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02 Nov 09 - 09:28 PM (#2758390) Subject: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen I sometimes play piano in venues in a 'mood-enhancing atmospheric type manner' rather than as a concert performance. (Sort of background but people half-listening, I guess :-) It is enjoyable so far, as it is a real change from playing band gigs. I am trying to build up my repertoire to include tunes or instrumental versions of songs that people are likely to request. Any thoughts on what I should try to learn? So far I have tried to include some light classical, some popular songs as instrumentals, some of my own compositions and am just starting to include some of the most well known jazz standards. I read music OK but like use melody line and chords, more, purely because it is quicker for me to learn that way, so if anyone has some good ideas for sources of music, too, that would be really helpful. I don't want to become too 'highbrow' just to be able to play a good range and hopefully be able to play likely requests sometimes instead of having to apologise because I don't know tunes. All helpful comments gratefully received, thank you. Helen |
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02 Nov 09 - 09:33 PM (#2758392) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Matt_R Check out "Invisible" from Paul Weller's album from last year, "22 Dreams". It's a beautiful jazzy solo piano tune. You can listen to it Here . |
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02 Nov 09 - 09:43 PM (#2758393) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Ron Davies You probably already have a very good idea of standards people are likely to request. It's hard to know what to suggest to you without knowing more details of the actual job. One other factor would be the ages of your likely listeners. I would think--not knowing more details of the job--not even the country you are playing in-- that unless the age of listeners is below 30, Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin are likely to be requested. As you no doubt know, things like "Summertime", "I Got Rhythm" "Someone to Watch Over Me". Songs from musicals maybe--"Old Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" etc. Classics from movies: "As Time Goes By", "Moon River", etc. This is very much a stab-in-the-dark situation: we really need more details about the job. Who knows--maybe a lot of Beatles songs and other rock requests. Depends on the clientele and what management is looking for. |
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03 Nov 09 - 02:06 AM (#2758444) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rasener Most of this is too old for you Rockhen, but you never know :-) Look at some of the songs/tunes from Jerry Lee Lewis, Floyd Cramer, Winifred Atwell, Russ Conway, Fats Domino, Billy Joel, Elton John, Gilbert O'Sullivan Tunes/songs I put a spell o you House of the rising sun Youll never walk alone On The rebound Bad penny blues A whiter shade of pale Dont cry for me argentina Edelweiss How deep is your love Unchained melody Goodnight Saigon Theme from Love story You go to my head Telstar Everything I do, I do it for you Aint misbehavin Alfie Can you feel the love tonight Candle in the wind Dance of the sugar plum fairy Fields of gold Your song Saturday night is alright for fighting What'd I say Take five etc etc etc |
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03 Nov 09 - 05:09 AM (#2758506) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Thanks Matt, I have just checked that Paul W song and bought it from itunes because I really like it! I am not sure if it is well known but I hope to learn it for my own enjoyment, anyway. Ron, thanks for your reply. I am in Lincolnshire, UK. Yes, I do have a good idea of certain standards. I was just looking to build up my own repetoire in as many areas as possible. You are right regarding the audience as it would make a huge difference. I think I will be most likely to play to mixed audiences rather than exclusive clubs of narrower age ranges. I have played in a pub/restaurant whilst they are serving Sunday lunches...this meant it was a family type audience of all ages. One day I even got a request for Postman Pat, (for those not in UK, or of a different age to me, that is a children's programme which used to be on,) hmmm! I did it but was not really what I was expecting! :-) I am also playing in a coffee shop in a few weeks which will probably have a similarly wide age range of audience, perhaps the Postman Pat crowd will be the only ones missing! I am not intending to play very very regularly as my main love is writing my own music with my band, but I like to challenge myself and am always looking to widen what I can do. Perhaps, for a start, I need to think about jazzy songs in the vein of 'Misty'. I know very few of those by name but recognise them once I hear them. Names of those sort of songs and tunes would be really helpful to me. I am not an experienced player in the piano bar type environment. Although I do know those songs you suggested, all your suggestions were helpful because I will check I have those learnt well enough to play. Thanks Villan! Will enjoy playing through your list...where did you get it from? Was it from the top of your head or somewhere else? Thanks all. I think no matter how many I learn I will always enjoy hearing new suggestions! |
