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I really want your books, problem is; I don't have Pay Pal 😭. Is there an address or PO Box where I can send a Check to ? REALLY enjoy your vids 👍👍. (Promise it won't bounce !) Thank you - JT
I'm a classically trained pianist, meaning I know how to play what is written in front of me but I have no clue how to improvise. I've been looking for helpful tutorials on learning how to play chords and your technique is really helpful and effective for me. Thanks so much!!
Same here, i can play beethoven when I see the notes but i cannot play nothing else matters in a jam session. It was bugging me feeling like i dont really know how to play when im with friends. 😄
I bookmarked this to come back to and did so today. I'm 73, love music and would like to grow some more brain cells. I have an electric keyboard waiting in the basement gathering dust that wants to be woken up. Thought your video was clear and informative. I just want to have fun with music so will hit the keys as soon as the household wakes up. I do believe I heard in the video, just do it! In so many words.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Linda - let me know how you get on! Also 73 makes you practically a teenager compared to some folks I have learning from my stuff: I regularly get emails from people well into their nineties...!
Totally awesome Bill. As a 64 Y.O. picking up the piano again after an absence of 50 years, your simple approach has really helped this old bloke. Much better than sitting in Miss McGarry's cold studio on a Thursday night as a school boy learning classical piano.
+Tewbacka Glad it's useful! *My* boyhood piano lessons were on a Thursday night, too, at half past seven. It always used to be pretty difficult to squeeze in a week's practice between getting home from school and walking round to my lesson...
I've watched a lot of tutorials on youtube. Yours are the best.Probably because of the relaxed approach, and your quick tips, and your wonderful English accent.
Used to watch these 4 years ago. You, sir, have acctually laid the foundation for my interest in improvised music. Ever since i understood the pentatonic scale as you explained it, it was like you suddenly unlocked hidden powers in me, because truth be told, i already had pretty decent technique, but i knew no theory. Theory is really powerful, it lets you do the best out of what you already know, in a way. You explain simply and to the point! Recommending you to a friend of mine now! You are truly amazing at teaching!
+raicho20 Thanks very much for taking the time to say so - it always makes my day when someone tells me my stuff has made a big difference to them. Stick at it!
I’m 66 just retired and picking up piano for the first time. I’m glad I’ve gone to your site first. You are very encouraging and given me lots of confidence to give it a go.
I took piano lessons 60 years ago. My playing was never more than fair. Now with this new chord method, I am starting to have FUN again. Thank you so much. I shall be watching this over and over again.
Thanks for the kind words, Katie - glad to hear this helps. You may be surprised how much underlying ability you still have, despite the six decade gap since lessons: things you learn as a child get burned deep, deep down into your brain circuitry, and even if they get very rusty they can act as a foundation for new learning years later. Good luck!
Was gonna give up on chords but Bill inspired me. I love how he acknowledges the reality of it being difficult yet gives us an outlook on what we can achieve with this later on. Thanks!
This is exactly what I was looking for. I've been playing piano for over a decade but only learned how to read and play classical music. Accompaniment and chords never came naturally to me. Great explanations. I look forward to learning more from your channel.
I literally didn't understand how playing the piano worked until I watched this. Thank you so much! I'm a big picture learner, so it's so helpful to give these comprehensive explanations even though I can't do it, I like to understand what I'm laying the foundation for.
This tutorial is extremely useful. I'm a 73year old beginner and your enthusiasm is evident. I've had weekly lessons for the past year. I will purchase the book you've suggested. Thankyou so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with others. I've subscribed.
You're very welcome, and thanks for buying the book and subbing! Do give me a shout if you have anything I can help with: I have a bit of a comment backlog at the moment (!) but I always try to respond!
Wow, you're a bright light in the darkness of learning this beautiful instrument. I am learning, only have 20 hours in so far but moving along well. I am a fair a guitar player and singer. I love this lesson as it gives me hope to be able to accompany our guitar friends and family and then move on to greater "comp". I'm heading downstairs to embed the chords into my brain.....slow and steady and really appreciate your help. Subscribed and anxious to take this journey with you. Kudos on a great video
You are quite literally the best piano teacher ive found on youtube. Big ups man, and thank you so so much. Iam buying my first self owned piano this week and cannot wait anymore to start practicing and playing. I will buy your book just to support you and to say thank you for doing what you are doing.
just started learning again after 40 yrs !! really wanted to master chords to accompany singers and found your tututorial really clear and a good pace...exciting !
RE: Quarantine: This is a terrific tutorial for complete novices like me. I've been self-taught on guitar for the past five or six years and it quickly became my first line of self-therapy and relaxation. But not long ago, (just before the official quarantine), I picked up an inexpensive Casio keyboard at a flea market or something like that, thinking that eventually I'll learn to play it. But until now, it's been a nothing more than a major dust collector taking up living space. Then I stumbled upon this site and was hooked within minutes. I've run it through several times now, jotting down notes and drawing diagrams each time. I think It's well explained, consistent, and thankfully it's easy to follow. Of course no one knows how long this pandemic business will last. But with more tutorials like this, I'm sure to be tickling the ivory (as they used to say) before it's over.
Thank you, I am so happy to have found your channel. I am in my 60s, new to playing keyboard (or any musical instrument) and find I can easily follow your clear instructions - I just need to practise now and grow my brain!!
Just bought a keyboard 2 days ago and subscribed, was almost fate that this popped up in my video feed today! This is something I want to learn, thank you!
I haven't even finished the video and what I have already realized and accomplished was something I was missing in my piano college class I was taking and never really understood something until just now thank you! New sub!
Thank you! Your approach is very straightforward. I hope alot of people appreciate this particular video because every word you say here is informative and important for beginners that other channels miss or explain complexly.
