Billy Joel's Vienna piano cover

[Forbrighterdays]

dude you're so good!!

[pianojohn113]

@Forbrighterdays  Thank you. :-)

[JoshRyanTunes]

you inspired me to make a cover on this song

its on my channel if you wanna look at it

[pianojohn113]

@JoshRyanTunes Just saw it, great job!  Feel free to post it as a video response to my tutorial, if you haven't done so already.

[AGlvsyou1]

You play the piano A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ;]

[pianojohn113]

@AGlvsyou1 Thanks!

[2282steven]

is the left hand just octaves? sorta like piano man

[pianojohn113]

@2282steven The left hand is mostly octaves, but several fifths are also thrown in here and there, just for variety's sake.

[2282steven]

@pianojohn113 Thanks!

[IvIaxiadonw]

NICE!!!!

[happyformiley]

awesomeee!!! :) you play and sing great :)

do you have the sheets???

[pianojohn113]

@happyformiley Glad you liked it, thanks!  I don't have the sheets, but I have a tutorial on it posted on my channel.

[Evman95]

I want to learn this song on the piano so bad (yes Im watching your tutorials) but its those first 4 keys that screw me up, i cant seem to kind of slide my hand down all of the keys like you do. Any suggestions?

[pianojohn113]

@Evman95 Are you referring to the first four notes of the intro?

[Evman95]

@pianojohn113 Yes, I've gotten better at it but sometimes I try it and I end up hitting all the keys at once.

[pianojohn113]

@Evman95 You will get it with just a bit of practice.. it's just like rolling your fingers on a tabletop, one after the other. Be patient and it will come to you!

[claire2021]

AMAZING!!

[fingerskelly1]

Decent playing...but the song and all that it means is lost in the register which you use here. Aside from all his other talents, Billy Joel had an enviable vocal range. Thanks anyhoo.

[BWFlynn]

You just made my day! Thanks a lot

[MUFFINSNOTMUPPINS]

so awesome!!! i know i said it a million times but thank you so much for posting tutorials, i dont know where my piano playing would be with out you =)

[pianojohn113]

@MUFFINSNOTMUPPINS  I appreciate the comments, thank you. :-)

[FarAwayDistance]

Beautiful piano cover. :) God bless!

[leoryan99]

that was great

[ThePeachRules]

good job :)

[crmo111]

Where'd you learn?

[ukno918]

Excellent piano playing, but your singing could use a little more Explosion! Good job overall, it's hard to sing and play at the same time.

[pianojohn113]

@ukno918 Thanks. This is just on the edge of my limited vocal range, key-wise.

[Devlinator94]

tricky song, played well tho :D

[stefiparks]

thank you for your lovely tutorials :D I have been following you for 4 years now ahahah

[pianojohn113]

@stefiparks You're awesome! Just saw your "Vienna" rendition. Piano and vocals were fantastic.  Great job!

[dimitreze]

I learn this song on your tutorial! Really thanks, man. I learn so much stuff with you and this version of yours is amazing, specially the solo!! Thanks again and let go the voice!! Hehehehe.

[clawzyjayjfuni]

do you have sheet music or is it all by ear,?

[Jakerinthebox]

This is totally amazing. LOVE IT

[raproyaltymc]

very good man !!

[crikarika]

Where'd you learn to play this song..? I'm trying to learn it, i've got the intro down easy.

[pianojohn113]

It wasn't too difficult, really, once I had all the chords down. Just had to get the rhythm right.

[cnereynolds]

yea its ok if you cant reach those notes

[pianojohn113]

Yep, too hard to sing that high.

[paulispaul]

With a best quality mic  you are definitely serious competition to Billy Joel.

[atlaskick]

nice.

[TheGiantPony1]

I like how it sounds in a lower register. You really are an amazing musician.

[ekgu]

Master!!!! But you can improve singing I think...anyway Congratations!!!!

[sergioakaliltroll20s]

thats the best cover i seen in youtube

[seanhorgan76]

Man That was great

[eltonj4ever]

awesome :D

[jmuclay]

Who is this guy? He has so much talent that he shouldn't be simply teaching people how to play Beatles, Scott Joplin, and Billy Joel songs...he needs to be playing his own music somewhere with more opportunity than youtube.

[stormchaser03]

That was such a great rendition of vienna i really enjoyed that. Made me feel a whole lot better knowing someone else loves billy joels music just as i do.

[BernabeBushlap]

(except the second and fourth a's have that a minor instead of the c major)

[BernabeBushlap]

thanks so much for your help, I just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

there's that part from "slow down ... why are you still so afraid."

then there's "but you know ... viena waits for you"

so if the first part is a, the second is b, then the piece goes:

intro/a/a/b/a/a/b/solo/b/b/sti­ng/intro

and there's nothing extra inbetween the two a's or the b's, right?

so from d major at the end of a, it goes straight into g minor of b?

