BPK - How to Play China (Tori Amos) Piano/Keyboard

Hi. This is my first tutorial. It's designed to help you play China from Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos. If something is confusing, feel free to ask a question. I play by ear and my goal isn't to replicate any song in a literal or mechanical fashion but rather to grasp the song's structural parameters & essence. That's the approach I'm coming from here. I hope it helps you understand the body of China and enables you to make it your own.

I'm not a vocalist but I sing or hum a little bit just to help move along the melody and show where we are in the song. I'm not super technical so I just did the best I could putting the camera at an angle to show the keyboard. I hope you enjoy playing this simple but beautiful song by Tori.

The featured video for this month is I Can't See New York by Tori from Scarlet's Walk. This is a beautifully written song that is very dynamic, ranging from quiet and contemplative to intense and despondent. Feel free to check it out if you enjoy this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlD_03LQhls

UPDATE (10/17/08): I finally got my act together and made a video of playing the song to accompany this tutorial. It is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf7bL16NL8E

I hope it's helpful.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• BPK
• Tori
• Amos
• Keyboard
• Piano
• Cover
• Covers
• Tutorial
• How
• to
• Play
• China
• Little
• Earthquakes

[jrgnsscmn]

Though it may be true that songs are living beings, the rhythm of the 5th's in the bass the way Tori plays it has special significance, I think. It's an important part of the essence of the song. It's quite a difficult rhythm.... Just a side note :)

[wbarreguy]

@jrgnsscmn Ok, thank you for sharing.

[shadesofb]

This is so great. I stopped playing the piano for a while and have forgot a lot.. I really want to play this song in the full.. there were a few parts that I got lost in (and no, i don't mean in mexico) but is it possible to slow down a few parts. I got the beginning part find up until, pour the wine dear.. ett..ectt.. I guess since it's been awhile step by step for each not and measure is important.. if you don't have time to make a new video, i understand! Just thought I'd try..

[wbarreguy]

Thank you. I can't make a new video for it. It's tough to cram everything into the time limits, so I do go quickly since viewers can rewind and pause as is convenient for them. However, I can't go too slow or else the video won't be accepted by youtube.

[Lisabet]

Thank you so much for this! :D

I don't really play the piano that much, but thanks to you I can now play both this and Past the Mission. Tori's music is such a big part of my life, and I just wanna tell you how much I appreciate this. ^^ It really would be awesome if you had the time to make some more... I'll be keeping watch! ;)

[xanfan5378]

All I can say is, "Whoa"... I took lessons for a few years and can barely play anything, but after looking at this, the piece doesn't seem all that difficult. Gonna have to try this one on for size very soon. :)

Incidently, not to make requests or anything {as I see, you've done dozens of these things lol}, do you have any idea on how to play Floating City from the infamous "Y Kant Tori Read" record? That's one I'd love to learn how to play personally...

[jrgnsscmn]

@wbarreguy You might need a speaker with a good bass to hear exactly what I mean, but the beats are arranged in threes and she begins to sing on the middle beat each time, I can't even do it while tapping, but with practise it should be possible. Here goes...

[AnneNonimous]

you are awesome for doing these. Thank you!

[toriphile1989]

thanks it helped a lot i posted a video response

[RaymanAncel]

I liked theis, but you could always break it down into more than one section so you can slow it down a bit, and have more time for explination, and timeing for combinding left and right hand. I saw it down in a mad world tutorial, just a suggestion.

[jquibbler]

Awesome!! I am going to learn this. How you are able to play by ear.. I will never know that, but it is amazing all the same

[wbarreguy]

Thank you. :-)