Bill, I just wanted to post and say that it finally clicked. I've got a music background in percussion, and have always wanted to learn piano. So my midlife crisis is, well, learning the piano. I've tried a number of books and TH-cam videos and such (I'm a bit of an auto-didact when it comes to hobbies), and since I watched this video yesterday, I've advanced more just playing around with this chord progression than I have doing other stuff for months. I even called my wife and son over and played a few inversions for them, and it genuinely almost brought a tear to my eye. Thank you SO much for such a great video - you've truly opened up a whole new world to me.
No problem at all, Jeff - keep plugging away, remember there'll be plateaux in your progress (sometimes long ones: everyone gets them), and give me a shout if you ever have any questions. Good luck!
I just picked up a piano to learn on my own and this video was very helpful! Coming from guitar I actually find piano to be more intuitive despite the greater number of combinations. Thank you!
Best introduction to piano (comp) out there! Saved me hours of getting there myself, after only a few hours of practice I am so much more confident and able to improvise beautifully! Thank you!
Thank you for a great tutorial. It really helps to see you playing the chords as you're explaining them, as I don't always know which fingers are supposed to be playing which notes. For a beginner like me, I needed to pause very frequently so I could see exactly how you fingered the keys.
Im not a musician, but I like to help my 6 yr old son William to understand the chord. While, I watched a few youbutes, this is the one I like the most. From a non-musician point, I truly understand what this British guy talking about. He shows the easy and fundamental way for anybody who has no music knowledge could understand the beauty of the chords. It is marvelous and unbelievable. I will continue to follow this guy and see how far I can go to learn. Thank you so much, Bill !
Fabulous teacher. Makes a difference when you’re trying to learn from someone who you feel relaxed learning from and doesn’t get on your nerves. I kind of need some inspiration as to what I can learn play with these 4 chords. Thanks for the tutorials and hope you keep them up.
Thanks Joel! In terms of the stuff you can play with these chords, there's a handy list right here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_containing_the_I%E2%80%93V%E2%80%93vi%E2%80%93IV_progression
Thanks kindly for posting so many helpful lessons. Getting back to it after a break of almost 20 years. This back-to-basics lesson is perfect. Well explained and well paced. Cheers!
Fantastic video. I find your videos on youtube interesting and educational, but the thing that stands out from other piano teachers online are that you really inspire people to play around with ideas and get creative. I will definitely buy your book.
Yes Bill, this is exactly what I'm looking for for my 12 year old daughter. She can play four or five chords and loves to sing and play her favourite pop songs on the piano. If you are thinking of a new book then basic pop comping styles with audio examples (my daughter cannot read music but has learnt by listening) would be a great idea. Keep up the great work.
+Howlintim Thanks for the kind words! I've actually got something like that in mind for the next book, albeit I'd probably do what I've done in the past and use a combination of written music (it's useful for those who can use it) and audio/visual stuff. All the best to your daughter, and do encourage her to pick up some reading skills if she can - they come in pretty handy!
+Bill Hilton Yes, please, please do in depth book about comping and improvisation around chords as well as fill ins for inbetween singing lines and that kinda stuff, you are the best teacher indeed.
great site. I have learned up to grade 3 in music and can compose songs but not that easy until I saw your site .Thank you so much for making me realise how exciting I am going to find making many more songs with your skills. Thank you so much Doreen
a beginner here, I have to say, after going through sooo many sites and videos, I really came away with something here. Bill, you are amazingly both simple and thorough. I am glad I stumbled onto your site. I actually feel like I won't scare people away now. Much much thanks. I look forward to learning more from you.
Thanks very much indeed - really glad you find it useful. If, as you're looking through my stuff, you have any questions, just stick them in the comments. I always answer (eventually... sorry for the delay this time, been on holiday!)
Thank you for this easy to understand, informative video! I've been playing note by note for years and never learned how to do chord improvisation...will definitely check out more of your videos to get rolling on this skill.
Thank you so much, this is huge. Thank you also for not using the video as a vehicle to dazzle the viewer with your talents like many others. This is slow and simple for those of us who are approaching with no experience. I've already subscribed, and now feel like I have something I can grab onto.
Thanks Cody - that's really good to hear, as you've pretty much set out my whole approach to this kind of thing there. Glad it was useful, and shout if you want any guidance on other tutorials to watch, or if you have any questions.
Good video. Thanks for taking the time to explain some basics. Just about to take up the piano at 40 after playing rhythm guitar for 20 odd years so all tips and hints are welcome. 👍
Getting into digital music making without even knowing piano. Thought I'd look up some basic theory stuff, and found this. Only 5 minutes in and I'm already beaming at how good it all sounds when I put this stuff together in my music program. Can't wait to watch the rest, and seriously, thanks so much for such a helpful, well-paced video :)
I LOVE THIS! Thank you! It makes me sound very professional when I play the piano. Makes a big difference having 1 base note on left hand and a cluster on my right. Amazing sounds form simple techniques. It took me over 30 years to pick up playing the piano again and I am really grateful for this video. :-)
Ive bern in chorus for a few years and i moved to a new school that is a harder chorus than my last and started teaching me how to sight read music. I had always been tring to figure out how to get into the piano and have inspiration to play. After watching this video through 1 time and rewinding it and doing it slower and more distant, i had figured out the smaller notes of Dont Stop Believing. Thanks for the help, ill definatly be browsing your channel for more things
Dear Bill, I'm in my 30s and kind of a piano beginner. I already learned several instruments before (also with teacher and regular lessons etc.pp.), but with the help of your lessons, be they a refresher or actually containing new stuff, and combined with your book (I am from Germany but still ordered it in the UK because I wanted it so bad :D ), you're one of the best teachers I ever had. Thank you so much for your input and effort. Please continue making cool piano stuff videos for your viewers! Thanks again! You're great! :)
Thanks very much indeed for saying so - really glad to have helped! I think for adult learners the combination of teacher/self-teaching can actually be very effective, so I hope you make good progress. Let me know if you ever have any questions!
