learn to play the piano like a pro (04)
As time goes by
"As time goes by" I play without the notes. It is rather easy to remember because the same theme is repeated 3 times. We say that the song has a structure : (AABA) x 2. A is the repeated theme. B is the intermediate part. The whole part played 2 times (I only play one time in the video). The cords are on the other hand a little difficult. They can not be changed to something simpler without destroying the harmony. The sheet music is from a very good fake book.
We start with Fm - this I change to Fm7 (I like to have 3 notes in the right hand on the first beat : a flat e flat and c). In measure 2 we have Gm7-5 = Gm7(b5). Look at the video how to play that. From end of measure 3 we have Eb6 - Gm - Cm - Gm. This we all change to Eb (we already have Eb6 in the melody note c) and note c. Gm is represented with the single melody note d. It is as simple as that! In measure 6 you have Bb7sus - play it as a block cord divided between left and right hand and do the same with the following resolving cord Bb7. In this connection I will stress that it is important that you from time to time shift from arpeggio playing to block notes playing. This in order to create variation and block notes playing comes in handy when the cords are changing very rapidly. Also block notes can create momentum. The first theme A ends with Bb7 - Ebmaj7 - Eb6 - Ebmaj7 - Eb6. All this can be reduced to Bb7- Eb and note d (representing Ebmaj7) and note c (representing Eb6) - again make it simple.
End of second theme A is Bb7 - Eb - Abm6 - Eb - Eb7. All this can be reduced to Bb7 - Eb and note d flat (representing Eb7).
In the B part we have F9 that you can change to F7 (note g representing F9 is already in melody notes). The next cord Bb9 is changed to Bb7 (again it is unnecessarily notation because Bb9 is represented with melody note c) - this c note and Bb7 is played en block divided between right and left hand. On the following note c we play arpeggio.
In the end of the song you can skip some of the many cords as I do. The ending : Bb6 (play Bb + melody note b flat en block) Eb (play en block) Gm (skip) Edim7 (play en block) Fm7 (play arpeggio) Bb7 (play arpeggio) and note g flat (that represents Bb7+) all ending in Eb.
That is all there is to it but as I said in the start this song is not easy. But if you can play this song without the notes you can play anywhere.
You can find much easier songs to play in the list of songs.
Smoke gets in your eyes
This is my own professional arrangement. Do not think that an arrangement from the composer or whoever wrote it must be the best. This piano piece has been played by numerous piano players through a period of 80 years. This arrangement is the tradition of how it is played in a professional context.
Maybe I played the song a little too early in my training of it. You may think it is difficult - it is not, E flat major is always a favorite key to play in and the intermediate part in B major it not as difficult as it might look - just play the cords and remember that in B major you use all the black keys.
The arrangement is very accurate and can of course be played as such, but I recommend you to play it a little rubato free-style piano. Put fills in and important play (in measure 2, 5, 6 etc) when you in the left hand play two identical block cords - play the second arpeggio.
Lastly - it is very important to have a flowing start. You use pedal all the way through and of course shift on every cord - but not in the start, here you keep the pedal down all the way to Gbdim7 (do likewise later).
And I love her
This Beatles song is very easy to play and learn by heart. Just follow the video. You play 1 5 1 or 1 3 5 (7) and have cord notes below the melody note with a cord shift. It is as simple as that. A few places you play block cord - i.e. you play the root bas note in the left hand together with cord notes and melody note in the right hand and then play the same root bas note followed with arpeggio. You can hear when you should do that. Look at the video. Also a few places I follow the arpeggio up in the right hand. Again look at the video. The cords are simple but nevertheless the song is very melodic - beautiful simple.
Moonlight Sonata
The moonlight sonata I have played for years and only now I master it. The quality of the sheet music is very good. Of course you can only play this as is note by note.
A little hint I can give : play right hand soft and the left hand lauder and clear. For years I have played the left hand very, very soft - back in your mind you are afraid to strike the wrong key and that is why I now understand.