(Part 4) Reddit mentions: The best books about pianos

This is a good book for both theory and the technical aspects of ragtime and then goes into other styles that use stride. Most if it will still be relevant to rags from a technical perspective. The music theory behind rags is ridiculously simple. There's really just not a lot happening harmonically. It's about as cut and paste as modern pop. Not that that's bad thing, but that's just how simple it is.

It's mostly I, IV, and V^7 with a bit of color from iv and bVI as well as diminished passing chords.

The more interesting thing is how rags evolve from and apply interesting polyrhythms from West African drumming to create a fairly straight ahead stuff that fits in a more Western music straight context via interesting syncopation.

Anyway, that book is great at explaining all of that and giving good practical examples as well as exercises. It then gets pretty deep into intense stride styles used by people like Art Tatum which is not for the faint of heart. John Valerio is awesomely thorough but he doesn't give a shit that you don't have a 10th or 11th. He's going to give it to you exactly as it was done historically even if the majority of people won't be able to pull off some of those technical feats.

As for collections of I rags, I don't really know of any particularly good collections or editions so I too would love to hear of some from someone who is more familiar.

Happy to help. YouTube recordings with sheet music on screen can be tricky - the audio is rarely from a reference performance (there is a huge difference between a Bach Invention played by a professor for his students and the same Invention played by Gould). Also, those videos allow you to be passive - you don't need to follow the score as the pages "turn" automatically. It's easier to "switch off", which is not what you want during practice.

I would recommend grabbing a book with a bundled CD, or online recordings, something like this or this. But if you want online resources, here you go:

Kuhlau, 55-1: sheets and reference recording.

Clementi, 36-4: sheets and reference recording

Clementi, 36-6:
sheets and reference recording.

Good luck!

Got this tip from another similar thread:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Piano Exercises by Karen Berger

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Exercises-Guides/dp/1615640495/

It's really good as a primer before you start tackling playing songs from sheet music. Its main goal is to teach you proper finger technique for efficiently getting around the piano, but it goes into some more general beginner stuff as well. I'm a fair bit through it and I must say it's really helped me get a more focused practice regiment. It assumes you can sight read at least somewhat decently, so make sure you know your way around the grand staff a little bit before getting into it.

Good luck!

Just some background: I have been playing violin since the 1st grade (currently a sophomore in college), and throughout the way I've picked up many instruments such as the piano (now my main), cello, viola, saxophone and a few more. I started out with an instructor for violin and piano but learned the other instruments mostly on my own, and after you understand the basics of music theory and performance then it gets easier. So piano is a really good starting instrument to teach you all these aspects of music.

I know that most university music departments have practice rooms with a piano in there, to my knowledge most universities don't charge if you're a student there. The music department will also offer private lessons at cheaper rates than other private instructors, and sometimes the students there might offer free/cheaper lessons just so they can get some experience teaching someone. But regardless of whether you get a teacher or not, you need to get a good book to teach you the basics.

https://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Piano-School-International-Vol/dp/0739054473/ref=zg_bs_2479428011_14?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MCP2HFFS3V5T7PM4D0EM

This is a link to a Suzuki piano book for beginners, it's like $10 and Suzuki is highly regarded in the music world as a better way to teach music performance. Like many professional instructors get certified to teach Suzuki materials. Also I recommend looking at videos online showing the proper form when playing the piano, because bad form will hurt you in the future and it will be harder to change so why not fix it right now.

Have Fun!

If you've only been playing for 6 months, this piece may be too difficult for you. I learned the Waltz in b minor by Chopin (Op. 69 #2) before I learned the c# minor waltz. I found that what I learned from the b minor waltz transferred very easily to the c# minor waltz.

For both Waltzes I've mentioned here in general, start off as slow as you need to, and make sure that you get all of the nuances right. This c# minor waltz was the first time where I had to deal with repeated notes, and it's quite awkward at first, but if you practice slowly and keep a metronome going and build up your speed, you'll notice that the technique will eventually develop. The metronome is particularly important so that you maintain a rhythmic pulse, can keep your notes as even as possible, and can gauge where your progress is.