This is incredible! I finally played something that was beautiful on the piano! Thank you so much. I was able to play something that actually sounded good just by using some chords! 😊
Bill mate you really got it going on. Great tutoring skill here... making the penny drop and clarifying concepts at a refreshingly efficient rate for this beginner right here. Congratulations on your proficiency, and thank you for sharing! 👍
Just wanted to say thank you for this. I have been playing guitar for over 25 years, and recently decided to try synthesizers (but with pianos too) and this made sense to me and was pretty easy to carry over to. Came here to better understand chords and now I do.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! This is the first one I’ve watched and I will definitely be watching more. You’ve helped me understand music so much better than I ever have.
Such an amazing tutorial it makes so much sense and is easy to follow. It’s the first video for beginners that I feel has actually teaching me principles! Love it.
@@didiphy I understand! I just took my first lesson a week ago. I think the most difficult aspect of learning is the feeling of being overwhelmed, particularly if you are older! If you feel rushed, start the video over. If that doesn’t help, take a little break, and start over.
Thanks so much for this video, can't wait to get practising and delve further into your other videos. Really appreciate the time and effort you've put in here for those of us just starting out.
Thank you, this is incredibly helpful. I am a vocalist but a complete beginner on the piano. I appreciate the simple instructions. I am excited to be able to play these chords now! I will be subscribing!
Cheers for the Video! Apologies for butting in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you researched - Riddleagan Possessing Piano Remedy (probably on Google)? It is an awesome exclusive product for learning how to play the piano easily minus the headache. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my cooworker after many years got cool success with it.
This is a very good introductory video to practice with. I’m self taught on guitar and do not know music in a formal sense. Your explanation was very easy to apply to what I did know. This has been saved to my favorites and will be my practicing aid . Thanks for the lesson.
I LOVE IT! I really want to learn how to play free chords, and create beautiful songs with them, and this video has helped me so tremendously. I even learned that the term “free chords” could always be said as improvised chords 🥰. Also, I immediately fell in love with A minor lol. I’ll most definitely be purchasing this book!!!
Really helpful Bill, I’m a guitarist who has tinkered about on keys all my life but had no idea how to become a functional player and at the age of 60 have no patience to master music theory from the ground up. This is a perfect way to make great sound while slowly grasping bits of theory, enough for my purposes anyway. Thanks!
Glad it was useful for you Phylene! The thing about theory is that you really don't need to know much in order to play pretty well - but just a little goes a long way. I hope you make good progress!
Hi Bill, as a kid I started playing keyboard but never had any lessons, I was blessed with very intuitive hearing so I could play melodies easily but since I always played the standard Major and minor chords and no inversions it always sounded choppy. Up to the point that I thought, I will switch to guitar. I became a pretty apt guitar player. And a few months ago for a Web TV Show that I am a producer for we came up with the idea of making a few parodies. One of them was the Baywatch theme -- ironic baywatch started when I stopped playing keys. So I required a keyboard so I bought one and I knew that I could get close to what we wanted (these days with digital recording you can play single parts and stack them easy piecy). But I found that instinctively now I was looking for inversions. Probably because with guitar you also find the grips that require the least amount of movement. And when you learn the basic chords C, F, G you notice that in guitar the fingering stays pretty much the same except you change strings. I guess that logic suddenly applied into the keys -- sure here and they I am hunting for the right key but that is practice. I stopped playing keys because I didn't enjoy it because I had this lack of knowledge but luckily I didn;t gave up on music instead switch to an easier instrument like guitar. And now 25 years on it just came together again and I enjoy playing both now.
This is literally the first video I am watching from your channel, I am not an absolute beginner, but enjoyed the tutorial anyways. You earned a sub because I really like how passionately you teach. You gave me the feel of that loving teacher who gets really excited to have students to learn while making it fun for them to do so. I can only imagine the 1.4K dislikes are probably because you didn't pick a song and demo'ed the concept, but for me, awesome tut :)
Great intro Bill - big help - I've tried over the years to wrap my head or my hands around the piano key board - mainly for the purpose of writing lyrics - my brother's the musician - but that said - after watching your intro I feel i can manage it step by step at least to get a feel for keys and eventually the themes i'm hearing that will accompany the melody and the lyrics... I feel your chord book would be very important too... let me begin again the practice needed to feel more comfortable with the keys and the key board. It feels a bit overwhelming but i know i can finally do it! Personally, I grew up with my brother in the next bedroom practicing his scales every night on his Gibson Les Paul and his Fender Stratocaster, replicating the music of Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Hendricks, Eric Clapton and of course the Beatles - he would practice night after night and become the #1 Jazz guitarist in his Miami high-school for three years running. He eventually built a recording studio and has been working it for 35 years - Thought I'd share that with you, your tutorial felt welcoming and genuine as I watched along. I look forward to learning your techniques! Thank you for sharing...
You're welcome, Layne! Do give me a shout if you feel there's anything specific advice you'd feel would help as you make progress - it sometimes takes me a while to reply, but I always do eventually...!
Brilliant. This is how piano should be taught at the beginning. I tried to learn piano a few years ago. The classical teacher never taught me chords. Never showed how to play songs. Just simple Beethoven and stuff. I tried for ages but not being a child prodigy, like most people, I gave up.
I watched this video, learnt loads, a light bulb went on in my head and I've just spend the past 45 minutes, moving up and down the keyboard having loads of fun, thank you. Subscribed, liked and will consider purchasing your bargain priced book once I learn more.
