How to Play Great Balls of Fire - Piano Rock Lesson

[KUTCHERKID327]

thumbs up if you just watched TOP GUN

[miclahy]

thanks so much for this. Your truly are a great teacher!

[carlitosvodka]

i dont know if you can help me.. i want to start playing piano. but i am having a hard time using both hands at the same time. how do i overcome this?

[CopMovi]

@carlitosvodka

first try to master each hand alone, and then start to play both hands together, SLOWLY. Imagine you are playing in slow-motion, and you will see, even that slow you'll make mistakes, so it's normal you make mistakes when you play faster. Do not play fast until you master it slowly, that's the only secret.

[carlitosvodka]

@CopMovi Thanks! now im planning to buy an electric piano, what would you recommend?

[williamwst]

You know that everyone will try to practice it with one arm behind the leg. And then burn the piano.

[INTHEHONOROFROCK]

I'm a beginner so I won't play it but how can you move left so calm and right so fast?

[MrJr01]

lol for a moment I thought I read 'trolling in the right hand' 1:13

[Nea612]

Thanks a lot man, you are really an awesome pianist, I was crazy searching the sheets for this songs but your video It´s even better. You are a really inspiration for all the killer lovers, thanks again and keep rocking (Y).

[tuckahoebeachbum]

you are great

[MyFrostee]

Your improvisation is much more better than Jerry Lee Lewis's.



[SHADOWBOLT110]

thumbs up if the pirate from family guy made you come here

[NC104Machinima]

@SHADOWBOLT110 lol wow same

[jsmith3050]

hes a good singer

[pollardkelly]

Since I can remember I have always wanted to play the piano, but could never read music so all teachers gave up on me! I have LOVED 'the killer' since I was a little boy and always wanted to play like him. I recently got rid of my keyboard after years of trying to play... Realy wish I still had it. Your instructions where so easy to follow! Thankyou, you have inspired me to get a new keyboard and try again!!!!

[ghostmaster645]

i know everything but the alternate ending, think u could slow that down? :)

[skoolsuxalot]

you're awesome

[Dreamer25Yup]

I can not thank you enough for this!

[TheRitchardgaleHater]

I don't like this singing... annoying

[numanuma20]

I don't like the 4 and in the bass.

[HomoChicken]

AWESOME VIDEO! THANK YOU!!!!

[chardes7]

this is actually pretty good. ;)

[280tms]

i like this more than the original lol great work, your very talented, and you have a great voice too.

[BASEJUMPING91]

i really im learning to play with your tutorials thanks man go on u r the best!!!! Saludos de Argentina :D

[RummyMummy]

OK I see some people saying that this isn't Jerry Lee, but you know what!? This was FUN! I'm at the beginning stages of piano but I really enjoyed it- got both hands going too! So THANK YOU!

[MRGENERATIONADD]

ok im not sure what i have but the sheet music is different from you play, is this like a beginner version or something.

[coolchicnfriends]

you sound and you play hot. can we go out? lol j/k

[hmbnimbus]

Thanks for the vid, I can impress my friends now :) with a keyboard though, it's hard to do the high parts....

[TheDoxster]

Thank You! I am a beginner , really appreciated your patience, as if you were sitting beside me....I practice daily (started about 8 mos. ago) and continue to improve because of people like you

[777Divine1]

that was one of the best lesson

[biddude]

Appreciate the lesson pretty cool thanks for going through all the trouble and taking the time to spread some knowledge

[rwesleyb]

I cant believe someone would enjoy full use of this video and then take the time to attack this talented guy for posting an educational video that didnt have guts. looow class AND dumb. I dont understand. help me understand a rational reason.

[bellyofthewhale138]

You sound like Luxe Interior of the Cramps. That's a compliment.

[zamton]

Chrismarx85 are you using the pedal att all?

[Chrisi4500]

yeah, you rock !

CRAZY ! xD

[bigboyapple]

awsome I love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[julieyard1]

this is really a "decent" interpretation for anyone wanting to learn.

