Hot Piano & Keyboard How-Tos
How To: Learn 12 bar blues on the keyboard
If you're looking to learn 12 bar blues on the keyboard, this short but simple video will show you the steps. 12 bar blues is an invaluable thing to know as a musician. You can play it on keys, (obviously) and it's been famously played on guitar for more than a century. Once you learn 12 bar blues, you'll be able to play literally thousands of songs, or, have the foundation to right your own. Get learning, and get blue today! Oh I'm feeling so blue...
How To: Play "Born this Way" by Lady GaGa on piano
Lady GaGa is back, and "Born This Way" is taking the music world by storm like each of her songs does. This video will teach you how to play a nice piano cover of it and impress your friends. It's also pretty easy, so beginners are welcome!
How To: Play "Grenade" by Bruno Mars on piano
Bruno Mars is shooting up through the pop hierarchy, and for good reason. His latest single "Grenade" shows his darker side beautifully, and this video will teach you how to play an awesome cover of the song on piano and show that ex how you really feel.
How To: Play the song "Cave" by Muse on piano
"Cave" by Muse is, like most of their songs, a beautiful track to bang out on solo piano like Matt Bellamy probably does sitting in his boxers drinking Bass. This video will show you how to cover "Cave" on your piano.
How To: Play "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons on piano
Mumford and Sons and their hit song "Little Lion Man" have officially arrived since the Grammies, and if you don't know how to cover this song you're going to be underequipped to impress fellow cocktail-party guests. Watch this video for a silent but comprehensible guide to playing "Little Lion Man" on piano.
How To: Do minor to minor transposition when composing music
D minor may be the saddest chord ever, but where do you go from there? In this comphrensive lesson by Andrew Furmanczyk, you'll learn how to do minor to minor transposition to bump up your musical composition skills to a whole new level. If you can't sing it, or don't want to play it in the key the song is in, you need to watch this. Try it and make your sadness go to 11!
How To: Play Coldplay's "Christmas Lights" on piano
Learn to play Coldplay's "Christmas Lights" in this tutorial for the piano. The chord progressions to this December 2010 single from Coldplay are eagerly demonstrated on Yamaha M06 in this enthusiastic video tutorial.
How To: Play the "Rondo Alla Turca" from Mozart's "Piano Sonata No. 11" on piano
The "Ronda Alla Turca" is more commonly known as the "Turkish March" and is the third movement to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most famous pieces, "Piano Sonata No. 11". If you'd like to start learning this lovely piece of classic music, this video series gives you a step-by-step piano lesson.
How To: Play "Frontin'" by Neptunes ft. Jay-Z
The Neptunes first album "In Search Of..." might well be their best ever work, and the song "Frontin'" ft. Jay-Z is a classic hip-hop faux-ballad that features a really hot piano riff. Watch this video to learn how to play that riff and the whole rest of the song on solo piano.
How To: Play "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 on piano
The first Maroon 5 album, Songs About Jane, was an awesomely funky love story, and the songs all sound great on piano and are practically guaranteed to draw potential sexual partners to you. Watch this video to learn how to play the song "Sunday Morning" on piano. It's fairly challenging, so watch out.
How To: Play an easy piano cover of the song "This Love" by Maroon 5
"This Love" is the song that ensured that Maroon 5 would stick around for a while. Their new albums don't stack up too favorably to good old Songs About Jane, and if you're feeling the nostalgia watch this video to learn how to play an easy version of "This Love" on piano.
How To: Play "Dead and Gone" by T.I ft. Justin Timberlake on piano
Justin Timberlake and T.I. are two of the hottest artists around, or at least T.I. would be if he could stay out of the joint. Watch this video to learn how to cover their hit collaboration "Dead and Gone" on piano.
How To: Use an electric guitar and a MicroKorg vocoder to hear your voice on guitar
Many MicroKorg enthusiasts focus on it's synthesizer functions, but it's also a vocoder, and nowhere is that more apparent than in this video. It will teach you how to connect an electric guitar and a mic to your MicroKorg and use them together so that you can hear your voice on your guitar. It's very worth it.