I just love, love, LOVE how you teach and explain the beautiful world of Piano Playing, Bill Hilton! I particularly appreciate your words of encouragement to take on the "brain work" of going beyond the basics. The concentration of exploring and practicing on the piano truly does improve and grow our "brain sponge". (ha, , ha, ha! That's what I call my gray matter!). You are a delight to learn from. Thank you so much.
this was beyond great, beyond useful, beyond awesome ! that's the sort of tutorial i love. Straight to the point, condensed information and clear and clean. THAT, is some pretty good work sir. Subbed.
thank you, having access to a 49key keyboard, komplete 12 with its amazing "the Grandeur" piano, I realized I can finally learn how to play this amazing piece of instrument that the piano is. I might even pick us something bigger down the line.
Great stuff! I played the piano for 8 years, but I learned only to play with sheets and I haven't any skills regarding improvisation and chord knowledge. I'm considering to buy your book, I'll just watch some more videos to get an introduction :)
I've just started a day ago, so running through the c and d scales atm. I'm a guitarist of 30 years and this just made my brain "click" what an amazing video!! Thankyou so much! (now ordered your book on Amazon) :)
I liked your comment on growing new bits in the brain. That's the first time I've heard anyone mention that in a keyboard tutorial. I have an interest in neuroplasticity, I sort of play around on the keyboard with songs from memory by ear, as I don't get on with reading sheet music and never really tried to get my head around it. I never sat down and practiced like in this video as I'm a senior citizen of bad habits. I can string a song together with sort of cocktail harmonics My keyboard is a toytown kind of Casio (ctk 7000) but I've just got a bargain in the sales which is a Korg electric piano.. The Kronos is out of my price range but I know Korg is quality. I'm waiting for delivery and will be following your tutorials after the way you described the neurons. Thanks a lot.....
same here, I also excercise my toes and feet, fingers ..hoping to development more neural networks up there..I use my left hand , left feet more too..walk backwards etc etc
Wow you are amazing this lesson is really thorough and important, I am just at that level, and really helped me to understand how I was developing from there, I believe such a lesson is worth a lot of money
![Master 5 Hit Songs Today with Just 4 Piano Chords! [Easy Piano Chord Tutorial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/v7pRmUuV3UA/mqdefault.jpg)
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NO.
I learned more in 16 minutes than I had watching and reading hours of books.... clear instruction and well presented... thank you.. SUBSCRIBED!
+pesto12601 Thank you! I'm really glad to hear you've found it useful :)
pesto12601 I swear!!
I felt the same exact way lol
Books are theory, this is practice. Doing something is the best way to learn something.
I really want your books, problem is; I don't have Pay Pal 😭. Is there an address or PO Box where I can send a Check to ? REALLY enjoy your vids 👍👍. (Promise it won't bounce !) Thank you - JT
I'm a classically trained pianist, meaning I know how to play what is written in front of me but I have no clue how to improvise. I've been looking for helpful tutorials on learning how to play chords and your technique is really helpful and effective for me. Thanks so much!!
No problem Suzanne - glad to be of help!
Same here, i can play beethoven when I see the notes but i cannot play nothing else matters in a jam session. It was bugging me feeling like i dont really know how to play when im with friends. 😄
I'm the opposite; literally cannot play anything from a piece of paper (unless I wrote it) and usually can get pretty creative
This guy is the best piano teacher I have ever seen. Making things look so simple
Thanks for the kind words - glad you found it useful!
He made it simple anyway
You have one of the absolutely best speaking voices I have ever heard.
Thanks! My wife says I have a great face for radio...
I agree and he is teaching me a lot
His voice saved my life.
Hey Mr radio face, you saved my life
I bookmarked this to come back to and did so today. I'm 73, love music and would like to grow some more brain cells. I have an electric keyboard waiting in the basement gathering dust that wants to be woken up. Thought your video was clear and informative. I just want to have fun with music so will hit the keys as soon as the household wakes up. I do believe I heard in the video, just do it! In so many words.
Right on 👏👏👏
Thanks very much for the kind words, Linda - let me know how you get on! Also 73 makes you practically a teenager compared to some folks I have learning from my stuff: I regularly get emails from people well into their nineties...!
I'm 65, played piano years ago, so am also training to test the brain and memory..
Totally awesome Bill. As a 64 Y.O. picking up the piano again after an absence of 50 years, your simple approach has really helped this old bloke. Much better than sitting in Miss McGarry's cold studio on a Thursday night as a school boy learning classical piano.
+Tewbacka Glad it's useful! *My* boyhood piano lessons were on a Thursday night, too, at half past seven. It always used to be pretty difficult to squeeze in a week's practice between getting home from school and walking round to my lesson...
I Know 😂 what you saying....
@@MariaLopez-hc2nm me too. My piano teacher used to hit me on the hand with a ruler when I dae an error. I gave up as soon. as I could
@@tonyarnold9784me too I used to have my friend ding ding ditch her house cause I was so bored 😂
I've watched a lot of tutorials on youtube. Yours are the best.Probably because of the relaxed approach, and your quick tips, and your wonderful English accent.
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Good an example for me, it's easy to follow.Thanks.
I just started today but I dont get it would be easier for me if he showed the whole keyboard 😥
Used to watch these 4 years ago. You, sir, have acctually laid the foundation for my interest in improvised music. Ever since i understood the pentatonic scale as you explained it, it was like you suddenly unlocked hidden powers in me, because truth be told, i already had pretty decent technique, but i knew no theory. Theory is really powerful, it lets you do the best out of what you already know, in a way. You explain simply and to the point! Recommending you to a friend of mine now! You are truly amazing at teaching!
+raicho20 Thanks very much for taking the time to say so - it always makes my day when someone tells me my stuff has made a big difference to them. Stick at it!
+Bill Hilton could you please tell me what kind of piano your playing?
Joshua Anderson if you didn't figure it out yet it's a expensive one it's called nord stage
SO cool! Great feedback. LoveLOVELove
~X🎹X~
Nice video, like it. More like
I’m 66 just retired and picking up piano for the first time. I’m glad I’ve gone to your site first. You are very encouraging and given me lots of confidence to give it a go.
