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I can play some pop, classical and movie music but I've done little with blues. Are there any introductory blues books that might be of interest? Ideally, it would be instruction with some nice songs but relatively easy songs with playing notes would work too.
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+1. I'm working through it now. It's the precursor to Tim Richards two jazz-piano books. . Charles
. Charles --------------------------- PX-350 / Roland Gaia / Pianoteq
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Looks good and excellent reviews. Thanks for the suggestion.
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My experience with the Tim Richards book is that it gets very difficult very fast. I have never gotten very far with it. I would be interested in some words of encouragement in that regard from those that have actually made some progress in the book...maybe a posting or two demonstrating a portion of the book they have reached with a decent level of proficiency.
Don
Kawai MP7SE, On Stage KS7350 keyboard stand, KRK Classic 5 powered monitors, SennHeiser HD 559 Headphones
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My experience with the Tim Richards book is that it gets very difficult very fast. I have never gotten very far with it. This is an excerpt from the book: "If you get stuck on a piece that seems too hard, move to the beginning of the next chapter. When you've played through each chapter as far as you can, go back to the pieces that seemed too difficult first time around. Don't underestimate the earlier pieces, as they may contain key concepts that will smooth the way later on." I remember when I started this book, I progressed until I got stuck at "Trill Blues". I just wasn't able to trill while running a bass line. Then I moved to chapter 2. I would be interested in some words of encouragement in that regard from those that have actually made some progress in the book...maybe a posting or two demonstrating a portion of the book they have reached with a decent level of proficiency. It's been a few months since I played blues, so I might be a bit rusty. If you could tell me specifically which one you had difficulty with, maybe I could help?
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It's been a few months since I played blues, so I might be a bit rusty. If you could tell me specifically which one you had difficulty with, maybe I could help? Any page from that book that you feel comfortable with I would be interested in hearing played. I would just like to hear someone actually play something they have gained enough skill to play. That would let me know that with perseverance ...it is possible. Otherwise, it is just talk.
Don
Kawai MP7SE, On Stage KS7350 keyboard stand, KRK Classic 5 powered monitors, SennHeiser HD 559 Headphones
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Any page from that book that you feel comfortable with I would be interested in hearing played. I would just like to hear someone actually play something they have gained enough skill to play. That would let me know that with perseverance ...it is possible. Otherwise, it is just talk. Cool, I'll be free next week, so I'll record something and post it.
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Any page from that book that you feel comfortable with I would be interested in hearing played. I would just like to hear someone actually play something they have gained enough skill to play. That would let me know that with perseverance ...it is possible. Otherwise, it is just talk. Cool, I'll be free next week, so I'll record something and post it. That will be great. Thank You
Don
Kawai MP7SE, On Stage KS7350 keyboard stand, KRK Classic 5 powered monitors, SennHeiser HD 559 Headphones
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I discovered when I went to look at that book that it was already on my Amazon wish list, along with many other things.
It won't be all blues, but if you're looking for easier pieces to play, you might want to try the Martha Mier "Jazz, Rags & Blues" series, or the Christopher Norton "Microjazz" series. These are graded books so you could pick your level, and they are all original compositions. (The Norton stuff is particularly nice because you also get backing tracks for every song, including both separate parts if it's a duet.) For a graded series that contains arrangements of standards, you might look at the Helen Marlais "In Recital with Jazz, Blues and Rags."
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. . . Any page from that book that you feel comfortable with I would be interested in hearing played. I would just like to hear someone actually play something they have gained enough skill to play. That would let me know that with perseverance ...it is possible. Otherwise, it is just talk. These are embarrassing. They're unedited, and done before breakfast. The little red light is unforgiving: https://soundcloud.com/cpcohen1945/blue-fifth-boogie-straight-tim-richardshttps://soundcloud.com/cpcohen1945/syncopated-boogie-swing-tim-richards. Charles
Last edited by Charles Cohen; 06/08/14 11:45 AM.
. Charles --------------------------- PX-350 / Roland Gaia / Pianoteq
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These are embarrassing. They're unedited, and done before breakfast. The little red light is unforgiving What are you saying!? It sounds great. I think I'll revisit blues sooner rather than later!
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I'm glad you like them.
The problem is that Richards is teaching you how to play _blues_. He's not teaching you how to play _piano_. So if you're a raw beginner, his stuff is going to be hard!
The last piece in his "Boogie" chapter - "Back in the Alley" -- is significantly harder than what comes before it. That one is going to severely test my skills, and probably make me develop some new ones.
. Charles
. Charles --------------------------- PX-350 / Roland Gaia / Pianoteq
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I think learning the blues is good for learning to play the piano as well. You need to play a bass line with the left hand and play chords/melody lines with the right hand. This is good practice for any style of piano playing.
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Charles: Thank You. What you played is exactly what I wanted to hear. Someone "Learning" to play this stuff but not yet a "Pro". You played it very well.
How much time (on the Calendar) do you figure you have in on this particular book, so far ?
Don
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. . . How much time (on the Calendar) do you figure you have in on this particular book, so far ?
I posted an early-in-the-book "Barrelhouse Blues" on Soundcloud almost a year ago. So it's been about a year. That's more a measure of my age (69) and every-two-weeks lesson schedule, and inadequate practice time, than of the inherent difficulty of the music. I'm sure an enthusiastic teenager could get through it in well under a year. But we each go at our own pace. That's the advice I give everyone else here.<g> . Charles PS -- one of the nice things about the book is that Richards teaches _principles_ of blues. It's not just a collection of "play-as-written" pieces.
. Charles --------------------------- PX-350 / Roland Gaia / Pianoteq
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any recommendation for a more 'beginner to intermediate', play by ear and not read music -type of player? or even a tut on learning 'bluesy' playing... theory, chords, scales, riffs, easy songs?
Privia PX-5S, XW-P1, Roland Juno-G, Roland Lucina Axe, Korg MicroSampler...
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any recommendation for a more 'beginner to intermediate', play by ear and not read music -type of player? or even a tut on learning 'bluesy' playing... theory, chords, scales, riffs, easy songs? Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9GKaSnYgQ
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any recommendation for a more 'beginner to intermediate', play by ear and not read music -type of player? or even a tut on learning 'bluesy' playing... theory, chords, scales, riffs, easy songs? You will need basic reading skills since most books have to use notation to convey ideas. Mark Harrison has an ebook for less than 3 USD. And a more detailed book as part of the Hal Leonard Keyboard Series. Blues Piano For Beginners Blues Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series Alfred has Blues Keyboard Method Complete (Book & CD)
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