Rock Piano Lessons

irocku / December 31, 2018

“Living in a Dream” Piano Lesson – Sea Level

Our current featured lesson is “Living in a Dream” by Sea Level. Click below for the lesson and sheet music. "Living in a Dream" piano lesson Happy New Year from Chuck and the irocku Team. Let us know what you want us to work on for the New Year. We’re considering a new Gospel Rock Essentials series. And perhaps some more blues tunes, maybe “Stormy Monday” and “Statesboro Blues” or possibly The Rolling Stones’ ballad “Wild Horses”. Are there any particular songs, styles or techniques you’d like to tackle this year? Here’s a video of Sea Level live at the Capitol Theatre in 1977. This is the only live Sea Level video that we have been able to turn up. Here’s the setlist: • Tidal Wave • Rain In Spain • Shake A Leg • Hideaway • Scarborough Fair • Hot 'Lanta • …

irocku / December 18, 2018

“Joy to the World” – Boogie Piano Lesson

It’s time to rock the holidays!!! Chuck Leavell recorded his Christmas album “What’s in That Bag?” back in 1997 during breaks from the Rolling Stones ‘Bridges to Babylon’ tour. The album was released in 1998, the same year the Rolling Stones released their live album “No Security”. “What’s in the Bag” began as a Christmas card from Chuck to his friends and family. It was first recorded in 1996 at a small studio in Georgia using local musicians. Capricorn founder, Phil Walden received a copy of the ‘Christmas card’ and offered to bring it to the public. Chuck’s buddy Johnny Sandlin re-recorded the tracks a year later bringing in Bill Stewart and Rodger Hawkins on drums, David Hood on bass, Kelvin Holly on guitar, Scott Boyer on guitar and vocals. "Joy Boogie" piano lesson The album …

rocknthe88s / October 24, 2018

The Anatomy of a Bass Line – Piano Lesson: “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”

There aren’t a lot songs that have been covered by as many different artists representing such a variety of musical genres as “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”. It’s easy to lose sight that this song was originally recorded over 60 years ago, back in 1957, by the little known piano great, Huey ‘Piano’ Smith. Huey ‘Piano’ Smith was born in New Orleans, Lousiana and was influenced by both the boogie woogie stylists and the other great New Orleans’ piano players of his era; namely Professor Longhair and Fats Domino. Huey ‘Piano’ Smith’s version of “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” is a fusion of a boogie woogie bounce and a New Orleans syncopated melody line. It has become a New Orleans anthem and has made it to the list of Top Rock Piano Songs of all …

rocknthe88s / September 12, 2018

The Anatomy of a Piano Bassline: “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”

“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” has been covered by dozens of artists ranging from Bessie Smith to Janis Joplin. Each artist has created his/her own interpretation of this traditional blues song. Musically, it's not that complicated a song. The chord progression is a modified 8-bar blues progression, which admittedly can take some time to learn, but the rhythm is a basic slow blues shuffle. On the piano, though, the bassline can make all the difference. "Nobody Knows You When..." piano lesson For the irocku “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” Advanced Level 7 piano lesson we opted for a traditional stride bassline which is quite challenging to play. In this lesson, the left hand mimics the bass and drum lines on Eric Clapton’s version from the “Unplugged” …

rocknthe88s / August 30, 2018

Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – Piano Lesson and Sheet Music

Eric Clapton first recorded “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” in 1970 on the Derek and the Dominos debut album, ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’. With Clapton on lead guitar and Duane Allman filling in on slide guitar there wasn’t much space for Bobby Whitlock to cut loose on the keys. That all changed 22 years later when Clapton recorded an acoustic version of the song with Chuck Leavell on the piano. This week’s piano lesson combines some old style stride blues piano with right-hand rock and blues licks that read like an encyclopedia of modern rock piano. "Nobody Knows You..." piano lesson In 1992, Clapton recorded yet one more version of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” on his Grammy winning ‘Unplugged’ album. And in doing so, he called up another …

rocknthe88s / July 16, 2018

IROCKU Student, Jagger Clark, Wins Prestigious Eastman School of Music Award- Congratulations Jagger!!!

