Bennie and the Jets tutorial Part 1

[LisaBee99]

I need to accompany two singers that are singing this in a concert. Could you perhaps give me the sheet music? It's somewhat of an emergency :)

[pianojohn113]

@LisaBee99  I don't have the sheets, but I've seen a good transcription in one publication, The Elton John Songbook, published by Hal Leonard. I think it's got either a yellow or white cover.

[PipingMike1]

Post it again but with both hands showing

[Sublimezilla]

Good tutorial dude. Helped me bring together some questionable parts. I always would like to add that you uploaded this video on 420 :) #eltonjohnforever

[pianojohn113]

@Sublimezilla The 4/20 upload was merely a coincidence.. :-)

[00xjclassic]

could you please do a similar tutorial with "The September song" ? I love your tutorials and find them easy to follow... please let me know if you complete "the September song" tutorial.. thanks a ton...

[pianojohn113]

@00xjclassic Not sure if I can do that one but I'll keep it in mind for you.

[awesomemanspiff]

great tutorial but..........when do you use the pedal?!

[pianojohn113]

@awesomemanspiff Pedal work is often done by feel, but usually when a chord change happens. Some sections of this song, such as on the opening riff, the pedal is used only sparingly.

[ReDRuM868]

your tutorials are great, would you be able to do a daniel tutorial if you get a chance?

[pianojohn113]

@ReDRuM868 Yes, absolutely.

[ReDRuM868]

@pianojohn113 thanks appreciate the consideration, there's none that I can find on YouTube and I'm sure a lot of others would appreciate it as well.

[travishirey]

ive been playing this song wrong by ear for a while now and im going to learn it the right way if it kills me!! thanks pianojohn! lol

[pianojohn113]

@travishirey Glad to help you out! Have with it. :-)

[FreakingWillow]

You are awesome for sharing your talent!

[kPOPxDMuSiC]

@pianojohn13 i can't see your left hand D<

[PapperOrPlastic]

your the perfect teacher! i love you!!!! keep doing this because your the best on youtube! :) <3

[naglelator]

6:02 Would you recommend to add the D in that chord?

[pianojohn113]

@naglelator You can add the D there, although I usually wait until I play the fill just after that chord, which includes the D.

[Rocketman2396]

Elton John is a genius composer, I think his songs are very hard to learn.

[redrose95]

That is a B major 7 chord!

[OriahLivingston]

@redrose95 nope G, learn music theory and your inversions

[dianaandadam]

Thanks for this video, man! I posted a video of me playing/singing this song after I used your tutorial to learn it!

[TheLotharx]

The best song ever on piano. Thank you very much.

[rushahead2010]

I love your videos! Your tutorials have tremendously help me advance in piano! thank you so so much! please post more!

[pianojohn113]

@rushahead2010 Glad you enjoy them, thanks!

[marycaitlin1011]

I LOVE THIS!.. my hands are too small though :(

[RussianLigerAssassin]

@marycaitlin1011 me too:( i have to leave out some of the left hand sometimes.

[EpicPeanutKiller2]

this is awesome but im running out of room on my paper! DDD: LOL xD

[BeatlesFanCharsh]

Thanks for the tutorials once again!! Hehe! I love the beginning of this song :D

[MrCReagan]

Amazing tutorial! Thank you so much!

[CaptainCreature]

Hey the only way to learn this song is for you to know how to play piano already right? Cause I can fiddle my way through it a little and transpose piaon notes, but I still am hsving difficulty...

[pianojohn113]

@CaptainCreature It helps to have played the piano before, yes.. although in theory you could get it down by copying the notes and working on it over and over.  Lots of RH improv in this one, though, so it would be a challenge.

[mcnam003]

@CaptainCreature I actually started playing piano with intentions of this being my first song (never touching a piano before hand). started Christmas day and am pretty fluid now, the rhythm is still tough to get exactly like i want, but luckily sloppy is good. Anyways, I found learning other, easier songs too helps, While My Guitar... is simple and helps with octaves, and Your Song is pretty slow. Trust me, just work on it, its a lot of fun once you start to get it.

[mcnam003]

@CaptainCreature I actually started playing piano with intentions of this being my first song (never touching a piano before hand). started Christmas day and am pretty fluid now, the rhythm is still tough to get exactly like i want, but luckily sloppy is good. Anyways, I found learning other, easier songs too helps, While My Guitar... is simple and helps with octaves, and Your Song is pretty slow. Trust me, just work on it, its a lot of fun once you start to get it.

[TheBlackestKey]

This will take me quite a while to learn but I got the first couple bounces down so far so well see how long it takes

anyone know a good accurate ranking on the difficulty for this song?