People should appreciate this if they want a good foundation to this song on keyboard. A person could always "add" to this down the road.

good chops chris.!

[TheMenya]

@julieyard1 Agreed. This is a good tutorial for people trying to learn the basics, i.e., chord progression, little riffs, etc. Check out my video response if you're interested in a real-time performance version. (See above)

[Juicefani11]

Thank you so much!!!! I learned the left hand pattern!!!! Thank you X100.000.000!!!!

[gusgon123]

Toturial please! ;)

[Oberstfeldmeister]

Great stuff, didactically extremely well done. Should be THE basis for anyone who wants to be able to play that thing, and I'm very grateful to have been shown the right-hand-worx. Keep it up, don't get discouraged by would-be freaks who don't appreciate your selfless effort. All the best!

[AlecKronicle]

singing is eh but thanks for showing me how to play this song

[thecomanche1]

Good voice and playing, but when you sing (goodness graaaaaacious) its HORRIBLE because your crushing the note, that bit makes me screw my face up its like listening to a cat in pain it sounds a bit whimpering

sing it straight and the whole thing will sound awesome.

[ednozeg]

can you make a tutorial for the "end you should have played" Please? looking for that for so long

[chrismarx85]

@rizzlaxl - yeah i've got my teaching hat on here :P Not really the performance hat. Still its educational. If you learn something else besides what not to do then keep me posted! :) When I perform it, occasionally it devolves into a sloppy mess... i'll end up pounding the keys with my elbows or feet... or something... it looks cool not the best educational example :P

[rizzlaxl]

@chrismarx85 the video is entitles "how to play" not even close. bottom line.

[rizzlaxl]

@chrismarx85 in fact a better title would be. " basic blues riff" I wish i had the words to describe how bad an example this is. you have no soul at all. what a waste

[SubbaSimmal]

@chrismarx85 hi, is it possible for you to post a lesson of "jhonny b good"???

[AlecKronicle]

@rizzlaxl no one asked you to give a full roger ebert review on a youtube piano lesson. he plays the song fine and that is all im asking for

[Frank332666]

@rizzlaxl this guy rocks

[blo0dShinX]

you are my master ! 

[GreatQueenFan]

tell, me please the song is written at C ? I mean the original one is at C ?

[mooieblondjes]

can you make a lesson of the song "have a little faith in me " from joe cocker

[yoitzjustin420]

Not helpful at all.. You showed only a fraction of the song..

[kennyleeboyd]

thanks for the effort but very sterile....certainly not a ball of fire!...sorry!

[littlenath2001]

that is brillent, the help at the end was really good thank you very much....

[1phatmaximus]

soz but the sound is crap but thanks for showing us this

[CaptainClass]

Everything until 1:40 would have been a great lesson in itself. Everything after that made it AWESOME.

Thanks!

[chrismarx85]

@CaptainClass - Thanks captain class! I had to play this song last night! ...i played the solo with my elbows. It was the worst solo ever! but it looked cool.

[amiko003]

You can't even keep a steady rhythm when you improvise... you suck

[jordododo]

I CAN PLAY IT!!! you are great man. thanks

[hockeygirl1031]

any sheet music? =)

[paraphernaliaaa]

I love your alternate ending, has this amazing jazzy feel (:

[chrismarx85]

Thanks!

[franco121760]

good video

[olifantboy]

you fery good

[pixi1993]

AWESOME!

[bross001Angus]

one of the best tutorials i have seen. i might could actually play that.

[xxspoka]

Ah it's an ok way to learn the song, and CARE about the feeling - it's nothing but a tutorial after all.

BUT I think the way it's played is VERY SIMPLE. It's nothing wrong about that, as many people don't really have ambitions with playing this song, but for those who want's to play REAL jerry lee lewis style, this is too simple. keep poking around on youtube,though. There are loads of videos (tutorials/how to play) to be found concerning Great Balls of Fire. Even some with the Killer himself.

