The Allman Brothers

rocknthe88s / August 10, 2020

This week’s piano lesson is “Midnight Rider” by Gregg Allman.

"Midnight Rider" Piano Lesson ”Midnight Rider” has a country-blues feel yet it doesn’t follow a standard blues progression and it doesn’t use a blues scale either. The intro and verse use a two-chord progression alternating between the root and it's suspended chord which is used a lot in Allman Brothers music. The solo uses both pentatonic and mixolydian scales which are often used by The Allman Brothers for jamming. The exercises and improv for this lesson have some killer sixteenth syncopations so take it slow. You’ll find the rhythm of this song hypnotizing and a joy to play on the piano. 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 …

irocku / August 13, 2019

WSJ Article: Chuck Leavell Remains the Calm Center of the Rolling Stones

Here's a great interview from the Wall Street Journal, Aug 9, 2019: One of the greatest pianists in rock ’n’ roll history divides his energy between music and farming "Chuck Leavell is the calm in the eye of the Rolling Stones’ crossfire hurricane. Throughout the band’s current 17-show “No Filter” tour of American stadiums, you’ll find the keyboardist center-stage, within eyeshot of every member of the 11-person group. He’s the guy they look toward to steady the ship if they feel a song wobbling or need a reminder or a cue. While the 76-year-old Mick Jagger rooster-struts across the giant stage, showing no signs of his recent heart surgery, Keith Richards and Ron Wood peel off the loud, raunchy guitar riffs that have defined the band’s music for 55 years, and Charlie Watts …

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, …

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 …

irocku / May 29, 2017

Chuck Leavell remembers Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman was not only a friend and brother, but he was a strong inspiration to me very early on in my career. I used to go see the Allman Joys at the Fort Brandon Armory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama when I was a young aspiring musician of 13 and 14 years old. He mesmerized me with his talent…that incredible voice, his understated yet strong stage presence. As he developed as an artist and songwriter, I continued to follow his career…and when the Allman Brothers Band was formed, I thought…”Now they have figured it out…” That first record was ground-breaking and a new style of music, Southern Rock, was born. Little did I think at the time that I would be so fortunate to eventually be a part of it. I was just a fan and admirer of what he, Duane and the rest of the band had done. Opening up for …

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The Allman Brothers