As musicians and music lovers we spend our lifetimes listening to a wide variety of songs across countless genres, always listening for that next great song. You usually know you’ve found it when you hear the opening bars of the song and this week’s lesson does just that. “Ruby Tuesday” by the The Rolling Stones is one of the iconic songs in Rock and Roll history.
Released in January of 1967 as the B-Side to the single, “Let’s Spend the Night Together”, it also appeared on the album, “Between the Buttons”, and again on the singles compilation album, “Flowers” . Rolling Stone Magazine ranked “Ruby Tuesday” number 303 on the top 500 songs of all-time, notoriety that is hard to argue with. This is truly one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded and forty-five years after hearing it for the first time it still conjures up images of a free spirit, in love with life, and unshackled by the constraints or rules of her time. Written by Keith Richards and featuring Jack Nitzsche on piano and Brian Jones playing the recorder, the song was inspired by a seventeen year-old model named Linda Keith who Richards dated in the mid 60’s. Richards claims in his book, “Life”, that she was “the one that first broke my heart.” The melody has a melancholy to it that speaks to loss and a heavy heart, yet, at the same time we have to let her go because lyrically the song reveals in clear terms a powerful spirit that cannot be tamed. The song also reveals a shift in the band’s sound as they begin to move away from their American blues roots to create the signature sound that would become synonymous with the The Rolling Stones.
For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved this enchanting melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser.
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Published by ABKCO Music, Inc.
All Rights Reserved Used by Permission
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.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. For “Ruby Tuesday” we’ve moved the melody to the left hand and the rhythm to the right hand so even though the song might sound relatively easy to play, it’s going to be a real brain teaser. When improvising with your left hand, keep it simple!
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Very cool. Are you still playing? (2013 – 2021!)
Jagger, you’re unreal. Natural feel and rhythm.
You inspire me to practice more. Many Thanks!!
Hi : Your lessons are great. I’m 62 and have been playing piano since I was 8, but have a lot to learn. Your lessons, groove charts improv and everything are great and help an incredible amount!….
Thanks,
Lorne, Halifax, N.S. Canada
When you personally hear yourself play measure 22 with the C7sus4/Bb trust me it will Rock your World..Great job Jake and Collin… tasty and well done!
Here’s my level 5 of ‘Ruby Tuesday’.
Man, grownups are having a difficult playing the melody with their left hand. You make it look so easy. Keep rockin!