[danabuzzmonkey]

Thankyou so much! I learnt this in under 20 minutes because of the way you taught it!

Your a great teacher! Keep doing what you do! :)

[pianojohn113]

@danabuzzmonkey Glad it helped you. :-)

[HEYxHIxHELLOx333]

Where did u get the sheet music

[CharlsonChew2]

Awesome tutorial...

[clplara]

dude this video was aewsome sounds like elton is playing himself!!

[brutespiker297]

sheet music for this!!!! PLEASE! i dont like the original book version with the vocal melody in it/:

[DodgeMagnum13]

Thanks for teaching us that song!! Now I can play it finally!!

[MCSchnedz2]

thank you soo much for this tute!

my mother is in hospital and this is her favourite song so i brought my keyboard in and played it for her

she loved it!

[pianojohn113]

@MCSchnedz2 That's great, I'm glad she liked it. Thanks for letting me know!

[milesbennettcrawford]

thats wonderfull this is a great tourorial its just the fact that the is no sheet music, do you know were i could get this song? do you have sheet music that you could email me? im a little tired of writing notes on stickey notes. my email is milescraw@gmail.com

Thank You!!!!!

[pianojohn113]

@dutchkollman It's a Boston brand piano. My favorite of all time.

[brutespiker297]

i just got the sheet music of goodbye yellow brick road from you last night and i wish you had this sheet music to download): i tried playing this out of my book but i didnt like the way it sounded...wasnt like how elton did it. but this sound so much better

[nicbabich]

Amazing playing and lesson!! thank you!

[greektrumpet]

Did you have the sheet music for this or did you learn it by ear?

[spoochlove1]

you have the best taste in music for a piano player on youtube

[Maestro333able]

piano lessons

[333guitar333]

this is a very good video, the chords are much more complicated than i expected and you did an excelent job of teaching them. Keep it up

[Jamesc210]

great song.

[fwempa]

Do you have any inspirational hints as to how to achieve the various fills that you and Sir Elton employ. I have always been jealous of ear players. For me it was always sheet music, until I memorized it. Then i play it. But if it wasn't on the sheets, or if someone didn't show me... I never played solo fills. Any inspirational tips greatly appreciated. Really enjoy your tutes!! Thanks.

[pianojohn113]

@fwempa That's a good question.. I'm not sure I have any hints on the fills, other than to maybe try playing a chord, hold it with the pedal, and then breaking it up into individual notes. Usually fills are just arpeggios of chords that were just played. If you look at the fills Elton uses, you'll see that they're normally just broken-up versions of the chords in the song, if that makes sense.

[leutdan]

git yer foot offa dat dad gum pedal garrrlll blam blammer blammit!

[LowFlyer1200]

Thanks so much for posting this. I've been using this to learn the song and making decent progress. I'll record and post it on the tube soon. It's a work in progress since Ive only had the keyboard for 3 weeks now but I'm already playing a lot more then I thought thanks to you. Keep up the good work.

Ps- Lesson on Honky Cat (seems fun to play)

[TheImmortalDimebag]

I want to learn this so bad but I have absolutely no piano skills, where should I start if I want to start playing Elton John style piano?

[pianojohn113]

@TheImmortalDimebag Elton John's songs are diffcult to learn for a beginner.. maybe try John Lennon's "Imagine" until you're comfortable with chords and chord changes?

[briaunaxbonna]

this is amazing. my dad is making me use your videos to learn how to play this song. haha. thanks

[dlazzeri]

I had piano lessons when I was really young, but don't have time anymore to have a teacher. Your videos are getting me back into playing music. Thank you so much pianojohn.

[planktonite]

Singing is'nt all that bad! Over a mic and a little tweaking could be really good

[tintinnabulationnnn]

ah, thank you for posting this! i've had this song stuck in my head for the entire day; i tried google-ing for 30 minutes looking for some free sheet music, and you blew everyone out of the water. you are awesome, pianojohn.

plus, you're singing isn't as bad as you think it is :))

[DEREKBOND]

You are an amazing teacher. I'm just learning to play and your vids blow all the other tutorial ones outta the water. Thanks and keep it up!

p.s. If your open for suggestions it might help your vids alot if you got a wide angle lens for your camera so you dont have to tell people its down an octave and you would still be close enough so its easy to see your fingers.

God bless and have a great day.

[skateboardcincinnati]

man you are a ledgend that you can play this so easily i cant even come close but man just keep killing em

[MrChubbleyWarner]

Hey, PianoJohn..lovin working thru this...but, does Elton hit the Am Chord first...then quite a long pause before he starting the Gmaj7 bounce?

