great background to anyones evening. please keep it up and thanks! Very instructional...
banebane9 1 year ago
Thanks for this tutorial, it was a great help.
ezekielthemack 1 year ago
more vids please
chopper84a 1 year ago
@chopper84a More coming!
billhiltonbiz 1 year ago
Another good video - thanks for that!
zzzzJamiezzzz 1 year ago
Are piano teachers afraid of teaching melody or is it just that you guys can't afford the rights to melodies? This is still basically just accompaniment piano. Cocktail piano is much more interesting when playing the melody over chords in the right hand and bass notes in the left. This video is ok if you sing or play in a group but for the vast majority of people that buy a keyboard or piano that's not the case. We want to play our favorite tunes on the piano with the melody.
veronikawow 1 year ago
@veronikawow I disagree with your view of cocktail piano, but your question about why I'm avoiding the melody is an extremely good one. 10% of the answer is worries about copyright. 15% is because I'm not aiming at a beginner audience.
75% is because I don't think posting walkthroughs is a good way of teaching. If people want to know how to play a particular a tune, they'll ultimately learn much more if they work it out for themselves or figure out the sheet music.
I may post a video on this!
billhiltonbiz 1 year ago
Right then! I'll grab a Guinness and give her a whirl! Thanks for this video.
auggiedoggy 1 year ago
Turn your Mike up! I have to go up to full volume on my pc to hear you properly :L Your a good person :)
nahjustkiddingnic 1 year ago 5