[pianojohn113]

I'm not sure if I follow you exactly, but if I am reading it correctly, then yes, you are correct on the structure of the song. Two repeats of the verse, then the bridge into the "chorus," then back to the two "b" sections. You're right.

[BernabeBushlap]

sorry, I just realized that you have a video on the solo. but after the solo, is it just playing the main part once more, or something else?

thanks!

[pianojohn113]

No problem.. After the solo, you go back to the "slow down, you crazy child" part.. That's the Eb to F to Bb section. It's not really the main part, as the verse, but the mini bridge (if that makes sense!).

[BernabeBushlap]

and could you post a tutorial on that solo? otherwise, is it possible just to skip the solo?

[BernabeBushlap]

thanks so much for putting this and the tutorials up!

I just finished learning the intro, and I'd like to learn the whole piece. I just have a couple questions that I'd appreciate someone helping me out with.

after the intro, I play the main part of the song twice, then there's the solo from about 2:01 to 2:21.

after that, is it just playing the main part once more, followed by the sting and the intro once again? or something else?

[amilo6]

please don't sing! lol

[pianoomar100]

How old is that piano? What year did you buy it?

[ruskybalboa]

Nice song and tutorials on the song John.  Nice baritone vocal. Sounds like Elton John today lol.

[stephan476709]

busco esa cancion, pero con piano solo , sin canto , es para ensayarla, tu la tienes?

[efagels]

i'm trying to teach myself this its so hard, any tips?

[ClaytonianB]

watch his tutorial, it helps a ton

[djoek333]

woohooo!!

[adamchangy]

alot ppl dont realize how hard it is to sing and play piano at the same time...

but you've got it nailed

congrats

[xoMCRLoverxo]

ohhhh i learned this from you !!!! thanks so much !

[mizzblakmagik]

You don't happen to know where I can get a free manuscript of this song do you? My Dad loves this song, and wants to learn how to play it.

Thanks for making this video. :)

[pianojohn113]

I believe it's in Billy Joel Complete, Volume 1.. but offhand, I can't remember. You could also try some of the online digital music websites.

[mizzblakmagik]

I'll try that, Thank you!!

[mizzblakmagik]

Thanks for the video!

[melodiouslove]

I love this song

[fercherie]

your greaaat !

[mreetz15]

you are the man piano john. I hope to acquire your skill someday. haha

[famq161180]

It is difficult to find good quality videos on youtube with Billy Joel playing this music!

[famq161180]

I am Brazilian and I discovered this song recently, watching the movie 13 going on 30.

A beautiful song, congratulations!

[anatolnerd1988hot]

this is great. Is there somewhere where I can download your tutorials?

Thanks. I love it

[anatolnerd1988hot]

This is my new favourite song, and I love to play my favourite songs. Thanks a lot John. I can't wait to start playing. I might have to get someone to sing for me, though....

[pianojohn113]

You and me both! This is a tough one to sing..

[Jjnys]

Awesome John. This is my best friends favorite song. I am trying to learn it for him. He is actually an amazing piano player as well and has been teaching me quite a bit.

Your tutorials have been amazingly valuable and I appreciate them immensely.

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, I'm glad it's helpful to you!

This is one of my top-5 favorite Billy Joel songs.

[telescruvinel]

I love this musicc!!! *_*

[nuclearmny]

whered you get sheet music for this?? i can only find the crapy sheet music

[lovesdanecook]

hey your tutorial helped me out so much and thanks!! but is there any way you could put one up on how to do that little bridge part. or whatever it is. the part in the actual song where the harmonica or something comes in? 'twould be greatly appreciated. :)

[TheMusicdigger]

You play piano amazing,

but you could sing a little higher anf better.

[tomflomtom]

this is aweosme

you should get a mic though

great vid!

[DonBarziniRIP]

Fantastic, dude.

[Chrisjuchniewicz]

perfect! excellent key!

[wowcowcashew]

(if anyone has any requests for songs for me to play on the piano just reply to this comment and let me know)

[greengrl89]

Wow this is excellent.

Is this your own arrangement? It's wonderful.

I hope I'm able to play this good in the future!

[xDieWithMex]

NEEDS TO BE SANG IN A HIGHER KEY!

[hotpinkdiaries]

xDieWithMex, he SAYS in the info that he sang it that low on PURPOSE.

evidently, he already knows that he's singing it an octave down.

[wheresmynapkin32]

dumbass hes not trying to sing it like him its a piano video hes basically singing just so we know where he stands in the music, like a placeholder.

[mission2marsden]

can barely hear the voice

but great piano playing!!

[treblemaker24]

i think you have a great voice and your amazing on the piano

[davinhci]

thanks, i love this song!!

[jeffhardy564]

cmon dude fell amotion

[sixstring1965]

Do you know what the song is about? In Austria, if you were insane they would send you to Vienna.

Vienna waits for you.