That's good to hear, Norman! Good luck with your learning, and give me a shout if you run into problems or have any questions!
Bill Hilton thanks. Keep up the good work
I took piano lessons 60 years ago. My playing was never more than fair. Now with this new chord method, I am starting to have FUN again. Thank you so much. I shall be watching this over and over again.
Thanks for the kind words, Katie - glad to hear this helps. You may be surprised how much underlying ability you still have, despite the six decade gap since lessons: things you learn as a child get burned deep, deep down into your brain circuitry, and even if they get very rusty they can act as a foundation for new learning years later. Good luck!
whose photo is it in your pfp?
Was gonna give up on chords but Bill inspired me. I love how he acknowledges the reality of it being difficult yet gives us an outlook on what we can achieve with this later on. Thanks!
No problem at all - glad it helped!
This is exactly what I was looking for. I've been playing piano for over a decade but only learned how to read and play classical music. Accompaniment and chords never came naturally to me. Great explanations. I look forward to learning more from your channel.
Thanks Akila - you're exactly the kind of pianist I had in mind when I first started the channel, so it's good to hear you're finding it useful!
I literally didn't understand how playing the piano worked until I watched this. Thank you so much! I'm a big picture learner, so it's so helpful to give these comprehensive explanations even though I can't do it, I like to understand what I'm laying the foundation for.
Thanks Julia - glad it was useful!
This tutorial is extremely useful. I'm a 73year old beginner and your enthusiasm is evident.
I've had weekly lessons for the past year.
I will purchase the book you've suggested.
Thankyou so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with others. I've subscribed.
You're very welcome, and thanks for buying the book and subbing! Do give me a shout if you have anything I can help with: I have a bit of a comment backlog at the moment (!) but I always try to respond!
Wow, you're a bright light in the darkness of learning this beautiful instrument. I am learning, only have 20 hours in so far but moving along well. I am a fair a guitar player and singer. I love this lesson as it gives me hope to be able to accompany our guitar friends and family and then move on to greater "comp". I'm heading downstairs to embed the chords into my brain.....slow and steady and really appreciate your help. Subscribed and anxious to take this journey with you. Kudos on a great video
Thanks Pam - really glad to be of help. Give me a shout if you ever have any questions!
I ended up playing Bob Marley's No woman, No cry as I was learning! This is awesome!
You are quite literally the best piano teacher ive found on youtube. Big ups man, and thank you so so much. Iam buying my first self owned piano this week and cannot wait anymore to start practicing and playing. I will buy your book just to support you and to say thank you for doing what you are doing.
Thanks very much indeed Arno - I really, really appreciate it! I hope you love your new piano and get many years of musical enjoyment from it!
just started learning again after 40 yrs !! really wanted to master chords to accompany singers and found your tututorial really clear and a good pace...exciting !
RE: Quarantine: This is a terrific tutorial for complete novices like me. I've been self-taught on guitar for the past five or six years and it quickly became my first line of self-therapy and relaxation. But not long ago, (just before the official quarantine), I picked up an inexpensive Casio keyboard at a flea market or something like that, thinking that eventually I'll learn to play it. But until now, it's been a nothing more than a major dust collector taking up living space. Then I stumbled upon this site and was hooked within minutes. I've run it through several times now, jotting down notes and drawing diagrams each time. I think It's well explained, consistent, and thankfully it's easy to follow. Of course no one knows how long this pandemic business will last. But with more tutorials like this, I'm sure to be tickling the ivory (as they used to say) before it's over.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Gene - I'm really glad to have helped! Keep pushing away at the practice, and let me know how you get on :)
Thank you, I am so happy to have found your channel. I am in my 60s, new to playing keyboard (or any musical instrument) and find I can easily follow your clear instructions - I just need to practise now and grow my brain!!
Glad to be of help, Susan - and good luck. You're practically a teenager compared to some of my viewers!
Just bought a keyboard 2 days ago and subscribed, was almost fate that this popped up in my video feed today! This is something I want to learn, thank you!
As someone coming from the guitar and just totally new to the piano: this is the best video ever! Thanks bill
You're really welcome - thanks for the kind words!
I haven't even finished the video and what I have already realized and accomplished was something I was missing in my piano college class I was taking and never really understood something until just now thank you! New sub!
Cool! Glad to hear it, and thanks for the sub!
Theory n
Omg😂 me too!
Thank you! Your approach is very straightforward. I hope alot of people appreciate this particular video because every word you say here is informative and important for beginners that other channels miss or explain complexly.
Bill, I just wanted to post and say that it finally clicked. I've got a music background in percussion, and have always wanted to learn piano. So my midlife crisis is, well, learning the piano. I've tried a number of books and TH-cam videos and such (I'm a bit of an auto-didact when it comes to hobbies), and since I watched this video yesterday, I've advanced more just playing around with this chord progression than I have doing other stuff for months. I even called my wife and son over and played a few inversions for them, and it genuinely almost brought a tear to my eye. Thank you SO much for such a great video - you've truly opened up a whole new world to me.
No problem at all, Jeff - keep plugging away, remember there'll be plateaux in your progress (sometimes long ones: everyone gets them), and give me a shout if you ever have any questions. Good luck!
I just picked up a piano to learn on my own and this video was very helpful! Coming from guitar I actually find piano to be more intuitive despite the greater number of combinations. Thank you!
Best introduction to piano (comp) out there! Saved me hours of getting there myself, after only a few hours of practice I am so much more confident and able to improvise beautifully! Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Eve - glad it was useful :)
Thank you for a great tutorial. It really helps to see you playing the chords as you're explaining them, as I don't always know which fingers are supposed to be playing which notes. For a beginner like me, I needed to pause very frequently so I could see exactly how you fingered the keys.