[pianojohn113]

@MrChubbleyWarner Yes, are you talking about at the very beginning of the song? On the CD version Elton hits an FMaj7 chord, then a long pause, then starts in on the GMaj7. They usually left that out of the radio airplays because of the pause, but it's on there.

[MrChubbleyWarner]

@pianojohn - yes, that's exactly what I meant. He seems to do that on a lot of live versions as well. Elton hits the Fmaj7 then stands up and gets a bit of 'reaction' from crowd - then launches into it - such a great song - I'm about upto the chorus now! Many thanks again : )

[MrChubbleyWarner]

Hey John..you are a LEGEND for posting this...I loved this song since age 10!! Now Ican start to play it...it may take a while!!

[NiNjassassin500]

wow, pianojohn113, i came to you when i wanted to learn how to play "Hey Jude", "Imagine", and "Strawberry Fields For Ever" and it turns out when i wanna learn to play "Bennie And The Jets" you also have a video for that too! You rock man, Great taste in music.

-Jacob Mejia

Med. OR. age 22

[PrinceParisBlanket19]

elton john is so sexii...too bad he's gay :((9 thxx this vid helped alot!! :)

[veepbee]

thankyou so much this is probably my number 1 song that reminds me of my childhood. i love the piano and i learn songs all the time but this is my favourite. i've got the hang of it now and all my family can't believe how good it sounds THANKYOU!!!!

[macandcheese306]

there's a song called the crystal ship, by the doors; could you do a tutorial for it pleeeeease? :(

[notessimodude]

B-B-B-Benny and the Jetsssssss

[tom58l]

Just wanted to say thanks so much for this, it's taken me 2 weeks but I've finally got the hang of it now... just need to keep practicing those chord changes! Keep up the great work, your tutorials are fantastic!

[labloverharris]

around the 6 minute point you say to repeat the chords. which ones are those?

[pianojohn113]

I think I was just saying to play the ones I mentioned about 30 seconds earlier.. in other words, repeat on the line "kill the fatted calf" the chords that were used in the "hey kids shake it loose together" lyric.

[Xskate4funX]

dude its really good but i cant feel the chords i just dont know what to fill theres extra notes?

[pianojohn113]

I think many of the fill notes are either 2nds or 9ths.

[Shcotty2Hotty]

god you chose the greatest songs in history i dont know which song to learn first haha. great tutorial like always

[basketcase5295]

best piano teacher on youtube, im sure in person too. best piano teacher in life!!!! never stop making these!!!!!

[unvmygame]

I don't even play the piano and I love to sweat your tutorials. Very well done.

[blackpanther1227]

one of my favorite songs ever, thanks for posting, I will be learning this soon!

[Shershanovich26]

Your a good man! Thanks for all you do :) You have a great spirit! Makes it fun...awesome songs you pick out.

[letsgetdownnn]

this is amazing. lol made me laugh at times too.

oh yeah nice vocals by the way :]

[GeneralEclectik]

arsesome. thanks. youre tutorials are some of the best out there. not too slow, not too fast and the music always sounds so full. thanks again.

[garuto101]

Sorry I love your tutorials but just a suggestion to fututre videos. You show us all the chords very well but we need you to teach us the rythym and how you play your chords.

[pianojohn113]

I've thought about adding the rhythm part to the tutorials, but I just haven't found an effective way to teach it.. I have to find a balance between extra detail and keeping the videos short enough.

[Xskate4funX]

you are my all time hero DEEE

[Tomahawk1505]

fantastic tutorial

[garuto101]

I am going to learn this because its one of my favorites and you play it so well! thankyou for all your Billy Joel and Elton John piano pieces you have inspired a 14 year olds heart : )

[pianojohn113]

Great! Good to see someone your age playing the classics of rock and roll. Keep up the good work, garuto! :-)

[garuto101]

Ive already got the first half of th tutorial down! it sounds great thankyou!

[1Realmusiclover1]

can't see the left hand

[bartonpiano1992]

okokok!! this is the song i want to play:D:D:D

[PaulMaccasBiggestFan]

thank you!!!!

haha i didnt even hear you singing (i was singing too xD) until souuuund xD

[pianojohn113]

Yes, I try to keep the singing to a minimum! :-)

[PonderosaClub]

Hey, you should do a tutorial of "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". I love that song.

[blazebiker14]

Pianojohn 113 or anyone else who knows, How exactly do you do the fills on the chords.