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03 Nov 09 - 05:23 AM (#2758515) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rasener Some from my head, but did refer to musicroom that jogged my memory of those songs, which I know very well, which I then thought might be suitable. Here is the link I used http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011377/details.html You may find that link very useful. |
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03 Nov 09 - 06:05 AM (#2758536) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Yes it is useful. Thanks, Villan! :-) |
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03 Nov 09 - 06:10 AM (#2758540) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Marje "Happy Birthday" is a standard one for requests! :-) Marje |
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03 Nov 09 - 08:05 AM (#2758588) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen My first reply seems to have disappeared, Marje but thanks for that! Yes I have that one down but ta for suggesting it. Sometimes the most obvious ones are easy to overlook. I guess some anniversary and other similar ones are worth having ready in case someone asks, too |
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03 Nov 09 - 03:39 PM (#2758884) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Tootler Given the approaching season, including a few carols probably wouldn't come amiss, certainly during December. |
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03 Nov 09 - 04:38 PM (#2758918) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: VirginiaTam Whatever you do, don't learn Piano Man by Billy Joel. My bro who is a piano man in a hotel restaurant, refuses to take it as a request any more. That is how often it is asked for. If you don't know it, you won't get suckered into playing over and over again. Learn some unusual versions of birthday and anniversary songs. Learn some kids songs. My bro has a few stock Sesame Street and Disney up his sleeve, for when the patrons bring in kids. |
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03 Nov 09 - 07:09 PM (#2759016) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Thanks for all the ideas, folks. Am enjoying hearing them all, ta! |
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03 Nov 09 - 11:46 PM (#2759132) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Skivee When playing in Newark, NJ, "Strangers In the Night" in 5/4 |
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04 Nov 09 - 12:13 AM (#2759136) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: M.Ted I used to play a lot of jobs that required the society club date/Jazz standards. This was the core of tunes that every working musician was expected to know. It originally consisted of basically show tunes, mostly played in the society beat, or fox trot tempo, and was augmented with Latin stuff. The body of tunes numbered between 1000 and 1500, depending on who was counting, with a core of essentials that is about a third of that. Every one over a certain age knows most of them(and a lot of younger people, too), even though they may not be able to name them. The point is that they were familiar. There are thousands of other popular tunes that people know--I've got a book somewhere with the hundred best selling US/UK records from each of the last fifty years, and another that covers the fifty years before that, but only a few of them have managed to achieve any sort of lasting place in the world at large-- At any rate, here are lead sheets with basic chords for about 400 of the most important tunes Ralph Patt's Vanilla Book. Learn as many as you can-- |
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04 Nov 09 - 12:31 AM (#2759140) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: katlaughing There are some standards from Fiddler on the roof and also Mary Poppins which some might like to hear. I was going to suggest some of the same things Ron did. Here are a few I remember my mom and dad playing: Sentimental Journey Tennessee Waltz Missouri Waltz Waltzing Matilda I'll take you home again, Kathleen (they did that for me as that is my name:-) When its springtime in the Rockies and scads more I cannot remember Blue moon is one I played in a quartet as well as Moon River I'll look at my set list and post a few more, tomorrow. |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:42 AM (#2759938) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Thanks, folks. It is interesting reading and giving me loads of ideas. Skivee, couldn't help it and have been attempting "Strangers In the Night" in 5/4 :-) Sounds different, anyway! I really like 5/4 timing. M.Ted, thank you for the link. I have had a look but will look again. The task of learning loads of those is a big one! It is a very useful resource though. Are the melody lines included anywhere? I couldn't find them but will look again when my internet is working better as it was slow this morning. If not, that makes it harder if you don't know a particular song. I think I recognise a lot of songs but don't always know the names. It is a great resource if I hear a tune and