I’m pretty accomplished on the piano, reading music, but could never ‘fill in’ when improvising so thank you so much for the time taken to show us this pattern. I’ve subscribed.
Thank you for sharing these concepts. Going to a chord early is called pushing the chord. In using numbers to describe the single note order, it seems like using chord tone numbers rather the the order from right to left(?) would make better from a technical aspect.
I can play bennie n the jets Your song n someonesaved My life tonight....only went 2 Piano school 1 yr learned the rest from u tube n now learning jazz from u guys. Thx...playing 8 1/2 yrs
This quick tip was pure gold! The fingering is simple and versatile. It's the kind of idea that can spawn tons of new ideas just by experimenting with the pattern.
Can’t wait to try this. I’m teaching self again to play from view only as an acoonpaniast i’ll take all the formulas. I really feel like im learning from scratch, thank god i know the basics of piano since playing as a kid. Starting with remastering chords out of sight out of mind and inversions
Elton will be my final kind of i learned alot phase. However this gives me an idea how i will be able to think about learning really cool ways to accompany
Wow, can't wait to try this. Yesterday for the first time one of the songs I have been practising came naturally. It was the most wonderful feeling and helped me to realise that practising is worth it. The song was I was only joking by Rod Stewart. Today i"m gonna be practising this very valuable lesson. Jonny I can only say a billion thank you's.You take me to God my brother.
I'm certain you've checked billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions
Great lesson! Jonny you’ve really been on a roll lately. You’ve put together so many great, practical, and useful lessons. I’ve studied with many piano teachers and also joined some online sites, but you are among the best of teachers and your site is top notch. There’s so much information covering many piano styles presented in an easy to understand manner. For someone interested in pop, jazz, or blues piano I don’t think there’s any reason to look any further. Your site has it all. I really appreciate your hard work, encouragement, and sincerity.
I agree! I am an advanced beginner in piano and wanted to learn how to do solos and improvise. I have joined 2 other online piano lessons and Jonny, I am learning so much from you! you are the best! I intend to keep up my subscriptions with you yearly
Nobody on earth can play like Elton (but that doesn’t stop millions of us from trying). Not only does he play better than anyone, but he can write some of the most classic songs. The entire package.
Elton learned a lot from Brian Wilson's chord inversions and the way the bass didn't follow the chords in a conventional way. As a guitarist I loved teaching myself the piano because just for example playing the Am chord but with the C bass note it totally changes it ..
Elton would never play an Am with the C in the bass, as a pianist that’s just C6. Whereas an F major with the 5th in the bass is still an F and would be a very Brian Wilson way of doing it
If i may,...there is another "Elton John Pattern", that is used in F, consisting of: -righ hand doing F-(Fsus4-F). -left hand: 3 fingers F C F8-(F D F8-F C F8)
This is great ! By the way, I call those "closed triads". For instance C-E-G-C. To differentiate them from the 3-note kind. If there's an official term for them, I've never heard it. I would practice them in their inversions for every key. Was helpful for Chopin. But, jeez, never thought it would have an application in pop music - so cool :-)
I hope I’m not repeating a question, but how do the numbers correspondence to the notes. For example C E G = Root ( or 1) 3rd and 5th. I don’t understand why C is now 2 , G is 3 , E is 4, ect. How do you come about these numbers for each tone? Thanx.
Thanks Johnny...The left hand anticipation of the chord is critical to improving the rhythmic feel/flow of the right hand pattern, and by using the fifth of the chord outlined in the left hand, there is also strong movement/resolution to the anticipated chords root.
It think Elton John, like all good pianists, puts a lot of variety in his playing, so you may hear a bar with this pattern (or a similar arpeggio pattern), then the next bar will hang on the chord maybe. Lots of chords start as a sus2 and move to the 3rd. And LOTS of inversions / slash chords, especially with the 3rd on the bass. That's my two cents for Elton John's style. This pattern is a great starting point. From there you can add the variety.