Congratulations to high school junior, Jagger Clark, for winning the Prestigious Eastman School of Music Award for his musical talents and contributions to his school. Chuck and the team at IROCKU couldn't be prouder of your achievements!!!! "What'd I Say" piano lesson Jagger's earliest introduction to the piano was through his IROCKU lessons. In fact, at one of our early recording sessions with Chuck, Jagger was asked to participate since he was our youngest student at the time. Under the guidance of IROCKU musical director, Cary Brown, Jagger has worked his way through the 7-level IROCKU curriculum and now routinely performs the IROCKU material in his gigs. Thank you Eastman School of Music for validating that the classical approach to learning piano is not the only path …

rocknthe88s / June 15, 2018

Debunking the misconception that Improvisation is running up and down scales.

In "Chuck Leavell's Stride Blues" Rock Essentials series we debunk the misconception that Improvisation is running up and down scales and we show how playing "shapes" is an easier way to improvise. "Stride Blues" piano lesson We've received lots of positive feedback on this approach which leads us to the following questions: What are the best methods and techniques for learning to improvise? For those of us with limited time to practice what is the most efficient way to learn? What are the biggest mistakes and myths among people learning jazz & blues piano? What are the biggest wastes of time? What are the biggest mistakes novices make when they are playing/practicing? Even at a professional level, what mistakes are most common? Reply below to let us know …

rocknthe88s / June 1, 2018

IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson-“Little Martha” by Duane Allman

This week's featured piano lesson is "Little Martha", the only Allman Brothers song written by legendary guitarist, Duane Allman. Here's a beautiful version of the IROCKU lesson performed by Holly Bowling. Holly is a concert pianist who performs jam band music as solo piano selections. She is known for her interpretive performances of Phish and The Grateful Dead songs so we are thrilled that she decided to take on our version of "Little Martha". "Little Martha" piano lesson The melody line of “Little Martha” is made of two-bar phrases played over a repeating 3-note cross rhythm. The first phrase lines up with the third note of the 3-note pattern, the second phrase lines up with the first note of the 3-note pattern, the third phrase lines up with the second note of the 3-note pattern, …

rocknthe88s / May 14, 2018

New IROCKU Essentials Series!!! – “Chuck Leavell’s Stride Blues”

"Chuck Leavell's Stride Blues" piano lesson This multi-part video series covers both right and left hand piano techniques that Chuck has used throughout his career. If you want to learn the fundamentals behind Chuck’s epic performances ranging from “Jessica” ( Allman Brothers) to “Honky Tonk Women” ( The Rolling Stones”) and everything in between, this series is the place to begin. The series covers left-hand stride and walking bass lines, and right-hand scales, chords and patterns based on blues, minor, major and pentatonic scales. All are fundamental elements of Chuck’s legendary style. The series begins with an overview of the 8- bar blues form used in the recording, “The Blues is All Wrong”. The first half of the series teaches left-hand stride techniques and introduces elements …

irocku / March 22, 2018

IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson- “Such a Night” by Dr. John

The featured irocku piano lesson takes you for a frolicking journey down the Mississippi River with a New Orleans legend, Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John. From his best selling 1973 album, Right Place, Wrong Time, “Such a Night” is a funky, light and bouncy song that showcases the musical heritage of the Delta. Dr. John’s piano playing is 150 years in the making, it is steeped in Southern culture, and when it accompanies his uniquely funky vocals, you have a fusion of soul, funk, blues and boogie that are all part of this great New Orleans sound that the Dr. has dedicated his life too. "Such A Night" piano lesson From the opening notes, “Such a Night” skips along at a moderate tempo, the melody is bright and airy, with funky breaks and pauses that are accented by the virtuosity of Dr. …

irocku / February 16, 2018

IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson- “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers

The irocku featured piano lesson is "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers. "Jessica" Piano Lesson If you check out the videos of "Jessica" live you'll see that during the solo Chuck comps using the A and D chords in his left hand. The irocku lesson uses a left hand baseline similar to what the bass is playing so the lesson is actually more difficult to play. If you want to simplify the solo, you can play chords in the left hand similar to how Chuck is playing it. Click here to check out the Jessica videos in the sidebar. In our ongoing survey of Top Rock piano Songs and Performances, “Jessica” is currently ranked number two after “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Given that so many of the irocku members are also Chuck’s fans we’re sure that there is some bias in our poll. But …

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Rock Piano Lessons