[musicman69123]

I agree in part with you, xxspoka. However, the only part of this song that is simplified is the bassline, and he gives a lesson on the more advanced walking bassline in another video.

[davidcarbe]

Stop complain the feeling. This is a great tutorial for us who wants to learn playing this song. Then it has nothing with the feeling to do.

[horowizard]

I agree with arnegull. No feeling. Very sterile. Especially with that plastic keyboard. Shame on you..

[azerjaban]

Are you the one singing?

.....woah

[masseyharris441]

Could you please make a tutorial on rockin my life away by jerry lee lewis please

[ChocolateChipPizza]

Nice vocals!

[ACTopher315]

thanks dude! You're awesome!!

[Antmoe1993]

wtf all of u are idiots... I actually like the singin...>=[

[MrGriffon1286]

do u have to sing your wrecking the song just play the song and there was no passion

[arnegull]

You`re playing it wrong!

Where`s the feeling that Jerry Lee has? You should listen more to his music!!

[MrBluraydude]

GO SUCK AN EGG

[AnakateH8]

great tutorial! The only thing I would ask you would add is the part where you have C 7 Inversion written, and do the solo there. Your fingers are on fire!

[MagicMaximo]

I've wanted to learn this FOREVER! Thanks!

[kingofsimon]

no sound ?

[SUNNYRHOADES9]

Your Awesome Thanks -Very helpful Cheers

[imageekfromhouston]

Take  me to bed or lose me forever

[Logankeller352]

singing is shit no effort in it. anyways this helped me a lot

[arielijteroff]

thak you very much, my dream comes true, now i can play greats balls of fire!!!!!

[loveyourwhiteshoes]

thanks!

[Dogbert909]

Pretty good son, not bad, I could give you a hint or too, but you represnted well. Few people got a clue about boofgy wooogly

[hpfalconry]

taught wellllll

thanks =)

[chase4609]

this is great man.

[2006bKWF]

Thankyou, this helped a lot!

[MrAppleo]

this is cheap

[themanisme34]

fucking horrible, jerry lee does not play like that at all, way to go sheet music king, learn how to improvise.

but seriously way to go giving free lessons.

[chrismarx85]

No Jerry Lee uses some different left hand patterns... This lesson is just to teach a basic rock pattern. I'm don't really like using sheet music though for learning songs with vocals.

[puckett456]

i don't care what anyone says, i think you are awesome. i can't wait to try this out on great balls of fire. i'm checking out all of your videos. fantastic. 50stars. best wishes, margie

[l0seit]

omfg dude you are AMAZING you have gota make a tutorial for the more complex parts of the song like the ending it would be AMAZING

[jerryleelewis1935]

omfg i allmost fall in sleep, simply to slow it sound like shit, dont teach people this version, havent u heard jerry lee lewis...

[KristoferKatotonic]

your using iMovie arent you :P

[UOfreak3]

It doesn't have any sound

[GabrielleisRosalie]

thats amazing!!! plus your voice is brill too!!! thanks soo much i needed it lol xxx

[grymmtymm]

what happened to the right channel? all i hear is the left?

[chrismarx85]

Not sure, i dont have the same problem...

[grymmtymm]

i watched a couple of your other vids and it's only this one that i dont hear the right channel

[ladyofmarion]

fantastic. Like your teaching style too. Very impressive.

[chrismarx85]

Thank you!

I try to make things as clear/concise as possible

[rockabiktor]

Thank you very much for the lessons! shame that they do not teach to sing ...... that looks bad that song because of him jajaja (look in my channel). is a joke! thank you very much for the video. greetings from argentina

[Imervalle]

Verry good playing buth... i didnt feel i learned anything

[Louisamadi]

Thanks a lot i m very happy ! that s kind of you !!!

[markgoodall]

pretty damn good! lol, just learnt that solo that you played too. I think this is a nice little song to improvise to , but i needed a template because i dont usualy play these kinds of songs, cheers man, if you could do an advanced solo video showing people how to do a decent solo and show people where they can improvise, that would be good.