Exactly. Applying this rule is a stepping stone: if you don't move on, all your songs will sound like "Your Song" by EJ, (his most naive hit) except more formulaic still.
Hi great video! Can you please do a cover on St. Thomas? Its a very simple tune but its so hard for it to sound interesting on solo piano and improvise,since the changes are so simple
If you could do a lot more of these piano "grooves" I would be a very active subscriber! Piano is not my first instrument, so I am always looking for resources to expand my playing outside of learning specific songs. It makes all of my other arrangements better to just have these patterns under the fingers
Thanks Jonny. At first I thought this pattern would be hard but it fell under my fingers on the second session. It's even better with the anticipated lead-in bass note on some bars which you demonstrate so effortlessly.
That is a great accompaniment technique. How would you change the left hand pattern if you were playing with a bass player? Or would you just have the bass player play the root and fifth in unison with the left hand.
Para cuando ofrecerás todo tu material en español? Sería fabuloso. Yo con tus vídeos de youtube ralentizo la velocidad y me voy apañando pero se me quedan un montón de cosas en el tintero. Gracias en cualquier caso. Haces que parezca fácil lo que para mi es difícil.
Ok, this approach is missing a few additional Elton tricks. 1. The arpeggios rarely play over any vocal lines. They typically fill the space between. 2. The left hand doesn’t always use the root. It also employs the 2nd and 3rd inversions. 3. On the tonic chord he often rocks from the tonic to the IV/I and back.
Very cool but I must say it's confusing you counting from right to left 1,2,3 ,4. It's taking mw longer to learn it because I'm flipping the chord in my head.
Excuse me, Maestro, but i'm stupid...When You plays the exercises and count °One, Two, Three"... what is numbers referred to? they-re not the degrees of the chords...they-re not the classic number referred to fingers (pinky 5 etc...)...What they are? I don-t get it...
Hey Johnny Just joined PWJ and SO EXCITED!!!! Was trying to locate this lesson and its related download in the membership area but can't locate it. Any advice?
Rhona Campton Welcome Rhona! You find find Quick Tups under the Library, or by searching in the search bar on the top left. Here is a direct link to it: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/elton-johniffy-any-pop-accompaniment/
i'm new on the piano, can anyone help please. When i play the two harmonic chords, because my fingers aren't wide enough to stay in place my thumb leaves the keyboard altogether is this ok? It's actually about 2 inches away. Anyone got any thoughts? I'm worried that i might be developing a bad habit and i can see it affecting my speed later/maybe - or is it a case where we have to stretch our fingers and keep them on the keys ready at all times?
What would you say that the time measure is for this pattern? Is this for a 3/4 beat or a 4/4? I'm trying to think of some actual songs that this pattern would work for. Any examples? Thanks!
The numbering simply refers to the top through bottom notes. Regardless of the chord, the top note is 1, the next note down is 2, then 3, and the bottom note is 4.
Piano With Jonny Thank you very much for replying. Is this standard way to "spell" a pattern in jazz or standard as to how harmonic voices are described? Just wondering where I can find more info on this pedagogy if you will. I love your videos. I’mthisclose to becoming a member. Thanks bunches.
Danielle Celeste This is a common way of describing arpeggiate patterns on a chord. Thinking of it this way allows you to apply the pattern to other chords. It might be helpful for you to think of it like a choir. The top voice, soprano is called voice 1. Alto, the next voice is called voice 2, and so on.
Hello Johnny, I would like to try monthly course at $39.95 on your website for one month but I wanted to know if I enter my card details will the amount be debited automatically every month? Please reply. Thanks. PS You look like Nick Vujicic
About the numbers: Jonny explains there are 4 voices. He is talking about *4 part harmony in a choir* where there are 4 separate parts. The highest women's voice is the *Soprano which he is calling #1.* The lower women's voice is the *Alto which he is calling #2.* The men's voices are lower in pitch than the women's, *Tenor is #3.* The lowest is *Bass #4.* The numbers have nothing to do with fingers or scale degrees.