[pianojohn113]

That's where the squirrels live, eh?

[mseidelin]

While that might be true, that's not what Billy Joel meant with the lyrics. He did a "Questions and answers" type of album, where he explained the meaning of some of his lyrics, and Vienna was one of them.

He was walking through Vienna one day, when he saw an old lady sweeping the streets, and his father told him, that she was feeling useful. In alot of countries old people are treated like crap, but this lady showed him that in Vienna there's no reason to be afraid of getting old

His own words

[pianojohn113]

I remember hearing the audio from that Q and A session... You're right, he did mention that. Cool stuff.

[WhiteboyRoyal432]

let the man sing in his own range. this guys is a master that knows great music!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! I can't stray too far from my vocal range.

[Dontbustthecrust]

you've got to teach us the solo.

[pianojohn113]

I'll get it done, maybe on the next set.

[thestuvy]

this was pretty funny. i had itunes playing vienna at the same time i had yours playing. so it was like you and billy were playing at the same time. pretty cool, although you sang much lower, the piano was spot on.

[pianojohn113]

lol, thanks! Billy sings much better than I do.

[hustlaz6]

Great playing! Doesn't really matter that you're singing that low as long as you're singing correct! :) Gonna try out your tutorials tomorrow!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Enjoy the tutorials!

[sawellesley]

Neat. More great playing. But your voice is like an octave lower lol

[pianojohn113]

Yea, it's lower becaue I just can't reach those high notes with the voice anymore.. I'm getting old, I guess! lol

[BN756]

ur voice is great too

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Singing can be a stretch sometimes.

[BN756]

yeah!^^

[mae71316]

I love this song !!

you are great !!

あんたはえらい！！

[BN756]

what does the japanese text mean?^^

[pianojohn113]

Thanks very much!

[pianoman815]

Do you use the BJ Vol. 1 sheet music? If so, do you use your left hand to do some of the right hand notes?

[pianojohn113]

I didn't use that sheet music, but I have played a few right hand notes with the left hand on occasion. I didn't do that in this video, but that can work.

[emizaelmoura]

Very good!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks!

[underscore1233]

wow you are amazing

i have been playing piano for a while and really want to learn this song and i have to teach it to myself

the sheet music i have is a bit differnt from the way you play it not including the intro, the intros are the same. are you just playing with chords? becuase i want to learn to play this and the way yuo play it seems much better

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Yes, I'm really just going by ear on the chords, doing it the way it's most comfortable for me. The sheet music really isn't a lot of help on this one, in my opinion.

I should have a tutorial on it coming up, so check back soon for that!

[omglaz0rzpewpew]

amazing.

[pianojohn113]

Thank you!

[Djcraig95]

Wow, you have that song pegged!!!!.......

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! It's a fun song to play.

[jbiggs76]

love your videos, any chance you could make a tutorial for the main body of vienna?

[pianojohn113]

I do have a note on my list to do this one on the next set of vids, so with luck I'll be organized enough to get it done!

[Bing777]

Very nice :) like your tutorial videos. I really hope you will make such a tutorial video for this song.

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Yes, I've been meaning to get that one done, so look for it on the next set, hopefully.

[pip18036]

Very nice!

I started self teaching myself piano in January. I have progressed pretty nicely, but I can't wait for the day where I can play as fluently as you. I still have a little trouble playing with both hands simultaneously.

Anyway, great job as usual!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks very much! Glad you liked it. Playing fluently with both hands together comes a lot easier with practice, so hang in there.. You will see how good you are much sooner than you think! :-)

[wwwjdish]

Thank You MAN! You DO take requesrs Awesome as usual!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks!  Requests are always welcome.

[housebrasil]

Great... i would like to play the piano like you, i loved!!!!! congrats

[pianojohn113]

Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it.

[jmack619]

great stuff . think I,ll try your lessons , thans for the music john , john

[pianojohn113]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[ohcanadaeh]

Will you consider teaching Vienna on youtube like you have done with other songs (i.e piano man)

[pianojohn113]

Yes, in fact it's been on my request list for at least a month. Keep checking back and it will be up here eventually!

[ohcanadaeh]

Thanks.. I very much look forward to it.

[ohcanadaeh]

The piano playing is very good and is almost the same as how Billy plays it. Did you learn it from sheet music or combination of by ear and sheet music ?

[pianojohn113]

The chords were easy to hear and to pick up, so that was all by ear. The intro was mostly by ear, but I did use the sheets for a portion of it.

[angel0304]

that was great!! You're awesome....

[pianojohn113]

Thanks very much, I appreciate it!

[meny933]

you are great!!!

pianojohn!

youre awesome!!!

great job!

[pianojohn113]

Thank you for commenting!

[martin2288]

that intro! :D this song sounds really good even an octave lower!

regards

Martín

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Gotta sing lower now, it hurts the voice to go up high anymore. Must be getting old..!