If you've only been playing for 6 months, you will probably have to practice either waltz (the b minor one I mentioned previously or, if you dare pursue this c# minor one) hands separate. Again, practice slowly with a metronome.

Another thing to take into account is that improving your sightreading ability helps for learning these pieces, and in my experience, made learning the c# minor Waltz a much less painful experience than for the b minor waltz (I had done a lot of sightreading practice after learning the b minor waltz). I had finished the three Kember series books (Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3 ), making sure that I didn't look at the keys for each exercise.

Hope this helps.

I’d better buy a bigger bag, ‘cause you’re the BOMB!

I want to get this for a friend. :)

Link has twinkle toes

And happy early birthday! Mine's TODAY. :o

I'd recommend the Henle editions for very high-quality editions with critical commentaries. A nice thing about Henle compared to other high-quality urtext publishers such as Baerenreiter or Breitkopf and Haertel is that Henle scores stay open on the piano, which is great. The editions I linked to have suggested fingerings, but Henle also sells editions without fingerings.

A slightly more affordable alternative that I like is the edition edited by Palmer. This is the one I own. It gives a lot of help to a student who might be approaching the interpretation of Bach for one of their first times. It has a plastic comb binding, so this, too, stays open easily.

Last, it might be worth mentioning that a contributor to IMSLP has told me (under my other username Fugalicious) that he would be uploading the Baerenreiter copies of all of Bach's keyboard works to IMSLP sometime in the first half of 2019. So if you want to wait a few months, don't mind a copy without fingerings, and don't need to buy a copy for an exam, you could also just wait until that's available. (But note that the Baerenreiter copies wouldn't be considered public domain in the United States—they're only PD in Canada and the EU.)

Where fingerings are 'pretty similar', it will generally be that they are fairly obvious and, therefore, nobody would write them in. You've probably noticed that fingerings for every note are only ever given in very beginner music to help people get the hang of how piano fingering works at its most basic. Once you progress beyond these basics, it's not longer really necessary. Editors will only really add fingerings where there are technically awkward passages - and these are the precise places where personal fingerings work best if that makes sense.
Have you looked at the Art of Piano Fingering? It's a great book and can teach you pretty much everything you need to know on the subject.

How about:

• My First Bach,
  
  
• First Lessons in Bach, or
  
  
• Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach.
  
  In the last case the pieces are not organized progressively -- you may need to cherry pick the easier ones first.
  
  But be aware: being able to play those pieces and being able to play them well are two entirely different things, as I painfully learn now. A lot of fine detail (e.g. which notes can be tied, how best to ornament) that is not captured in the sheet music. You need either a teacher or a lot of recording + own analysis to get it right.
  
  Still -- a mind-blowing experience. Wishing you a lot of luck and satisfaction on your journey!

Mark Davis's book would be another good one to check out. But the absolute number one thing is to be listening to it a lot! Make sure to work on swing feel/rhythm feel... I think it's pretty common for accomplished classical pianists to be lacking in that department when they play a bit of jazz. Check out players like Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, Thelonious Monk, and Benny Green for that.

You've stepped into a world of pain. I studied injury-preventive keyboard technique a great deal in college, and have worked with a marvelous pianist named Barbara Lister-Sink, who teaches her own comprehensive injury-preventive keyboard technique.

1. It is possible to play musical instruments without pain and discomfort.
   
2. It is a matter of using your whole body in finely coordinated movements. There's more to guitar playing than just fingers. Your hand hold the drumstick, but the muscles and tendons in your arm are what control the stick. You run into problems if you think that your fingers are doing most of the work when you play piano. That leads to tendonitis, nerve damage, and a slew of other ailments.
   