How To: Program a SAW lead patch on a MicroKorg synthesizer
The SAW lead is the most recognizable sound in hardstyle and hardcore electronic music, sounding like a swarm of bees attacking with the precision of an honor guard. Watch this video to learn how to program a patch for a SAW (or sawtooth) lead on a MicroKorg.
How To: Play an easy 4-chord version of "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
"Viva la Vida" continued the staggering string of hits from Coldplay in 2008, and is a really fun song to play on almost any instrument. In this video you'll learn how to play a cover of it on solo piano, which Chris Martin would certainly appreciate.
How To: Play the song "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from Titanic on piano
"My Heat Will Go On" by Celine Dion made her the biggest artist in the world for a time after the release of Titanic, the film with which it will always be associated. Watch this video to learn how to play the whole song on solo piano, which might be the most romantic thing that you could ever do.
How To: Play the Clint Manselli classic song "Requiem for a Dream" on piano
"Requiem for a Dream" by Clint Manselli is a classic work of modern piano composition, and is the namesake of one of the great modern films. In this video you'll learn how to play this iconic song yourself on piano, with notes superimposed over the demonstrating fingers in the video to make it easier for you.
How To: Play "Everytime We Touch" by Cascada on piano
"Everytime We Touch" by Cascada is one of the all-time classic of mainstream house music, and can still be heard at clubs and parties around the world. If you want to class the song up a bit, watch this video to learn how to play a cover of it on solo piano.
How To: Play "Sally's Song" from The Nightmare Before Christmas on piano
The entire Danny-Elfman-composed soundtrack to The Nightmare Before Christmas is hauntingly beautiful, and "Sally's Song" is no exception (much like her character). In this video you'll learn how to play a solo piano cover of the song, with all the notes conveniently overlaying the fingers in the video. How convenient!
How To: Play a cover of "Everytime" by Britney Spears on piano
It's been a while since most people have really cared about Britney Spears music, but many of her songs really are great pieces of pop. In this video you'll learn how to cover her song "Everytime" on solo piano, making it distinctly classier than it usually is.
How To: Play "Fade to Black" by Metallica on piano
Solo piano might not seem like the most natural instrument for covering the Metallica heavy metal classic "Fade to Black", but it actually translates quite well. Watch this video to learn how to play a distinctly classier version of the classic metal track.
How To: Play "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton on piano
"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton is a beautiful, hearbreaking song about his deceased daughter, and can make just about anyone cry when they hear it. It sounds really good on solo piano, and this video will teach you how to play a perfect cover version of it for that instrument.
How To: Play the song "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter on piano
"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter is one of those songs that can turn a person's whole life around if they hear it at the right time. IN this video you'll learn how to play a cover of "Bad Day" on the piano from a really gifted teacher.
How To: Create a Roland TB-303 synth sound with a patch on a MicroKorg
The Roland TB-303 should be a part of every electronic musicians arsenal, but cannot be because of it's scarcity. If you have a MicroKorg, however, you can make a patch that provides a decent approximation of the 303 sound, and this video will teach you how to program it.
How To: Play a church organ sound on a MicroKorg synthesizer / vocoder
Church organs are big, ungainly, expensive instruments. The MicroKorg is comparatively tiny and cheap. Why not use the synthesizer to simulate the organ? Watch this video to learn how to program a patch for a realistic church organ sound on a MicroKorg synth.
How To: Create a funky electric bass part on a MicroKorg synth
You can use a Korg MicroKorg synthesizer / vocoder to play all sorts of electronic music, and you might actually be able to get one without spending your life savings. If you like dirty electric synth bass parts, watch this video and you'll learn how to program one on your MicroKorg.
How To: Play "Time to Pretend" by MGMT on piano
MGMT is only two full-lengths old, but their impact on pop music has been massive. "Time to Pretend" has spawned legions of imitators, and for good reason. If you want to play a classy version of it, watch this video to learn how to cover the song on solo piano.