Im not a musician, but I like to help my 6 yr old son William to understand the chord. While, I watched a few youbutes, this is the one I like the most. From a non-musician point, I truly understand what this British guy talking about. He shows the easy and fundamental way for anybody who has no music knowledge could understand the beauty of the chords. It is marvelous and unbelievable. I will continue to follow this guy and see how far I can go to learn. Thank you so much, Bill !
Fabulous teacher. Makes a difference when you’re trying to learn from someone who you feel relaxed learning from and doesn’t get on your nerves.
I kind of need some inspiration as to what I can learn play with these 4 chords. Thanks for the tutorials and hope you keep them up.
Thanks Joel! In terms of the stuff you can play with these chords, there's a handy list right here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_containing_the_I%E2%80%93V%E2%80%93vi%E2%80%93IV_progression
Thanks kindly for posting so many helpful lessons. Getting back to it after a break of almost 20 years. This back-to-basics lesson is perfect. Well explained and well paced. Cheers!
No problem Sean - glad to hear it's been of use!
Fantastic video. I find your videos on youtube interesting and educational, but the thing that stands out from other piano teachers online are that you really inspire people to play around with ideas and get creative. I will definitely buy your book.
Thanks Nick. Creativity is the main point: much better than learning parrot-fashion!
Yes Bill, this is exactly what I'm looking for for my 12 year old daughter. She can play four or five chords and loves to sing and play her favourite pop songs on the piano. If you are thinking of a new book then basic pop comping styles with audio examples (my daughter cannot read music but has learnt by listening) would be a great idea. Keep up the great work.
+Howlintim Thanks for the kind words! I've actually got something like that in mind for the next book, albeit I'd probably do what I've done in the past and use a combination of written music (it's useful for those who can use it) and audio/visual stuff. All the best to your daughter, and do encourage her to pick up some reading skills if she can - they come in pretty handy!
+Bill Hilton Yes, please, please do in depth book about comping and improvisation around chords as well as fill ins for inbetween singing lines and that kinda stuff, you are the best teacher indeed.
Howlintim tt
great site. I have learned up to grade 3 in music and can compose songs but not that easy until I saw your site .Thank you so much for making me realise how exciting I am going to find making many more songs with your skills. Thank you so much Doreen
a beginner here, I have to say, after going through sooo many sites and videos, I really came away with something here.
Bill, you are amazingly both simple and thorough. I am glad I stumbled onto your site. I actually feel like I won't scare
people away now. Much much thanks. I look forward to learning more from you.
Thanks very much indeed - really glad you find it useful. If, as you're looking through my stuff, you have any questions, just stick them in the comments. I always answer (eventually... sorry for the delay this time, been on holiday!)
Brilliant tutorial! As a beginner, I really like the way you deliver the lesson in an easy to understand style. Thanks mate
Brilliantly simple. I managed to achieve a breakthrough in improvisation with short instruction. God bless your work, Bill!
Bill's back and all is right again with the world! Thanks!
Thank you for this easy to understand, informative video! I've been playing note by note for years and never learned how to do chord improvisation...will definitely check out more of your videos to get rolling on this skill.
Thanks SaraLynn - glad to be of help!
Thank you so much, this is huge. Thank you also for not using the video as a vehicle to dazzle the viewer with your talents like many others. This is slow and simple for those of us who are approaching with no experience. I've already subscribed, and now feel like I have something I can grab onto.
Thanks Cody - that's really good to hear, as you've pretty much set out my whole approach to this kind of thing there. Glad it was useful, and shout if you want any guidance on other tutorials to watch, or if you have any questions.
Good video. Thanks for taking the time to explain some basics. Just about to take up the piano at 40 after playing rhythm guitar for 20 odd years so all tips and hints are welcome. 👍
No problem David - and good luck!
Thanks Mr. Bill, you are simply phenomenal and a wonderful teacher. I'm giving it my all.
Thanks Ken - I'm glad you find my stuff useful. Keep plugging away ;)
Amazing tutorial, this has to be one of the best video tutorial out there. Cheers
+Random Guy Thanks! :)
This is by far the best video I've seen on explaining the basic role of chords in the rhythm and melody of the piano.
This is spectacular , cannot get any easier. Basic understanding is the key , thanks a million. Free
Getting into digital music making without even knowing piano. Thought I'd look up some basic theory stuff, and found this. Only 5 minutes in and I'm already beaming at how good it all sounds when I put this stuff together in my music program. Can't wait to watch the rest, and seriously, thanks so much for such a helpful, well-paced video :)
Glad you're finding it useful, Kian! If you have any questions, or you'd like recommendations for specific tutorials, just give me a shout :)
I LOVE THIS! Thank you! It makes me sound very professional when I play the piano. Makes a big difference having 1 base note on left hand and a cluster on my right. Amazing sounds form simple techniques. It took me over 30 years to pick up playing the piano again and I am really grateful for this video. :-)
Glad you liked it Edrina - thanks very much indeed!
Just what I needed. Thanks! It was very helpful and I am very early in the game of learning to play the piano.
Ive bern in chorus for a few years and i moved to a new school that is a harder chorus than my last and started teaching me how to sight read music. I had always been tring to figure out how to get into the piano and have inspiration to play. After watching this video through 1 time and rewinding it and doing it slower and more distant, i had figured out the smaller notes of Dont Stop Believing. Thanks for the help, ill definatly be browsing your channel for more things
Thanks Johnathan - glad it was useful!
Dear Bill, I'm in my 30s and kind of a piano beginner. I already learned several instruments before (also with teacher and regular lessons etc.pp.), but with the help of your lessons, be they a refresher or actually containing new stuff, and combined with your book (I am from Germany but still ordered it in the UK because I wanted it so bad :D ), you're one of the best teachers I ever had. Thank you so much for your input and effort. Please continue making cool piano stuff videos for your viewers! Thanks again! You're great! :)
Thanks very much indeed for saying so - really glad to have helped! I think for adult learners the combination of teacher/self-teaching can actually be very effective, so I hope you make good progress. Let me know if you ever have any questions!