[jasXjam]

hey john i made a tutorial of candle in the wind if you want you can click on my channel(this isnt spam XD) and check it out tell me where i need improuvments and such thanks

jasXjam

[allamericanmoney]

hey man could you please do a tutorial for ray charles rockhouse or mess around they are both amazing piano songs but no1 plays them bty great job on thin one

[dippyegg97]

this song is awesome but this dude sung it a little off

[music4reality]

great

[666Sinned666]

could u teach us how to play sorry seems to be the hardest word? i really wanna learn it

[MangoMacaw24]

you almost make it too easy for clueless people to play piano! good job and im not clueless im 10 years into it

[GAMERandSK8ER1]

great vid its hard to play on a roll out key board though

[rassled]

cant wait for the fills and solo!!!! thanks john!!

[dippyegg97]

good playimg bad singing still its a awsome song

[MOVlNOVA]

are you going to do the solo, too? i'm so waiting for this..but GREAT job! love your elton vids.

[MOVlNOVA]

ahh okay i read it at the end of the 2 part.. looking forward to the next BatJ parts :-)

[ruskybalboa]

John, keep doing what you're doing. You're an inspiration to me. I download your music and I copy it on to pieces of paper, and I play it for my chorus, and everybody asks where it came from?!! I do request the rest of NY State of Mind.

[bickie22]

YAY!! thank you soooo much!! i learn with ALL ur vids- its incredible

[BlackEyeBeatings]

hey great video, but it seems the chords you showed us how to play dont match with when you actually play it at 5:33

or am i mistaken ?

[BlackEyeBeatings]

I LOVE YOU PIANO JOHN!

[mrdeecup]

aww man! FINALLY! I've seriously been waiting for this one! John, I know I don't have to say it, but you are awesome!  Thanks again.!

[pianojohn113]

Glad you liked it!  Enjoy.

[blilt]

Yeh i requested this heavily and you have done a marvolous job. Thanks so much john. I hope everyone appreciates what he does for us :)

I certainly do. Thanks so much buddy ;)

[pianojohn113]

You're very welcome!

[WizWithout]

You're the best PianoJohn! I wish there were some sort of service award for your work. Thanks for helping all of us piano players.

[pianojohn113]

Happy to do it for you!

[BeatleLane927]

Thanks John, Ive always wanted to play this.

[pianojohn113]

You're very welcome! :-)

[RickandJamesCo]

did you imrovise a little bit

[pianojohn113]

I probably did improvise in a few places.. just a matter of style, is all.. but the chords and the structure is there.

[cinnamar]

you are so great! i played when i was 6 for about 2 years till my teacher quit then just started playing a year and half again ive learned so many good songs from you. your a good teacher!! keep it up :)

[pianojohn113]

Glad you liked it!

[sigit15]

That is so great thank's for posting it

[bigfelon]

thank you very much! this is one of my fav song.

[trwmodela]

John, Thanks I am going to learn this song next. The Colorado Springs Solo Piano Concert was amazing. EJ played 28 songs in three hours. I am leaving for the final Red Piano Show in Las Vegas Tuesday morning. Should be an interesting night his 241st Show.

Tim

[pianojohn113]

28 songs in three hours.. amazing! Let me know how Las Vegas goes!

[psycomathesaurus]

I'm dying to learn Candle In The Wind but i can't find a good tutorial for it.

[TPBass1224]

John - I know these detailed videos must take a lot of your personal time to arrange & produce. Thank you sharing your gift.

[pianojohn113]

Hey no problem, glad to do it!

[awesomeo123456]

thanks sooo much,

[buurichiking]

Thanks John! I've been waiting for this song to be posted for a while! It's one of my favorite songs by Elton John and I can't wait to start playing it! :D

[linkweed]

thanks john, probably my favorite elton john song.

[PedroElVirtu]

Hey john, glad you made it. As i told you i never played piano before and only in a year i can play a lot of your posted songs, a lot and by memory, hope you can understand my english. I cant imagine someone more happy than me with this videos. Thank you very much and hope youll find time to keep uploading this wonderful things. Best wishes to you and thanks again.

[pianojohn113]

You're very welcome!  Enjoy!

[bshredder]

Thanks again!! Great Job as always! Can't wait for more videos!

[jameswp266]

Many many thanks!!!! Great to have a new elton song from you.

[kingmick13]

thx john,

[pianoomar100]

You didn't really figure that song by ear. I can see that you have the sheet music in front of you

[survivorman4]

He's only human

[pianojohn113]

Actually, the music you see is not Bennie and the Jets, it's my favorite Randy Newman passage from "Avalon."

But I ALWAYS use my notes on the tutorials, which you don't see here.. Otherwise, I'd get completely lost and forget what's next. Breaking a song down slowly is harder than just playing it through.

[Peteman27]

Hey, cool.  Your videos really do work! Thanks pj.

[pianojohn113]

No problem!

[RadioNex]

Thank you! I like Elton John, and I so like your tutorials! You are the best!

[pianojohn113]

Glad you liked it!