want to find the chords, though. Ta very much! Katlaughing, thank you re your suggestions. I have a few Disney ones like the Mary Poppins ones, already and Fiddler on the Roof is great because I can play some of those type of tunes on the accordion as well as the piano. As this type of piano is a sideline, I know I won't be able to learn enough to do it as a regular thing, as you really have to work hard learning enough for that, but I would be chuffed to get a few more popular numbers learnt. Thank you all, this is great! |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:45 AM (#2759939) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rasener Well if you are playing tonight, you could do "Great Balls Of Fire" |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:57 AM (#2759950) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Already do that one, Villan! :-) |
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05 Nov 09 - 05:22 AM (#2759962) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rasener Rockhen rocking it out with Great Balls Of Fire. :-) Do you play it the same way as Jerry Lee Lewis? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bB5xL577r4&NR=1&feature=fvwp |
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05 Nov 09 - 06:46 AM (#2760002) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: M.Ted Oops--no melodies! I Forgot that. a lot of the melodies are here(with even more tunes)Jazz Fake Book and it's downloadable--I should have probably given this one to you first, but Patt's list is a little more manageble. She also has downloadable versions of several versions of"The Real Book" which is a streamlined and neatened up thing that has become a standard reference for jazz players and wannabe jazz players. |
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05 Nov 09 - 01:59 PM (#2760270) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Hey Villan, I can tell you haven't heard Helian Keys, lately! I have to admit I don't play it quite the same! M.Ted, thanks for the link, I will have a look:-) I have just bought myself a copy of " The Real Book" and it has a lot of useful tunes. I managed to get the spiral-bound pocket version so it is really handy as it fits on the music stand better. Only just discovered it but it is really worth having I think. |
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05 Nov 09 - 02:51 PM (#2760301) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Bettynh Dave McKenna is a jazz pianist you might want to look up. He was a consummate jazz bar pianist, and would play long sets that usually revolved around a single word (Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes, Stella by Starlight, Stardust, Would You Like to Swing on a Star, etc.) He played in bars, so people would be talking. But there was a trivia aspect, too, and some of the folks would actually begin to listen. It also served to cut down on requests. If someone asked "Play Misty for me," he'd get a half-hour of music about wet weather, with the requested song in there somewhere. It took him a lifetime to do it easily, of course. Just a thought for you about crowd control. |
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05 Nov 09 - 03:14 PM (#2760314) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: jennyr Things that immediately spring to mind are popular light jazz / swing / rat pack songs like 'That's Amore', 'Something Stupid', 'Sunny Side of the Street', 'Beyond the Sea'... Also if they're suited to the venue and the audience, wartime songs - 'Roll out the Barrel', 'The Siegfried Line', 'Goodbye-ee', etc - make a good medley if you know how (which I don't!) |
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05 Nov 09 - 03:30 PM (#2760328) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: GUEST,ian gill 'Take the 'A' train' by Duke Ellington, 'Summertime' and 'I've Got Rhythm' always go down well and you can avoid getting bored by improvising around them. 'Strangers in the Night' in 5/4 ??? Here's a very old joke; How do you play 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries' in 5/4 time ? |
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05 Nov 09 - 03:42 PM (#2760338) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Stringsinger You can't go wrong with Johnny Mercer and his collaborations. Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Johnny Mandel, Rodgers (Hammerstein and Hart), Duke Ellington (Billy Strayhorn), Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmicheal (are the old standbys) Some Beatles. (Not all, please) "Imagine" always works well. On the Mercer special on the Movie channel they played a lovely version of "Dream". |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:24 PM (#2760368) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: The Fooles Troupe As a guide, I would look at what titles appear in various collections, such as the '101 tunes for buskers' series which focuses on various genres, or some of the big collected books, and also the various fakebooks. |
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07 Nov 09 - 07:24 PM (#2761801) Subject: RE: Pianist's Top Requested Tunes From: Rockhen Thanks, folks, I wish I could learn ALL of the suggestions! Really enjoying reading all the ideas and trying a few. |