Excellent. Thank you. I appreciate your tutorial because I'm new to the piano but well-versed in music theory so this was extremely helpful.
This is incredible! I finally played something that was beautiful on the piano! Thank you so much. I was able to play something that actually sounded good just by using some chords! 😊
Bill mate you really got it going on. Great tutoring skill here... making the penny drop and clarifying concepts at a refreshingly efficient rate for this beginner right here. Congratulations on your proficiency, and thank you for sharing! 👍
No problem David - thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you found it useful!
Just wanted to say thank you for this. I have been playing guitar for over 25 years, and recently decided to try synthesizers (but with pianos too) and this made sense to me and was pretty easy to carry over to. Came here to better understand chords and now I do.
You're welcome, Frank - really glad you liked it!
The most clear explanation for a beginner!. Really an eye opener!
Thank you so much Guru!
Yo fam, time to grow new brain bits. Let’s do this.
I need a brass aspin after listening to this incoherent shit...
This was super helpful. Also, I love the phrase, "fall under your fingers." I think I'll find a lot of uses for it, actually!
Awesome teacher. You keep me inspired to keep trying and not give up.
Glad you hear it Michael - keep plugging away!
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! This is the first one I’ve watched and I will definitely be watching more. You’ve helped me understand music so much better than I ever have.
Bill you’re a teacher’s teacher. You’re the only instructor one needs. Thank you.
That's very kind - thanks very much to you, too!
Such an amazing tutorial it makes so much sense and is easy to follow. It’s the first video for beginners that I feel has actually teaching me principles! Love it.
Too fast!!!
@@didiphy
I understand!
I just took my first lesson a week ago. I think the most difficult aspect of learning is the feeling of being overwhelmed, particularly if you are older!
If you feel rushed, start the video over. If that doesn’t help, take a little break, and start over.
Wow this is on point . Thanks for this tutorial so easy to understand . Also you play beautifully ❤️
Glad you liked it!
Thanks so much for this video, can't wait to get practising and delve further into your other videos. Really appreciate the time and effort you've put in here for those of us just starting out.
Each time I re-watch your material, I find something that went past me first time. A lot packed into 15 minutes.
Cheers Marti!
Thank you, this is incredibly helpful. I am a vocalist but a complete beginner on the piano. I appreciate the simple instructions. I am excited to be able to play these chords now! I will be subscribing!
Thanks Leslie - glad to have helped!
Thanks Leslie - glad to have helped!
I love your teaching style! So straightforward with the necessary base information. Thank you! New sub.
Thanks Lisa!
I feel like i'm getting taught piano by the guy from Art Attack
Cheers for the Video! Apologies for butting in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you researched - Riddleagan Possessing Piano Remedy (probably on Google)? It is an awesome exclusive product for learning how to play the piano easily minus the headache. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my cooworker after many years got cool success with it.
I haven't got a piano :(
😆😆😆😆😆
Jonas Hamill 😂😂😂
U
Thanks for this video! Been trying to understand chords and this explanation was very clear. Subscribed.
Thanks very much for the kind words and the sub - give me a shout if you ever have any questions about any of this stuff!
This is a very good introductory video to practice with. I’m self taught on guitar and do not know music in a formal sense. Your explanation was very easy to apply to what I did know. This has been saved to my favorites and will be my practicing aid . Thanks for the lesson.
No problem - glad to be of help!
His teaching is very good and breaks many taboos. You offer a line of reasoning to make everything clearer. Thank you.
Thanks Vladimir!
Exactly what i was looking for to get started... It seems much easier explained this way :). Thank you !
Learnt a lot on 16 mins. Thank you for keeping this simple
No problem - you're welcome!
I LOVE IT! I really want to learn how to play free chords, and create beautiful songs with them, and this video has helped me so tremendously. I even learned that the term “free chords” could always be said as improvised chords 🥰. Also, I immediately fell in love with A minor lol. I’ll most definitely be purchasing this book!!!
Really helpful Bill, I’m a guitarist who has tinkered about on keys all my life but had no idea how to become a functional player and at the age of 60 have no patience to master music theory from the ground up. This is a perfect way to make great sound while slowly grasping bits of theory, enough for my purposes anyway. Thanks!
Glad it was useful for you Phylene! The thing about theory is that you really don't need to know much in order to play pretty well - but just a little goes a long way. I hope you make good progress!
I really enjoyed your tutorial. You have such a calm voice and your accent is delightful. I look forward to more of your videos.
Thanks very much indeed, Kate - really glad you liked it!
Hi Bill, as a kid I started playing keyboard but never had any lessons, I was blessed with very intuitive hearing so I could play melodies easily but since I always played the standard Major and minor chords and no inversions it always sounded choppy. Up to the point that I thought, I will switch to guitar. I became a pretty apt guitar player. And a few months ago for a Web TV Show that I am a producer for we came up with the idea of making a few parodies.
One of them was the Baywatch theme -- ironic baywatch started when I stopped playing keys.
So I required a keyboard so I bought one and I knew that I could get close to what we wanted (these days with digital recording you can play single parts and stack them easy piecy). But I found that instinctively now I was looking for inversions. Probably because with guitar you also find the grips that require the least amount of movement. And when you learn the basic chords C, F, G you notice that in guitar the fingering stays pretty much the same except you change strings. I guess that logic suddenly applied into the keys -- sure here and they I am hunting for the right key but that is practice.
I stopped playing keys because I didn't enjoy it because I had this lack of knowledge but luckily I didn;t gave up on music instead switch to an easier instrument like guitar. And now 25 years on it just came together again and I enjoy playing both now.
