5-Minute Piano Lessons

The proper priorities regarding chords and fakebooks can save time and improve your playing

Note: This essay is taken from my ebook concerning Advanced Chord and Fakebook Use. I felt it too important to limit it to that source.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of what I consider Advanced chord and fakebook usage, I want to urge you to keep your priorities straight as you study. These priorities are stated in this essay’s title, at least as I’ve found them in 40+ years of successful piano performance. I truly believe it will be very worth your time to consider my reasoning before you embark upon the study of the rest of this ebook. (more…)

Understanding one’s preferences regarding art is always difficult

I’ve boiled it down like this. (more…)

Explaining the Symbols for Chords on Lead Sheets and Fakebooks

Chord symbols are those letters and numbers and funny characters that appear above the melody line on modern sheet music. Many times they are accompanied by a tiny diagram of the strings of a guitar showing physically how to play the chord. The chord, however, is the same note-wise for the pianist/ keyboardist. (more…)