This is a little like a thread on the general forum, but I didn't want to hijack that one ...

Having played one thing or another for err, a long time, I'd like to return to keyboard (after a gap of 25 years since my brief foray into G1 piano). I read, know theory, and practice four other instruments, and don't have the time (or really want) to spend a long time developing the technique to, I dunno, play Chopin, say.

Now, this is probably heresy, but I just want to know enough piano to work out song harmonies and play off simple chord charts .... sort of journeyman-piano-for-other-instrumentalists, the way most people play acoustic guitar. No disrespect to the piano or pianists intended.

I realise that there may be no short cut to doing this, and it may involve many, many hours with Carol Barratt (!), but any suggestions about how best to approach this? Or any books/tutors to look out for?

Thanks for your tolerance ... please don't flame me!

Nick

Sounds entirely reasonable to me. With your background, what you need is an introduction to idiomatic piano voicings. I'd suggest you take a look at Simon Schott's book "Play Piano by Ear".

Eddie Harvey's Teach Yourself Jazz Piano is pretty good for learning useful chord sequences

many, many hours with carol*piano would be a lot more fun way of doing it...


Yep - your chords is what you need to learn - then you can just play from guitar chords or a fake book

Thanks all - I do know chord structure, of course (G5 theory and many years trying to play jazz taught me that) - it's more how I might rapidly find my way around a keyboard without having to learn contrary motion scales, etc etc ...

Some helpful book suggestions there ...

nick

You could also say have four lessons with a teacher to give you a little more knowledge and confidence and then to point you in the right direction for further study. Sometimes being shown things can give you a better idea than purely reading about it.

You certainly don't need traditional tutor books - just as the others have said.

This type of playing is pretty standard to me!