How To: Play "Firelies" by Owl City on the piano (hard version)
"Fireflies" made Owl City a star, and it a stirring piece of modern songwriting. If you have a piano and want to capture the amazing textures of the song in a solo piano cover of it, watch this video to learn how to play it.
How To: Play an easy version of "River Flows in You" by Yiruma on piano
Yiruma has written many of the most beautiful new piano pieces of the last ten years, and is a truly special figure in the world of piano composition. If you're looking for an easy way to access his remarkable work, watch this video to learn how to play an easy arrangement of his classic song "River Flows in You",
How To: Play "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey on piano
"Don't Stop Believing" by Journey has enjoyed a massive resurgence in popularity since it was featured on Family Guy a few years back. You can play it pretty much anywhere and people will like it. Watch this video to learn how to play the classic song on piano, like Steve Perry wants you to.
How To: Play an easy version of "Fireflies" by Owl City on piano
Owl City took the torch that The Postal Service lit in 2005 and has run far with it, bringing uplifting electro-pop to the masses. In this video you'll learn how to play an easy piano version of his hit single "Fireflies".
How To: Play "Kiss the Rain" by Yiruma on piano
Yiruma is one of the biggest names in contemporary piano composition. His song "Kiss the Rain" is guaranteed to make any listener reflect honestly on their life in a way that few songs ever have been, and in this video you'll learn how to play the whole thing on piano. It's not easy, but you can do it!
How To: Play the easy song "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts on piano
Rascal Flatts are one of the biggest groups in country music, and their song "Bless the Broken Road" is a great uplifting ballad. Watch this video to learn how to play this relatively easy song on piano, then go out and play it. It'll probably bring some love you way.
How To: Program a Korg MS-2000 synthesizer to act as a 16-step drum machine
Are you tired of needing seperate synths and drum machines to create your drums and bass / lead lines? If you have a Korg MS-2000 and many other synthesizers, it's possible to program your synth to act like a 16-step drum machine while still being able to play bass and lead lines over the drums. Watch this video to learn how to do it.
How To: Patch a MicroKorg for use with a Micron BANSHEE talkbox
A MicroKorg synth / vocoder combined with a Micron BANSHEE talk box allow you to make a lot of great, funky music without too much equipment. Finding the right patches on the synth that make the talk box sound the best can be tough, so TalkBoxerDX made this video to demonstrate one way to patch the MicroKorg so it will sound awesome with your talk box, be it BANSHEE or otherwise.
How To: Set up a talkbox without a synth keyboard
Do you want to bust out your talkbox vocals really gorilla style? Hauling a synth keyboard and a talkbox around is a lot of baggage. Did you know, however, that you can set up a talkbox WITHOUT a synth keyboard? Watch this video to learn how to do it.
How To: Play the Kanye West song "Welcome to Heartbreak" on piano
Kanye West might or might not be the voice of your generation, but whatever your opinion of him as a man he does make some good songs. "Welcome to Heartbreak" is no exception, and this video will teach you how to play that classic track on piano.
How To: Mix two songs together into a DJ mix with Ableton Live
Does traveling between the world's finest nightclubs getting paid to play music sound good to you? Then a career as an international superstar DJ may be for you. But where to start? This video might be a good place. It will teach you the basics of mixing two songs together using Ableton Live, the premier live sequencing and mixing software, to create your very first DJ mix.
How To: Warp an audio track using Ableton Live
Warping is one of the many beatmatching tools at the disposal of the modern electronic music producer, and allows you to stretch out notes to make them match the required beat. Watch this video to learn how to warp tracks live on the fly using Ableton Live.
How To: Play "Part of Your World" on a piano
In this tutorial, we learn how to play "Part of Your World" on a piano. First, you want to start out with the introduction to the song. You should have each of your hands on the piano sitting next to each other. The middle finger of the right hand should hit the "C" chord. Once you have this down, start to play in the rest of the parts of the song. Play the different notes as they are shown on the paper. Then, you will continue to play until you have it finished! Just practice and run through...