Thank you, but I play piano, different genres etc and you said start off on voice 3, but yet you start off on g for the second chord? I think you rushed that part to be honest it didn't make much sense to me I'm sorry!
Thanks. You don’t really explain how on chord C you start on the G (5th note of the scale) but then on G you start on a G, the Am you start on an A, and then the F you start on an A. It is a bit confusing to understand the theory behind this with your numbered voicings. Sorry, I normally love your tutorials Johnny.
I know he is using inversions for some of the chords, which is why the F starts on an A. But the top-down voicing of the chords doesn’t come from standard music theory so he lost me there. I suspect this is really meant for people who are trying to comp from fake books or chord charts.
00:47 1-5-6-4 chord progression
01:16 Elton John approach
05:21 Step 1: Learn block chords
07:35 Step 2: apply the "Elton" pattern
09:21 Step 3: add root-5th-root in LH
10:48 Play with backing track
11:18 Conclusion
I’m pretty accomplished on the piano, reading music, but could never ‘fill in’ when improvising so thank you so much for the time taken to show us this pattern. I’ve subscribed.
Thank you for sharing these concepts. Going to a chord early is called pushing the chord. In using numbers to describe the single note order, it seems like using chord tone numbers rather the the order from right to left(?) would make better from a technical aspect.
I can play bennie n the jets
Your song n someonesaved
My life tonight....only went 2
Piano school 1 yr learned the rest from u tube n now learning jazz from u guys. Thx...playing 8 1/2 yrs
Jonny's one of the best on UA-cam for piano tutorials, no doubt. I love how practical his videos are, and his enjoyment is fun to see.
This quick tip was pure gold! The fingering is simple and versatile. It's the kind of idea that can spawn tons of new ideas just by experimenting with the pattern.
You talk like a know-it-all when it comes to jazz because you do know it all. You are the best instructor. I learn a lot. Thanks!👍👍👍
Can’t wait to try this. I’m teaching self again to play from view only as an acoonpaniast i’ll take all the formulas. I really feel like im learning from scratch, thank god i know the basics of piano since playing as a kid. Starting with remastering chords out of sight out of mind and inversions
Elton will be my final kind of i learned alot phase. However this gives me an idea how i will be able to think about learning really cool ways to accompany
That's great!
Wow, can't wait to try this. Yesterday for the first time one of the songs I have been practising came naturally. It was the most wonderful feeling and helped me to realise that practising is worth it. The song was I was only joking by Rod Stewart. Today i"m gonna be practising this very valuable lesson. Jonny I can only say a billion thank you's.You take me to God my brother.
Very simple pattern that truly does change the mundane to amazing! thank you! Best, Bart
Great , Jonny... you're best instructor out there, I know, I've checked them all. 1st rate
Agreed!
Definately signing up once my new keyboard arrives.
I'm certain you've checked billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions and billions
Thank you for showing us this Elton John accompaniment. ! Easy if you really practice it a few times..
Great lesson! Jonny you’ve really been on a roll lately. You’ve put together so many great, practical, and useful lessons. I’ve studied with many piano teachers and also joined some online sites, but you are among the best of teachers and your site is top notch. There’s so much information covering many piano styles presented in an easy to understand manner. For someone interested in pop, jazz, or blues piano I don’t think there’s any reason to look any further. Your site has it all. I really appreciate your hard work, encouragement, and sincerity.
jhn1987 thank you! ❤️
I agree! I am an advanced beginner in piano and wanted to learn how to do solos and improvise. I have joined 2 other online piano lessons and Jonny, I am learning so much from you! you are the best! I intend to keep up my subscriptions with you yearly
I really appreciate your help in the way you teach these techniques I really like tiny dancer
Jonny is the best piano teacher in the world. (👍🏼)
This video is extremely helpful to me, I’v been looking for clear teaching like this. Thank you for sharing.
