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irocku / June 23, 2020

This week’s lesson is “Shine a Light” by The Rolling Stones.

"Shine a Light" Piano Lesson “Shine a Light” is a beautiful piano piece and one of our most popular piano lessons. It is a rock song that incorporates many gospel elements. “Shine a Light” uses a I-vi-V-IV gospel progression in the key of C. Brush up on your blues scales and learn some gospel techniques including 1) moving diatonically down the scale harmonizing each chord tone with the I chord and each passing tone with the minor ii, 2) or using the IV chord for passing tones, and 3) moving chromatically in thirds. In signature style, the Stones throw 16th-note syncopations into the groove of the song so spend some time listening to the recording to get the feel. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling …

irocku / April 6, 2020

Featured Piano Lesson – “China Grove”

Why do some songs reach the pinnacle of rock greatness and soar into the stratosphere to become classics? In the case of this week’s lesson, “China Grove” by the Doobie Brothers, it is the opening riff, an explosion of energy that hooks the listener from the first bar to the last. "China Grove" Piano Lesson “China Grove” is a four-to-the-floor rocker. Get your left hand working smoothly so you can cut loose and improvise using the blues scale with your right hand. Try focusing on dynamics; accent different notes to accentuate the rhythm. You’ll get to lay down some blues licks and work on eighth-note anticipated grooves. This lesson is all about playing classic rock piano. Click here for the lesson. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck …

irocku / February 25, 2020

Rare Nicky Hopkins video laying down tracks for “Sympathy for the Devil”

IROCKU’s featured lesson is “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones. Here is an incredibly rare clip of Nicky Hopkins recording the original piano track on “Sympathy for the Devil”. "Sympathy for the Devil" Piano Lesson Nicky Hopkins is hands-down one of the most influential pianists in rock history. He was the Thomas Edison of rock piano generating endless innovations in rock piano style and technique. The rhythm on “Sympathy for the Devil” is one of his most recognized and the original recording was remarkably captured in this 1968 video. This video provides a one minute window into rock history. Loop it until the rhythm is firmly ingrained in your mind. Hopkin’s rhythm is solid, strong, and driving yet his wrists are relaxed and bounce lightly on the keys while each finger …

irocku / December 20, 2019

This week’s piano lesson is “Joy Boogie” by Chuck Leavell.

Well it’s that time of year again and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with an arrangement from the master himself, Chuck Leavell. “Joy Boogie” is a joyful and explosive boogie-woogie version of the traditional Christmas classic, “Joy to the World”. "Joy Boogie" Piano Lesson There are few people who can match Chuck’s musical chops but we’ve done our best to turn this joyous piano celebration into a lesson that can be enjoyed by everyone; beginners through our most advanced piano students. "Joy Boogie" is packed with many of Chuck's signature techniques. It’s got a killer walking eighth-note boogie-woogie bass line (influenced by Ian Stewart), moving through a scale diatonically while harmonizing each chord tone with the I chord and each passing tone with the IV or V, …

irocku / May 8, 2019

Rock Piano Lesson Poll Results

The results of our ‘Rock Piano Lesson Poll’ are in. At the top of the list are “Moondance” by Van Morrison and “Layla” by Eric Clapton. Fortunately, Jef Labes who played on the original recording of “Moondance” and Chuck Leavell who played on the Clapton 'Unplugged’ version of “Layla” are both associated with irocku.com so we’ll be able to go directly to the sources for these lessons. Jef and Chuck are also both available for private online lessons! Click here if you are interested in taking private lessons with either Jef or Chuck. Here are the poll results: Poll Rank Song 1. "Moondance" - Van Morrison 2. "Layla" - Derek and the Dominos 3. "Stormy Monday Blues" - The Allman Brothers 4. "Wild Horses" - The Rolling …

irocku / April 22, 2019

Rock Piano Lesson Poll

At IROCKU, our mission is to be the comprehensive resource for rock piano. We are looking to add to our current catalog of piano lessons and have a wish list of over 300 potential songs to choose from. We’ve sorted through the list and are looking for a selection of songs that provides a mix of lessons that covers a variety of rock genres, piano fundamentals and techniques, and are a blast to play. Here is a short list of songs we are considering. Please let us know which are your favorites on the list: Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …

irocku / January 2, 2018

Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – Baby Please Don’t Go

12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson Here's a treat for the New Year. A magical session in 1981 where the Stones stumbled (literally!!!) into a Muddy Waters gig at the Checkerboard Lounge in Chicago and joined Muddy on stage. It takes awhile to lure Mick on stage but once there both bluesmen shine in the glory or the moment. Baby Please Don't Go" is a standard 12 bar blues. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …

irocku / December 21, 2017

Rock Essentials Series – Acoustic Blues Guitar Lessons

Here's a Christmas treat from Chuck's close friend and fellow musician, Jimmy Dillon. Jimmy has produced a 6-part acoustic blues guitar series exclusively for IROCKU. The Acoustic Blues Rock Essentials series covers the fundamentals needed to master the 12-Bar Blues on acoustic guitar. This series begins with an overview of the 12- bar blues chord progression and teaches how to count and feel a blues shuffle rhythm. The series then moves on to finger style techniques and blues licks and then ties it together with the connective tissue between the chords. The last two lessons of the series cover blues turn-arounds and improvising over the blues. Acoustic Blues Guitar Series Jimmy Dillon is one of rock’s top session and stage musicians. Jimmy has played with Bob Dylan, …

irocku / November 21, 2017

Black Friday Special – Online Piano Lessons

Want to learn rock piano? Here's a 35% discount off an Annual Membership to our online rock piano lessons. Use coupon code "BlackFriday2017". Start Rockin! Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …

irocku / November 10, 2017

Ray Manzarek – Tells the story behind Doors song “Riders on the Storm”

Here’s a great video for Doors fans, particularly if you are a Ray Manzarek fan. Ray tells the story behind the writing of “Riders on the Storm”. With it’s haunting bass line and rain effects, “Riders on the Storm” was inspired by a cowboy song, “Riders in the Sky” written by Stan Jones in 1948. “Riders in the Sky” was covered by a variety of musicians, ranging from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash to Deborah Harry, but it was Vaughn Monroe’s version that initially caught Door’s guitarist Robby Krieger’s ear. It is clear that in, “Riders on the Storm” Jim Morrison tried to mimic Vaughn Monroe’s haunting singing style. Very cool how The Doors took a cowboy song, moved it to E minor, spun in some jazz and turned it into one of their signature masterpieces. Ray Manzarek is currently ranked …

irocku / October 26, 2017

Fats Domino – dead at 89 – Rest in Peace

Fats Domino was one of the true architects of rock ’n’ roll and an absolute pioneer of rock piano. His swung triplet rhythms have become cornerstones for rock piano players. Paul McCartney’s “Lady Madonna” was written to pay homage to Fats Domino’s signature style in his song “Blue Monday”. Elvis Presley considered Fats Domino to be “the real king of rock’n’roll”. Borne Antoine Domino Jr. the son of a violinist, Domino taught himself ragtime, blues, and boogie boogie. He went on to sell 65 million singles, and recorded 23 gold records. Fats Domino is currently ranked 20th in our poll of The Greatest Rock Piano Players. Who is your favorite keyboard player? Favorite song? The following Fats Domino songs are all ranking in our Top Keyboard Performances poll: Blueberry Hill Blue …

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