3. When you realize that you are in pain, STOP and analyze. You have developed really bad habits that will, I promise, plague you for your career if you do not figure out what you're doing wrong.
   
   A few things to consider when playing a keyboard instrument:
   
   
4. A key takes so much force to "play a note." Once the note is played, no amount of pressure (on a piano key) will change the sound; therefore, it is a waste of energy (and a cause of accumulated muscle tension). So whenever you play a key, pay attention to where the weight of the arm is. Because if your wrist and/or fingers are locked up and holding your arm up, you're doing way more work than you need to. Instantaneous release.
   
5. You must constantly release the tension (which is how muscles activate your appendages) while you play. You no doubt have some tension in your back, neck, shoulders, arms, and fingers when you play. Everyone does. But some people know how to release it while playing. They don't get injured.
   
6. Mechanical advantage: Your body is capable of all the movements you need to make, and it can do it effortlessly. Gravity does most of the work at the piano. We just have to line our bodies up to transmit the force in the right places. Concentrate on doing that and eliminating every unnecessary movement and tiny muscle contraction that does not serve the purpose of playing music.
   
   I can't possibly tell you everything you need to know. Hopefully that will help you start exploring a more healthful approach to the keyboard.
   
   Barbara Lister-Sink's TEDx talk about keyboard technique
   
   Freeing the Caged Bird
   
   Don't be fooled by all the classical music. No pianist should play in pain, and these principles are applicable to all (albeit overkill for people who don't have serious aspirations).
   
   Also, a book that might be worth thumbing through for inspiration: On Piano Playing, by Gyorgy Sandor
   
   From a "therapeutic" standpoint, I like hand weights (grip strengtheners). If your flexor tendons (underside of the forearm) are in pain, that might help. I squeeze hard, hold for 3-5 seconds, then release, paying close attention to the complete, intentional relaxation of tension.
   
   Also, I'm not a doctor, so don't sue me.
   
   E: formatting

Play what you already like to play. If you play guitar from sheet music or fake books, you can do the same on piano - melody in the right hand and chords in the left. When you're more solid on bass clef you can play the written out left hand parts. (Practice the hands separately before you try to put them together.)

I like classical, so I bought Bergerac's My First Book of Classical Music for $5 - simple reductions of pieces I know and like. There's tons of free classical sheet music on line (imslp.org for example) but I needed something easier to start.

My piano teacher had me doing Oscar Beringer Daily Technical Studies. I know it's a bit different from a method book, but those exercises are great, even for an advanced player. I have a played piano for about 13 years now, but I was introduced to it a couple of years ago, and it certainly has helped in some areas.

i love playing classical piano, and didn't appreciate it or love listening to it until i started playing it. so i am an amateur who doesn't know squat about what she is playing. how does one find out about how the classical music i'm playing was written? can you suggest a book or a website?

for your reference, right now i'm learning all the songs from this book: http://amzn.com/0793525551

Hi there,

I would start with learning an instrument and music theory.

I started by learning the piano with really basic books - perhaps this could be of use to you: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Play-Piano-Complete-Beginners/dp/190870716X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484745976&sr=8-1&keywords=beginners+piano+book

I then started my understanding of Music Theory a short while after that, with the ABSRM Music Theory in Practice Grade 1 book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Theory-Practice-Grade-ABRSM/dp/1860969429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484746064&sr=8-1&keywords=music+theory+in+practice+grade+1

After doing some beginners' piano books, I progressed to the ABSRM Grade 1 exam. There are 8 Grades in total, by the way. I just did mine when I was told I could by my teacher, but if you practice for 30 minutes per day you could probably learn all the stuff from nothing to Grade 1 in a term.

There are other requirements, such as knowing how to play scales and arpeggios, sing, and sight read (so you get to look at a piece for 30 seconds and then just have to play it - my most hated part of the exam!) - you may need books for them, too.