[dwdan]

...

[OBEID1988]

grEat thanks :)

[mobirishman]

Hi Chris,Just learned Hit the Road Jack! The possibilities in that tune are great.I am playing the licks that you taught and then improvising through a couple of leads. Thanks again man! The guys in the band will love this one.

[chrismarx85]

No prob Mob!!!! :)

what kind of band do you play in?

[cpkphil]

One thing that ticked me off about how Jerry Lee played the song live was that the solo he'd play live was NOT like the solo on the original recording. When you listen to both versions you can hear how much better the original sounds. I have had people tell me I was wrong when I play it. I saw him live when it first came out and he played it wrong back then as well. He is one of my idols so I am not Jerry bashing, just stating a fact. Ciao

[chrismarx85]

I think of solos as something that should be improvised.

This comes from a jazz background... However if you go to see pop stars, usually they try to play everything EXACTLY as the record.

I feel like there isn't a reason to go see someone live if they're going to play a song exactly like the record. How is it any different then? There should be some musical interaction and spontaneity. Also some great showmanship!

[cpkphil]

True, but that original solo is probably the best pieces ever of rock piano. It was not a case of playing it different or improvising. To this day, he plays it exactly the same meaning NOT like the origina. As I said I am a BIG fan but I do like performances to sound like the record. That's just my hangup. When it comes to Jerry Lee, it's ALL good, Ciao

[konghaakon0]

Awesome man your videos are great i love the Fur elise rock :D Keep making videos!

[dormanbenton]

I really like this video. It mirrors a bit of BlueBerry Hill. Totally different songs however they both feel like they have simular qualities in playing style. LOL or maybe I'm just looking too much into it.

[cryrocker]

Hey man. Thanks for your offering. If you told me you could teach me a Warren Zevon tune in a couple of minutes I would not have thought it so. You are opening the keybord up to a lot of people who never would have tried for that I am in your debt.

[ThatBreathlessCat]

'Don't worry about hitting all the notes with 100% accuracy, this song is more about the fast rhythm of the notes!'

Now that's just an excuse to hide your incapabilities.

There's a difference between fast rhythm and groove. The original version wasn't fast, the song wasn't about fast rhythm. It had a GROOVE, and was played WITH 100% accuracy.

[lookatme10x]

nope he missed 3 notes fuck face

[ThatBreathlessCat]

where?

[lookatme10x]

idk, but im sure he did=D

[ThatBreathlessCat]

you're sure, but you don't know

[pianomother]

Your lessons are very good. Will you be interested in piano tutorials? I have many on my channel. Please subscribe to my Channel as I often keep adding new videos there.

[midnightmoonshine]

hear a little a little professor longhair on the end there... shades of Big Chief?

[l0seit]

omfg i wana learn that ending he does!!

[skippyswell]

Thank you, really, for making these practical lessons available - this is the best way to learn.

[Djsilver64]

I can't glissando!

It hurts...

[jcmccp123]

this guy is amazing

[pianoman500]

hey guys look at my video of great balls of fire tell me what you think

[SplurgeSkits]

really really good.. i already have it down after less then 10 minutes.. thank you

[Unawakenedmind]

hey. hahha been playing piano for bout' seven months now. just wondering...when you go from C to F to G. Wouldnt it just be easier to do the inversions of the chord. that way move your hand less? or would that not create the same effect of the octaves and all that stuff.

[chrismarx85]

I wouldn't worry about what inversion.

Use whatever comes easiest to your hands :)

The difference in sound is minimal when you're singing over the top, i would think its more important to play something easier to reach with your hands.

If you're not singing then you want to use an inversion that keeps the melody on the top.

[RONAPEPITO]

awesome video!!!!!! can you e-mail me notes?? :D

[futurefreakly]

this is such a great song.

would love to be able to play it like you!