This is literally the first video I am watching from your channel, I am not an absolute beginner, but enjoyed the tutorial anyways. You earned a sub because I really like how passionately you teach. You gave me the feel of that loving teacher who gets really excited to have students to learn while making it fun for them to do so. I can only imagine the 1.4K dislikes are probably because you didn't pick a song and demo'ed the concept, but for me, awesome tut :)
Thanks very much indeed, Anubhav - glad you like it, it means a lot!
Great intro Bill - big help - I've tried over the years to wrap my head or my hands around the piano key board - mainly for the purpose of writing lyrics - my brother's the musician - but that said - after watching your intro I feel i can manage it step by step at least to get a feel for keys and eventually the themes i'm hearing that will accompany the melody and the lyrics... I feel your chord book would be very important too... let me begin again the practice needed to feel more comfortable with the keys and the key board. It feels a bit overwhelming but i know i can finally do it! Personally, I grew up with my brother in the next bedroom practicing his scales every night on his Gibson Les Paul and his Fender Stratocaster, replicating the music of Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Hendricks, Eric Clapton and of course the Beatles - he would practice night after night and become the #1 Jazz guitarist in his Miami high-school for three years running. He eventually built a recording studio and has been working it for 35 years - Thought I'd share that with you, your tutorial felt welcoming and genuine as I watched along. I look forward to learning your techniques! Thank you for sharing...
You're welcome, Layne! Do give me a shout if you feel there's anything specific advice you'd feel would help as you make progress - it sometimes takes me a while to reply, but I always do eventually...!
I cannot put into words how much this lesson has helped. Thank you. Subscriber for life.
Brilliant. This is how piano should be taught at the beginning. I tried to learn piano a few years ago. The classical teacher never taught me chords. Never showed how to play songs. Just simple Beethoven and stuff. I tried for ages but not being a child prodigy, like most people, I gave up.
I watched this video, learnt loads, a light bulb went on in my head and I've just spend the past 45 minutes, moving up and down the keyboard having loads of fun, thank you. Subscribed, liked and will consider purchasing your bargain priced book once I learn more.
Thanks David - really glad it's useful for you!
I’m really understanding this. I’m definitely buying a keyboard now 😃. Great tutorial.
Thanks Will!
You are an amazing teacher. Will explore more of your tutorials. Thanks a lot.
I just love, love, LOVE how you teach and explain the beautiful world of Piano Playing, Bill Hilton! I particularly appreciate your words of encouragement to take on the "brain work" of going beyond the basics. The concentration of exploring and practicing on the piano truly does improve and grow our "brain sponge". (ha, , ha, ha! That's what I call my gray matter!). You are a delight to learn from. Thank you so much.
Thanks Sylvia - really glad to have helped!
Great video, thanks Bill. Best overall explanation I've seen yet. Keep up the great work.
i enjoyed your video, i just started learning the piano. thanks
this was beyond great, beyond useful, beyond awesome ! that's the sort of tutorial i love. Straight to the point, condensed information and clear and clean. THAT, is some pretty good work sir. Subbed.
+Wndrr Sir, you are too kind!
+Wndrr I agree, this was amazingly awesome, haha, I subbed too....happy practicing! ^_^
If you want the best piano lessons online then visit this website here: hootpiano.blogspot.com
Zack Johnson no links or you'll be banned... oh wait we're not on twitch
Wndrr sss
thank you, having access to a 49key keyboard, komplete 12 with its amazing "the Grandeur" piano, I realized I can finally learn how to play this amazing piece of instrument that the piano is. I might even pick us something bigger down the line.
WOW! THIS IS THE BEST TUTORIAL ON TH-cam! I HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENED! THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! THANK YOU WONDERFUL HUMAN!!!
Thanks Alexis!
What a great lesson for beginners. Thank you!
Great stuff! I played the piano for 8 years, but I learned only to play with sheets and I haven't any skills regarding improvisation and chord knowledge. I'm considering to buy your book, I'll just watch some more videos to get an introduction :)
I come from playing trumpet, I'm still getting the hang of more than one note at a time but I'm getting it. Great video!
Thank you - glad you liked it!
Thank you, this is my first piano tutorial ever and it was a great place to start from. Love the way you teach
Thanks very much - good of you to say so!
I've just started a day ago, so running through the c and d scales atm. I'm a guitarist of 30 years and this just made my brain "click" what an amazing video!! Thankyou so much! (now ordered your book on Amazon) :)
Thanks Glenn - glad it helped, and thanks for buying the book!
I had lessons for years as a child and my teacher never explained this to me. It's a revelation!
I liked your comment on growing new bits in the brain.
That's the first time I've heard anyone mention that in a keyboard tutorial.
I have an interest in neuroplasticity, I sort of play around on the keyboard with songs from memory by ear, as I don't get on with reading sheet music and never really tried to get my head around it.
I never sat down and practiced like in this video as I'm a senior citizen of bad habits. I can string a song together with sort of cocktail harmonics
My keyboard is a toytown kind of Casio (ctk 7000) but I've just got a bargain in the sales which is a Korg electric piano..
The Kronos is out of my price range but I know Korg is quality. I'm waiting for delivery and will be following your tutorials after the way you described the neurons.
Thanks a lot.....
Super FunFUNFun!
~X🎹X~
plasticity is a interesting subject indeed :)
same here, I also excercise my toes and feet, fingers ..hoping to development more neural networks up there..I use my left hand , left feet more too..walk backwards etc etc
This is an awesome channel and tutorial, thanks Bill Clinton!
LYFE Clinton?
LYFE ?
Hmm, I thought his name was Bill Clinton.
hahahahhaha
Five minutes in and already, you have answered so many questions! Thank you for this great exercise/lesson.
You're welcome, Evdoxia - let me know if you need pointing in the direction of any other useful tutorials!
Wow you are amazing this lesson is really thorough and important, I am just at that level, and really helped me to understand how I was developing from there, I believe such a lesson is worth a lot of money