I think this might be the best pop-piano lesson on the web!
This tutorial is absolutely amazing. Brilliant insight, thank you so much
you're the best piano teacher on youtube sir. THANK YOU for your videos
Brilliant video- thank you! I love the ‘elton’ sound.
I hope that I can do more than just subscribing, liking and sharing your video. What a awesome content!
I've just find you and I'm following your tutorials. I can only say THANK YOU!!! You're really helping me!!!!
Thank you! Another thing to keep in mind is accenting the right notes
Jonny, you are gold.
Great tip, Jonny! Always wanted to be able to play that way. Thanks so much for posting! Appreciate all of your videos!
Thank you Jonny you are the best instructor !!!
Salem it is idées a great tutto piano many thanks
Thanks for sharing your awesome tips in chord playing. Stay safe.
Jonny knows Piano. Much appreciated....Checking your site......Wow!
Nobody on earth can play like Elton (but that doesn’t stop millions of us from trying). Not only does he play better than anyone, but he can write some of the most classic songs. The entire package.
Great accompaniment !!! And great exercise !!! Thanks Sir
From now on I’m going to call him Elton Jonny-fi ;-)
Great video !!
Wow! Thank you SO much!
You gained a new subscriber Johnny
Elton learned a lot from Brian Wilson's chord inversions and the way the bass didn't follow the chords in a conventional way.
As a guitarist I loved teaching myself the piano because just for example playing the Am chord but with the C bass note it totally changes it ..
Elton would never play an Am with the C in the bass, as a pianist that’s just C6.
Whereas an F major with the 5th in the bass is still an F and would be a very Brian Wilson way of doing it
You're my hero!
Thanks just what I was looking for
you are just so cool and kind and smart, annoying maybe, but in a quirky way that is appealing....; And your enthusiasm is star
Thank you so much. Its very2 helpful. Best teacher ever! ♥️
Excellent!
If i may,...there is another "Elton John Pattern", that is used in F, consisting of:
-righ hand doing F-(Fsus4-F).
-left hand: 3 fingers F C F8-(F D F8-F C F8)
THANKS
great video. Thanks you for sharing
EJ seldom used root chords, his left hand octaves often had 3rds or 5ths ‘Someone Saved my Life Tonight’ being a case in point.
That’s one of the thing that truly separates him. It’s an outlier when Elton sticks to root chords through an entire song.
Thank u very much❤❤❤
This is great ! By the way, I call those "closed triads". For instance C-E-G-C. To differentiate them from the 3-note kind. If there's an official term for them, I've never heard it. I would practice them in their inversions for every key. Was helpful for Chopin. But, jeez, never thought it would have an application in pop music - so cool :-)
It always amuses me when someone explains something one way and then plays it another, much better way, a la the left hand! But great tutorial.
Thank you!
Wonderful ❤
Great great video thanks so.much
I hope I’m not repeating a question, but how do the numbers correspondence to the notes. For example C E G = Root ( or 1) 3rd and 5th. I don’t understand why C is now 2 , G is 3 , E is 4, ect. How do you come about these numbers for each tone? Thanx.
Voices in the right hand are labeled top to bottom here top is 1 bottom is 4
Agreed! Isn’t 1 the root?
Soprano = 1, Alto = 2, Tenor = 3, Bass = 4
Yeah that numbering was confusing. It does make sense though to keep the same pattern across the inversions.
If you haven't figured it out yet the numbers correspond to the notes of the chord as they change ie. G is 5 of c, 2 of F, 7 of Am etc.
Thanks Johnny...The left hand anticipation of the chord is critical to improving the rhythmic feel/flow of the right hand pattern, and by using the fifth of the chord outlined in the left hand, there is also strong movement/resolution to the anticipated chords root.