I would say when you have done the exam for Grade 5 Piano AND Grade 5 Theory, you will be ready to start composing. The best way to do that would be to take the exams themselves, as they are a very professional exam board.

Hope this helps! =)

P.S. The reason you've probably been downvoted is because it's quite insulting when someone just says "I have no knowledge and want to make music for video games". People understand you want to, but they put 10, 20, 30 years into the craft, and you come in looking for a quick and easy result. :P

P.P.S. If you look in the FAQ section of this subreddit located on the right-hand side, it should send you to the relevant places. Also check out the Game Audio and Game Dev subreddits eventually, but not now.

I'm not clear if you've transcribed the changes, melody or both. If you get stuck just ask; after several decades of doing this kind of thing it's really easy for me.

IntoEternity mentioned that this is hard, and yes, it probably is. I learned the system of Roman numerals for changes when I was 18 from Jerry Coker's book Improvising Jazz. Another book, less user friendly IMO, is John Mehegan's Jazz Improvisation. As others have mentioned you'll probably need to get comfortable with the chord sequences of simpler standards to start with. Autumn Leaves is a good one because it's basically in one key, which is actually rare for most standards.

One issue that you will need to sort out fairly soon is understanding basic jazz harmony. The problem with many fakebooks, including the Real Book, Aebersold charts, and Chuck Sher's New Real books is they often give you too much information. Chick Corea said that he writes chord symbols as major, minor, or dominant 7th, because he says it's easier to convey the tune, and if a player doesn't know how to interpret chords and know what extensions, alterations, and substitutions to play then he or she probably doesn't belong in his band. When I was starting out players would sometimes call chords, and they would say "G....Cm...B7..." and so on, because there wasn't time to say "Gmajor9#11" or whatever. With that in mind here's a link to a helpful site called The Vanilla Book. He used to have all these tunes bundled for download, but he passed away and I don't know what happened to that link. Still, you can see the basic changes to individual tunes by following the links, and you can print them out if needed. Also here's the link to the reason for the book, similar to Chick Corea's reasoning.

Yes, there are books with simpified classic pieces, for example http://www.amazon.com/The-Library-Easy-Piano-Classics/dp/0825612845

But many purists (including me)) advise against such versions. After all those transformations they are not pieces of art anymore. There are pieces composed by the famous composers (Bach, Tchaikovsky etc) and intended for learning and still sounding very nice. Like Children's Album, Op.39 by Tchaikovskiy.

Though if you don't have a lot of reverence for classics there's no problem in using simplified versions - it's all joy of playing that is important after all.))

I'm taking private lessons through my college which counts as credit hours as a bonus, so if you have that option you should try that out, even if it's a community college. I'm also taking a group piano class at the same school, we use this book, which teaches basics such as form and posture in the very first chapter. The first day of my private lesson my teacher handed me this sheet and I've been working on the first five. These are great because your hands will have different movements going up and down the scales, so not only will it help you nail your scales but it'll also help your muscle memory because your fingers will be moving differently depending on the note.

This book has all the scales in it, with fingerings. Fairly easy to print that information out yourself but if you don't have access to a printer or want a bound copy, it might be worth getting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0739003682/

This one has a variety of classical pieces. They're all pretty easy arrangements, but unfortunately I don't think they're ordered by difficulty:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486410927/

I think John Mehegan's books on Jazz Piano were really excellent in helping me build my skills.

https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Improvisation-Tonal-Rhythmic-Principles/dp/0823025594

just started this book the other day

http://smile.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Bach-Schirmer-Performance/dp/1423446720/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426504286&sr=8-4&keywords=first+lessons+in+bach

Very very helpful, it starts you off real slow. I have been working on my RH/LH coordination lately as well and i can vouch for this book being a good place to start. though i have no degree in music, and i'm still working out sight reading.

