I need help with this song!

Questions on learning to play the piano, and piano music.

Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano

Post Reply
pianochick89
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Feb 2011, 14:01

I need help with this song!

Post by pianochick89 »

I just found this song on Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtwPQH0NKpE and I really want to play it on my piano. I can't seem to find the chords for this song.. A tutorial would be perfect, but I understand if that's too much work ;-). Thanks in advance :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtwPQH0NKpE
User avatar
MarkGoodwinPianos
Senior Poster
Senior Poster
Posts: 644
Joined: 04 Nov 2006, 05:28

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by MarkGoodwinPianos »

Have you tried PianoGen?

That's a joke Bill, sorry haha Image
Yamaha Pianos for sale (usually 50+ in stock)
email markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com with any Yamaha, Kawai, Bechstein or Steinway questions :)
markymark
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1434
Joined: 04 Apr 2005, 18:50
Location: UK

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by markymark »

D – Dsus4

D2
City lights are pointing at me
G2
_____Close my eyes to see what you see
D2_________________________G2
_____So clear it took my breath away
D2
I crossed all seven different oceans
G2
_____To gather every perfect moment
D______________________________G
_____The brightest stars are falling down
Em_____D/F#___G
_____Oh love it’s easy
Em_D/F#___G
You should believe me

D
Tonight the land of the lost belongs to me
G
Running with my eyes shut somewhere in between
D
This town, this town,
G
Miles away but still around
D
Feeling the sun beneath all the gravity
G
Finding my way to you till you find me
D
This town, this town
G_____________________D
Never gone, back around
Last edited by markymark on 27 Feb 2011, 19:03, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Colin Nicholson
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1704
Joined: 04 Jul 2010, 19:15
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
Contact:

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by Colin Nicholson »

This sounds like its in D major? (I quickly nipped to the piano whilst humming the key-note!)

Not doubting the original key, but it might be easier to try the chords in this key aswell - so try shifting notes up 1 semitone (if you not used to loads of flats!)
Db major becoming D major
Ebm becoming Em...... etc.

Sounds like most of this tune is based on chord of D and G.

D flat major is a nice key though if you can handle 5 flats.

CN
AA Piano Tuners UK

Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
markymark
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1434
Joined: 04 Apr 2005, 18:50
Location: UK

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by markymark »

Colin Nicholson wrote:This sounds like its in D major? (I quickly nipped to the piano whilst humming the key-note!)
No you're right! My synth was sitting at a semi-tone above what it was supposed to be and kept the setting despite being turned off and on. I've only had it a few months but I have no idea how long it has been sitting on that setting! :?

Thankfully I haven't been composing, recording or performing with it yet!

Anyway, I edited my last post to show changes to D major.
pianochick89
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Feb 2011, 14:01

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by pianochick89 »

Thanks! So helpful, but still I have a hard time playing it :(

Is there any way you could be so nice to upload a tutorial or something on Youtube? (I know, a lot to ask), but it would help me a lot since I wanna play that song next week for an audition...
User avatar
Colin Nicholson
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1704
Joined: 04 Jul 2010, 19:15
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
Contact:

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by Colin Nicholson »

Not really possible or practical to do a video -sorry (dont know you well enough!!), and it would take hours & hours ....ooh, and HOURS - the chords that markymark have provided are right for this song. I guess that you cannot read or understand chord notation chords? or read music? Hummpphh! never mind.

If its just a matter of 'copying' someone's hands playing the chords.... book a couple of pianon lessons with a local teacher.

I could (if I have the time) write the chords out for you & transcribe it onto music paper - but again, to do it with the words would take around 4 hours @ £25 per hour (paid in advance) :) - thats estimated..... or simply order the music?

Is it just the backing tune you want, or are you wanting to play & sing it?
Don't think its a good idea to enter into an audition in a week's time after not even knowing a note! I would recommend choosing something you know well.

Colin :piano;
AA Piano Tuners UK

Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
User avatar
Colin Nicholson
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1704
Joined: 04 Jul 2010, 19:15
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
Contact:

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by Colin Nicholson »

pianochick89

Ok, here is a snippet of your tune.... I think its the chorus? not sure.
Rhythm quite complex, and lots of syncopation (bit like Scott Joplin style).

Hope this uploads OK....

I spent about 10 mins to get the basic rhythm outline (semiquaver patterns), then tied notes together, then re-grouped it correctly. Top part is my rough work, then lower stave - whizzed it onto my PC!!! lot of work just for one bar, but just to give you an idea. Some of it can then be copied & pasted, but adding a vocal line & (piano) accompaniment score - who knows? a few hours work....
Transcription rough.jpg
Transcription rough.jpg (39.26 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
what u think?

Colin
AA Piano Tuners UK

Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
pianochick89
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Feb 2011, 14:01

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by pianochick89 »

Well thanks! It's too hard for me just from paper, but I understand it if you don't want to upload it because it's too much work! :(
markymark
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1434
Joined: 04 Apr 2005, 18:50
Location: UK

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by markymark »

Do you not even have a basic knowledge of chords?

The stuff I put on there is fairly basic. If push comes to shove, ignore the numbers on the chords and just play the basic chord. It will get you started and then you can think about inversions.

If that last word lost you, you really need to look into chords - that is if reading music is not on the agenda!
User avatar
Colin Nicholson
Executive Poster
Executive Poster
Posts: 1704
Joined: 04 Jul 2010, 19:15
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
Contact:

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by Colin Nicholson »

Yep, heaps of work!!

The chords are really easy to play, and as markymark says, just ignore the 'sus2' bits (these are suspensions) - great to play!

If you want the chords spelled out, then here is the right hand....
Left hand single bass note in brackets [ ]

[D] D = D F# A (keeping it simple in root positions)

[G] G = G B D

Em (E minor) = [E] E G B

Forget inversions! but if you look at my extract, the right hand chord of D is in 2nd inversion ( A D F#) - so the top note of the chord is the 3rd - thats how it sounds on the music --- you did ask for chords??. Then just drop a D in the bass - if that's a bit tech, then you need to have some lessons.

No one in the world will teach piano by a "jumping through hoops" method, and show you on Youtube where your hands go!!

I did that with someone wanting to learn Fur Elise (the chromatic scale near the end), and the bloke had never had a lesson in his life - it sounded terrible! - so please don't claim to doing an audition on piano & voice if you can't read simple basic chords.... get some lessons!!

Simples....
AA Piano Tuners UK

Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
Gill the Piano
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4032
Joined: 25 Oct 2003, 19:39
Location: Thames Valley

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by Gill the Piano »

Treat yourself to a piano picture chord book; it shows photographs of the hand in the relevant positions for the chords.
I play for my own amazement... :piano;
psylocke24
New Member
New Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 11 Jan 2011, 02:01

Re: I need help with this song!

Post by psylocke24 »

Have you tried to search in youtube if there is a tutorial video or somewhere like metacafe or a website/forum where some of the users uploading their work.
Post Reply