It think Elton John, like all good pianists, puts a lot of variety in his playing, so you may hear a bar with this pattern (or a similar arpeggio pattern), then the next bar will hang on the chord maybe. Lots of chords start as a sus2 and move to the 3rd. And LOTS of inversions / slash chords, especially with the 3rd on the bass. That's my two cents for Elton John's style. This pattern is a great starting point. From there you can add the variety.
Exactly. Applying this rule is a stepping stone: if you don't move on, all your songs will sound like "Your Song" by EJ, (his most naive hit) except more formulaic still.
More Like This Please! ! !
I don’t play piano but I have an old keyboard and I’ll try this out :)
Hi great video! Can you please do a cover on St. Thomas? Its a very simple tune but its so hard for it to sound interesting on solo piano and improvise,since the changes are so simple
Many thanks too you!
Elton Jonny has entered the chat
If you could do a lot more of these piano "grooves" I would be a very active subscriber! Piano is not my first instrument, so I am always looking for resources to expand my playing outside of learning specific songs. It makes all of my other arrangements better to just have these patterns under the fingers
And yes, I will check out your accompaniment class!
im a guitar player!! instant sub!!!
Thanks Jonny. At first I thought this pattern would be hard but it fell under my fingers on the second session. It's even better with the
anticipated lead-in bass note on some bars which you demonstrate so effortlessly.
I struggled with your numbering for a while and then finally figured it out. Is there some reason you're counting voices from right to left?
It is choral notation. The soprano is voice #1, the alto #2, etc.
Thanks, there aren't many that cant explains Elton's style! You nailed it, thanks again...
That is a great accompaniment technique. How would you change the left hand pattern if you were playing with a bass player? Or would you just have the bass player play the root and fifth in unison with the left hand.
Para cuando ofrecerás todo tu material en español? Sería fabuloso. Yo con tus vídeos de youtube ralentizo la velocidad y me voy apañando pero se me quedan un montón de cosas en el tintero.
Gracias en cualquier caso. Haces que parezca fácil lo que para mi es difícil.
Nice lesson! Any tips on adding the 7th?
If you spread the chord out you did it differently for c and g! We're u doing an inversion perhaps?
Do you have a course where you teach Tori Amos style accompaniment? Cause I would looooove that...
Ok, this approach is missing a few additional Elton tricks. 1. The arpeggios rarely play over any vocal lines. They typically fill the space between. 2. The left hand doesn’t always use the root. It also employs the 2nd and 3rd inversions. 3. On the tonic chord he often rocks from the tonic to the IV/I and back.
Mind me asking what piano you're using... sounds so good! Nice lesson you're very good!
By voicing are you referring to inersions?
I believe that when you played the e minor pattern around 8:20, you did not play what was actually written. Which is preferable?
Yes, he played a 3rd up!
Very cool but I must say it's confusing you counting from right to left 1,2,3 ,4. It's taking mw longer to learn it because I'm flipping the chord in my head.
I think the same I do not get why he calls them like that
Love it jonny sir,
Plz give me link of pop accompaniment course link
I think this guy was in a Lifetime movie. Playing a church musician that knocks up the preachers daughter! LOL!!
I didn't understand the number you assign to the voices in the chords...
1:56 he's assigning them numbers starting from the right.
@@crazyRyoga ok.ok thanks
Soprano is 1, alto 2, tenor 3, bass 4.
Excuse me, Maestro, but i'm stupid...When You plays the exercises and count °One, Two, Three"... what is numbers referred to? they-re not the degrees of the chords...they-re not the classic number referred to fingers (pinky 5 etc...)...What they are? I don-t get it...
I'm with you, I have no idea why he numbered them the way he did. If anyone could shed some light on that it'd be appreciated!
I was also confused. I went back and found the method at 1.56. Voices counting backwards? Not notes of the scale etc.
Peter Gravy Well done for working this out and sharing it with everyone else who didn’t understand this. Many thanks.
You are not stupid. I’ve played classical forever but couldn’t fathom this out either. You are not alone. Peter Gravy - below - had the answer.