[kenvorland]

cool rock on

[dottyubratt]

great job! wow! I am just wondering, did you start on any particular note when you did the fast scale down? thanks

[chrismarx85]

what time in the video are you referring to?

thanks :)

[dottyubratt]

the first time is right at the beginning. :05 -:06 seconds.

[chrismarx85]

Thats called a "gliss" or glissando

it doesn't really make too much of a difference which note you start on because there are soo many that go by so fast.

just use your thumbnail!

[dottyubratt]

oh, thanks :) I couldn't remember the name of it.

[SPOOKSTR]

Right on man, you have given me insperation

[alfonsito123]

hello! great performance! can u email me the

sheet? you r great dude!

[chrismarx85]

its just a blues in C,

i have some lessons on how to play that on my blog.

but i can't give out sheet music for that!

[MoNsTeRsQuAdfan]

Great style, this is the first way i learned how to play, except it was without the piano solo. Reading the comments below, do u have printable sheet music? If not thats ok, i'm a visual learner also.

[benomsan]

大変勉強になりぃました　d≧w≦b

[chrismarx85]

oh Thanks!!!

[carloselbailador]

excellent, thank you. i am playing it at the moment

[Flowerrr82]

Hi!!

Compliments for your performance!

Could you send me the sheet by e-mail?

Thanks a lot!

[xkimr0ck]

Hello

Could you send me the partition by e-mail?

Kiss

[c3po123456]

hey chris - Any chance you can stick you give a little love (bugsy malone) on here, having trouble finding the sheet music. Would like to see chord versions of it though.

[Kotbrikettt0160]

its better than the original!

[TheFnNatural]

PLEEEEEEEEEASE!

[Kotbrikettt0160]

Im EHLEbong and i say it again, its unbelivebal

[johndavid8402]

thanks man, appreciate it.

[EHLEbong0160]

It´s very very very good

[chrismarx85]

Thanks!

Let me know your feedback!

you get 10 points for commenting ;)

[88pie88]

i cant do this because i cant my move my finger fast because when i was a in mp and i got shoot in the hand by a guy who had came back from a battel and got crazy. -.- i miss playing piano

[URAGR8M8]

lol.

[wangmyan]

Whatever is posted, we would just like to appreciate your taking time out to share and we are grateful for that. There are so many ways to play a song but this is to give pple like me a chance to start from somewhere. Not many are that generous/willing Thanks.

[marijn14marijn]

How can you slide up with the piano. Without hurting your fingers or so....

You do it with your thumb or something...

[chrismarx85]

Hey Marijn14marijn!

You want to use your thumbnail. Notice you can't see my thumb when I slide it.

Its because its curled up beneath my thumb.

Don't let any skin touch! Just nail.

[marijn14marijn]

Ok, thank you.

[58Crash]

Didn't see my other post, try without link

Now I get it! stoelefj was referring to GBOF

Search for:

jerry-lee-lewis the-killer alfred-publishing

Look for Jerry and Linda

[58Crash]

Woaw quick reponse, I'm up kind'a late, should be in bed.

Havent figured the "who's gonna play.." out yet. Listen'd to a couple of samples.

Thanx Chrismarx85

[stoelefj]

Im sorry but you havent broken down his patterns. This is nothing like his style... ESPECIALLY the backbeat. He never used that. Sonuds nice, but not like Jerry Lee. Theres even a clip of him on youtube with and above camera angle. From the Killer piano DVD. Take a look and youll see.

[chrismarx85]

Thanks for your input Stoelefj,

He's playing with a band in most of the videos I've watched, BUT This is version for solo piano and voice. The important part is to replace the bass player.

Still I would love to see the specific video youre mentioning!

[58Crash]

What is backbeat?

[stoelefj]

its the boom-chicka-boom rhythm that chrismarx85 briefly demonstrated. Its a common blues thing. But JLL never used it for his rocknroll. You can hear it on his Whos Gonna Play This Old Piano =) But even there, Jerry Lee himself doesnt do it on the piano, only the drums and bass.

[58Crash]

False at 3:12?