"Dark Blue" Piano Lesson This week's featured IROCKU lesson is "Dark Blue" by Andrew McMahon. Andrew McMahon is a passionate and talented singer/songwriter who gave us this beautiful pop-rock ballad. If you are of the Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers generation, learn this one for your kids and grandkids. In '"Dark Blue,” Andrew uses the I, V, vi, IV chord progression which is found everywhere in rock and pop. Another progression to add to your repertoire. in this song, we explore arpeggiated melody lines in both the left and right hands. The song is based on a quarter-note rhythm in 4/4 time but true to most IROCKU arrangements, includes a 3 against 4 cross-rhythm. Keep it simple, keep it beautiful, and let if flow. IROCKU donates the proceeds from the "Dark Blue" lessons to …
Rock Piano Lessons
This week’s lesson is “Shine a Light” by The Rolling Stones.
"Shine a Light" Piano Lesson “Shine a Light” is a beautiful piano piece and one of our most popular piano lessons. It is a rock song that incorporates many gospel elements. “Shine a Light” uses a I-vi-V-IV gospel progression in the key of C. Brush up on your blues scales and learn some gospel techniques including 1) moving diatonically down the scale harmonizing each chord tone with the I chord and each passing tone with the minor ii, 2) or using the IV chord for passing tones, and 3) moving chromatically in thirds. In signature style, the Stones throw 16th-note syncopations into the groove of the song so spend some time listening to the recording to get the feel. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling …
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Featured Piano Lesson – “Corazon Espinado” by Santana & Mana
This week's featured lesson is "Corazon Espinado" by Santana / Mana from Santana's Supernatural album. "Corazon Espinado" Piano Lesson In this lesson we take a detour from classic rock and blues to explore latin rock. In this lesson you will learn about the Montuno. Montuno is the syncopated piano pattern that accompanies the vocals; a key element of many latin genres. Montuno’s transform the piano into a percussive instrument while reinforcing the harmonic structure of the song. We introduce both harmonic (chord based) and melodic ( arpeggio based) montunos along with Tumbao; the highly syncopated bass line rhythm pattern that holds down the song’s groove. The syncopation in latin genres can be even more complex than New Orleans' style second-line rhythms. In this song, the …
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How to Play Piano Rhythm (Groove) Charts
Most rock musicians don't read notes. Many of the bands Chuck's played with use the 'Nashville Numbering System'. This system uses numbers to represent the chords to be played. The numbers represent the note of the scale and it's corresponding chord in the particular key that you are playing. So if the song is in the key or C, a I would represent the C major chord, a ii would represent D minor, iii would be E minor, IV would be F major, V would be G major, vi would be A minor, viio would be B diminished. Using this system rockers can notate a song using numbers and then play in any key they chose. You Can't Always Get What You Want-Groove Chart For the IROCKU groove charts we choose to simplify the process of mentally converting from the chord number to the chord letter by …
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Featured Piano Lesson – “Rockin’ The Suburbs” by Ben Folds
This week's featured lesson is "Rockin the Suburbs" by Ben Folds. "Rockin' The Suburbs" Piano Lesson Chuck selected this song because Ben Folds has a unique rhythmic style that introduces us to a new approach to creating a groove. If you like playing groove piano, "Rockin' the Suburbs" will take your playing to the next level. Ben Folds uses the keyboard as a percussion instrument; he takes a syncopated eighth-note groove and plays it with both hands intertwined. This is a challenge because you don’t hear or feel the driving pulse unless both hands are playing together. It's a real brain teaser so take the first 8 bars slowly until you have the rhythm down. Definitely check out the video. Hearing the pattern is much easier than reading it. At the end of the song Ben plays a …
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Featured Piano Lesson – “China Grove”
Why do some songs reach the pinnacle of rock greatness and soar into the stratosphere to become classics? In the case of this week’s lesson, “China Grove” by the Doobie Brothers, it is the opening riff, an explosion of energy that hooks the listener from the first bar to the last. "China Grove" Piano Lesson “China Grove” is a four-to-the-floor rocker. Get your left hand working smoothly so you can cut loose and improvise using the blues scale with your right hand. Try focusing on dynamics; accent different notes to accentuate the rhythm. You’ll get to lay down some blues licks and work on eighth-note anticipated grooves. This lesson is all about playing classic rock piano. Click here for the lesson. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck …
IROCKU Featured Lesson- “Tipitina” by Professor Longhair
This week's lesson is one of New Orlean's most iconic songs, "Tipitina” by Professor Longhair. "Tipitina" piano lesson “Tipitina” is a simple 8-bar blues progression but it highlights three elements that uniquely define New Orleans piano style. The left-hand pattern uses a traditional syncopated blues, boogie woogie New Orleans bass line while the right hand melody is a repeated pattern based on the New Orleans piano flourish that we commonly hear in Dr. John, Fats Domino, and Huey Piano Smith’s melodies. The New Orleans style is rounded out with a turn-around and ending that is distinctly different than the go to turn-around that every blues performer plays. Our Lesson addresses all three of these New Orleans piano elements with the Improvisation driving home the New Orleans …
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Rare Nicky Hopkins video laying down tracks for “Sympathy for the Devil”
IROCKU’s featured lesson is “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones. Here is an incredibly rare clip of Nicky Hopkins recording the original piano track on “Sympathy for the Devil”. "Sympathy for the Devil" Piano Lesson Nicky Hopkins is hands-down one of the most influential pianists in rock history. He was the Thomas Edison of rock piano generating endless innovations in rock piano style and technique. The rhythm on “Sympathy for the Devil” is one of his most recognized and the original recording was remarkably captured in this 1968 video. This video provides a one minute window into rock history. Loop it until the rhythm is firmly ingrained in your mind. Hopkin’s rhythm is solid, strong, and driving yet his wrists are relaxed and bounce lightly on the keys while each finger …
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This week’s piano lesson is “Joy Boogie” by Chuck Leavell.
Well it’s that time of year again and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with an arrangement from the master himself, Chuck Leavell. “Joy Boogie” is a joyful and explosive boogie-woogie version of the traditional Christmas classic, “Joy to the World”. "Joy Boogie" Piano Lesson There are few people who can match Chuck’s musical chops but we’ve done our best to turn this joyous piano celebration into a lesson that can be enjoyed by everyone; beginners through our most advanced piano students. "Joy Boogie" is packed with many of Chuck's signature techniques. It’s got a killer walking eighth-note boogie-woogie bass line (influenced by Ian Stewart), moving through a scale diatonically while harmonizing each chord tone with the I chord and each passing tone with the IV or V, …
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Last Chance Before Christmas – 30% Off
Holiday Special 2019- 30% Off All Annual Memberships and Annual Membership Gift Certificates Holiday Special 30% Off Use coupon code: Holidays2019 Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Coupon is valid December 12-December 24,2019 …
Black Friday Special – 35% Off
Black Friday Special- 35% Off All Annual Memberships and Annual Membership Gift Certificates Black Friday 35% Off Use coupon code: BlackFriday2019 Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Coupon is valid November 28-December 1, 2019 …