Jonny I've been watching some of your videos and I really enjoyed your lessons. Do you do online piano lessons?
Bring more patterns
Hey Johnny
Just joined PWJ and SO EXCITED!!!! Was trying to locate this lesson and its related download in the membership area but can't locate it. Any advice?
Rhona Campton Welcome Rhona! You find find Quick Tups under the Library, or by searching in the search bar on the top left. Here is a direct link to it: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/elton-johniffy-any-pop-accompaniment/
@@PianoWithJonny YOU ROCK!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY the best instructor by FAR on you tube. I am deeply madly in love!
Rhona Campton thank you!
🔥
When is the course with 48 accompaniments gonna be out?
i'm new on the piano, can anyone help please. When i play the two harmonic chords, because my fingers aren't wide enough to stay in place my thumb leaves the keyboard altogether is this ok? It's actually about 2 inches away. Anyone got any thoughts? I'm worried that i might be developing a bad habit and i can see it affecting my speed later/maybe - or is it a case where we have to stretch our fingers and keep them on the keys ready at all times?
Can you teach the way that enri herbert played piano
6.25 B half diminished
Do one for Billy Joel
What would you say that the time measure is for this pattern? Is this for a 3/4 beat or a 4/4? I'm trying to think of some actual songs that this pattern would work for. Any examples? Thanks!
4/4
Why are the voices so numbered, please? They are not referring to the number of the scale or the chord, right?
So confused by the voices reference...please illuminate...:-\
The numbering simply refers to the top through bottom notes. Regardless of the chord, the top note is 1, the next note down is 2, then 3, and the bottom note is 4.
Piano With Jonny Thank you very much for replying. Is this standard way to "spell" a pattern in jazz or standard as to how harmonic voices are described? Just wondering where I can find more info on this pedagogy if you will. I love your videos. I’mthisclose to becoming a member. Thanks bunches.
Danielle Celeste This is a common way of describing arpeggiate patterns on a chord. Thinking of it this way allows you to apply the pattern to other chords. It might be helpful for you to think of it like a choir. The top voice, soprano is called voice 1. Alto, the next voice is called voice 2, and so on.
Piano With Jonny very good. Thank you and thank you
Thanks. Nice piano sound. What are you using to create this sound?
That’s a new word for me ,”eltonjohnify”has a ring to it, who is Elton John?ha ha .
Now can you Billy Joelify?
Hello Johnny, I would like to try monthly course at $39.95 on your website for one month but I wanted to know if I enter my card details will the amount be debited automatically every month? Please reply. Thanks.
PS You look like Nick Vujicic
You are so fast and impatient
About the numbers:
Jonny explains there are 4 voices. He is talking about *4 part harmony in a choir* where there are 4 separate parts.
The highest women's voice is the *Soprano which he is calling #1.*
The lower women's voice is the *Alto which he is calling #2.*
The men's voices are lower in pitch than the women's,
*Tenor is #3.*
The lowest is *Bass #4.*
The numbers have nothing to do with fingers or scale degrees.
Thank you for writing this!
1:16 you literally just played Can You Feel the Love Tonight in the key of C 😂
Thank you, but I play piano, different genres etc and you said start off on voice 3, but yet you start off on g for the second chord? I think you rushed that part to be honest it didn't make much sense to me I'm sorry!
Later on plz work on ear training how you figure out if a song goes to the fourth or fifth or to other diatonic intervals within major scale !
Thanks. You don’t really explain how on chord C you start on the G (5th note of the scale) but then on G you start on a G, the Am you start on an A, and then the F you start on an A. It is a bit confusing to understand the theory behind this with your numbered voicings. Sorry, I normally love your tutorials Johnny.
I know he is using inversions for some of the chords, which is why the F starts on an A. But the top-down voicing of the chords doesn’t come from standard music theory so he lost me there. I suspect this is really meant for people who are trying to comp from fake books or chord charts.
👍🏼
augment