I'm a really big fan of the Alfred's Masterwork Editions. I have the 2 Part Inventions from this series and I really enjoy it.

http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Well-Tempered-Masterwork/dp/0882848313/

I have it too, and I love it (even if some of the pieces are above my skill level). I got it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Legend-Zelda-Series-Piano/dp/0739082965/

By Alfred's did you mean this one? I believe the course in university used this instead so if the first one is what you recommend my wallet will thank you.

Wondered what anybody thought about any of these technique books. Or something else you love?

https://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Pianist-Needs-About/dp/1579992064

https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Piano-Technique-Russian-McKeever/dp/1495073017

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Piano-Fingering-Traditional-Innovative/dp/1479285277

https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Piano-Technique-Students-Performers/dp/0931340462

Try this book. It teaches you how to position yourself, hands, and fingers, and teaches proper techniques. It definitely "taught" me how to play.

Black Keys Etude. Definately.

But in all seriousness, have you ever tried any sonatinas? Or are they too easy for you?
I used this book a few years ago.

Here's an example of a piece from that book. The book has a lot of variety, so you can pick and choose as you want.

There are some interesting things in:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0882848577/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I learned the Duncombe Sonatina and I've only been playing for about four months.

I remmember seeing this book being recommended:

How To Really Play The Piano: The Stuff Your Teacher Never Taught You

Thinking about buying a used keyboard myself and trying to learn. Are these the books you're talking about? https://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Piano-School-International-Vol/dp/0739054473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539302636&sr=8-1&keywords=suzuki+piano+book+1&dpID=51jf8cG3Q4L&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

​

Also, do you recommend getting the CD that comes with it or just the book?

Amazon link for anyone interested in buying it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0739082965/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1372803515&sr=8-1&keywords=the+legend+of+zelda+series+for+piano&condition=new

Haha understood. Maybe go with something like this https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Keyboard-Repertoire-Intermediate-Selections/dp/0882848577/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0882848577&pd_rd_r=SPA40RZZWFZBMX6G7NR7&pd_rd_w=Jhm7Y&pd_rd_wg=JMC2o&psc=1&refRID=SPA40RZZWFZBMX6G7NR7 - the 'essential repetoire' series has a ton of songs which are all fairly spread in difficulty

The right way to do it is to get an instructor; however, if you're a motivated adult who has some sort of musical background, I think you can teach yourself passably. I'd start with beginning Bach, probably this book. Bach will teach you to use both hands and to use proper fingering.

Beyer, Bartok Mikrocosmos, or any of the standard books of exercises. Be warned, ALL of this material is quite dated, and there is NO way to get true technical advice from ANY of them, just notes to play, not HOW to play them. Perhaps the Book "On Piano Playing", by Gyorgy Sandor, a Julliard standard, is what you need. I recommend it highly. Here is an Amazon link to it. Buy a used one, of course. Sandor

> i will have to find the music for it.

Right here. Although you might be better off starting with a simpler arrangement, such as the one in this book.

Was it any of the Bastien Piano Basics books? Or maybe How to Play Piano for Absolute Beginners by Ben Parker?

This book is fantastic, but a bit dense for beginners after the first chapter or two (source: am beginner, have book).

Edit: I also have this one and found it more beginner-friendly: https://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-Jazz-Piano-Method/dp/1480398004

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0882848577/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is a really good collection of pieces that I'm working through. Covers a wide variety of time periods and each composer has 2 to 3 pieces in ascending difficulty.

It's on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Technical-Studies-Piano-Kalmus/dp/076926414X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=oscar+beringer&qid=1569112964&s=gateway&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0739082965/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1372803515&sr=8-1&keywords=the+legend+of+zelda+series+for+piano&condition=new

Taken from /u/wtfmakesmecringe from the comments section that /u/girlfield just posted.

I suggest getting this. It helped me a lot.
http://www.amazon.com/Stride-Swing-Piano-Leonard-Keyboard/dp/0634046632?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Legend of Zelda piano scores are available on Amazon.

I would kill for a giant Pokemon OST CD bundle.