Elton John Demonstrates The Chord Structures In His Songs + More!
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- čas přidán 8. 12. 2019
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Elton John recently sat down for an exclusive iHeartRadio ICONS launch party, hosted by iHeartRadio and Q1043's Jim Kerr, at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles
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I cannot imagine my life without Elton John’s music. His music has enriched my life so much.
Amen to that!!
He's good but that's a bit of an exaggeration. You would still have the same life.
He is as great as Bach Mozart Beethoven Chopin
Elton John stopped playing full acoustic Grand Piano's in de late 80's and switched to the Roland RD-1000 Digital Piano. After that, he began using top of the line Yamaha Grand Piano's during concerts. But, and this is important, he didn't and still doesn't use the acoustic sound of the Yamaha. His piano's are MIDI and he uses the Roland MKS-20 Sound Module (the one from the Roland RD-1000 Digital Piano) and he also uses a Yamaha Motif Rack to create his live piano sound. Those two things, the Roland Sound Module and the Yamaha Motif Rack, form about 80% of the piano's sound during concerts. The other 20% is the acoustic sound of the piano, which is negligible. So that is why his piano's sound so high in pitch, it's an electronic sound and he likes it that way. One of the reasons is because you can hear him playing during rock songs. The sound of an acoustic piano practically disappears when there are drums and guitars. So maybe you don't like the sound of it, but you can't say it's cheap or garbage because frankly it takes some work and technical knowledge to recreate his live piano sound ;-)
I loved the MKS 20 it’s probably the best module I ever used. I was on the road with it for several years and eventually just gave out if Elton has one I wonder how he keeps it working they haven’t made those in probably 30 years maybe longer. He used to always only plays Steinway grand I think but he must have some kind of endorsement deal now with Yamaha!
He’s not the only artist like this. Billy Joel uses computers to play Synthogy Ivory samples from a Kawai Midi Controller.
Yoran Van Campfort I love it! Thanks for the information!
Yoran Van Campfort I love his piano sound. It’s dominant, forceful and bright.
@@phil4977 Yes, I like it too!
I hereby pledge to provide Elton with 24/7 security coverage, and wrap him in protective bubble wrap.
Absolute master. Making those musical connections as easy as thinking it, and reproducing it all on the spot. A true genius
Sir Elton is one of my favourite pop music musicians of all time. When it comes to the piano or the keyboard he plays.
That's because it is a digital baby grand without strings - and the sound "patch" he chose is probably a "rock" setting, which has the treble boosted up quite a bit.
These chord structures and songs are really timeless - they do not get old compared to other stuff written at that time.
every time someone asks him to do something he always goes very quickly and say yeah sure or alright haha.
I can’t believe he went up there and played a deep cut like the greatest discovery. I love that
What a treasure to the world Sir Elton John is.
That why always like his tune, his cultural Classical background. In his career brings to all of us splendid melodies, and memories too ! cross decades and still continues with great musical hits !
Love how he changed the first few up from the originals then kept The Greatest Discovery and on the same. What a genius.
His songs are difficult for me to play. I have these big hands and I can't cover the keyboard like Elton. He is an accomplished piano player. One of a kind actually.
Elton has big hands as well, so does Billy Joel. Bigger the hands the easier it should be for you to play. I've been playing off and on since I was about 6 or 7. I'm 71 now, and my hands are probably around medium. Wish mine were about 1/4 inches longer. With big hands I'm sure you can play 10ths easy?
Elton has small hands - he has says so himself - and can barely stretch an octave. Big hands are those like James Booker who effortlessly stretch more than a 10th which opens the door to much much more.
Elton has small hands and fingers - he has literally said he struggles to play classical music and couldn't be a classical pianist due to the length of his fingers ... so no, he doesn't have "big hands" at all...
So beautiful. I also LOVE "Carla/Etude/Fanfare/Chloe" from Elton's "The Fox" album.
I would also have to include "Tonight" from the "Blue Moves" album. Very classical.
nonnamadonna your not wrong.stay safe Welsh Lyn.
@@franka8377 Oh yes, I ADORE "Tonight". It's also on Elton's "Live In Australia With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra". HEAVEN!!!
The song Tonight is a masterpiece of work.
There are so many versions and variations, my favorite is the live version with just Elton and Ray Cooper on percussions.
In a music appreciation text book, "When I am laid in Earth" (from Henry Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas') was discussed, in particular the descending bass line found in the aria. This was compared to the descending bass line found in "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John.
Thanks. I love "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" this must be one of the reasons. It aligns with how I improvise or compose. The movement and harmonics, as well as rythm of the base is key.
I'm always singing--since I was a little boy. I can't walk down the street or go shopping or do any small task without singing. And almost all the time, the song is one of Elton's. He has put a song in my heart and on my lips nearly every day. I'm an old man now, and I had no idea when this all began that it would last a lifetime. I'm so grateful that his immense talent somehow found a way into my life to make all my days better.
Three of my most favourite Elton Songs are those he played here. Masterpieces. They can be heard in their absolute greatness on the Eton John Live in Australia with the MSO. Breathtaking, Splendid and truly awesome.
I've always thought that you could clearly hear his classical background in "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". But, it's even there in "Your Song", the way the voices move in the piano part etc. Cool video 👍
This may have un-stuck me from my funk....been teaching myself piano/keyboards and wondered about his piano technique.....now I have some ideas and some direction to go in.....I'm hoping this is the breakthrough I need to take a big step forward. I've always thought he had that classical education woven in to his creations.....I think he has way more talent, ability than he's given credit for.....not just a simple pop piano player/composer......Very nice video :)
Why do you type like that
The Greatest Discovery!! What an extraordinary song!! I love it ❤️
One of my fav songs ever from Elton and Bernie = The Greatest Discovery! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Christine Caponigro Absolutely...tear inducing
Superb clarity and bass was so rich..... Awesome piece of kit
Are you referring to the piano's tone?
Love his music.
Elton John Is the Best Musician and Entertainer hands down! I love Elton!
The Greatest Discovery is one of my favorite EJ songs. In the top 50 anyway 😋 It is so beautiful.
haha. I couldn't even come up with a top ten songs of his. He has so much good music.
@@Astronomater exactly!
Me too. I was at one of the concerts he did In Australia with the MSO in 1986. When he did The Greatest Discovery, I was left in tears.Here it is czcams.com/video/r8GnQzBXKk4/video.html
What is your top most beautiful piano songs?
Scott McMahon the greatest discovery is one of his most underrated songs!!
Thanks for posting.I thought as much his approach to music.
I need you to turn to" is so beautiful !
One of the greatest songwriters of the modern era
Such a treasure this man.
You are so generous with your audience.
Love love love THE GREATEST DISCOVERY!!!
I love this man.
Such awesome gifts.
I just love this man so so much
Also Elton started out playing harpsichords and the like... Instruments you tend to tap out a lot of broken chords on. He kinda plays the piano in a harpsichord style with his repeated arpeggios and broken chords which are one of the signatures of his playing style.
He played that song "I Need You To Turn To" live in the year 1970 on BBC I believe in London...amazing performance from a very young Elton!!!
amazing ... anyone who can do this....EJ truly genius -- chords and then words !!!! so beautiful
Amazing 🤩 At 2021 You and I, we are learn with the best.
Insane skills and talent
Legend, piano hero
Amor incondicional..Te Amo Elton ❤ 🇦🇷
BEAUTIFUL thank you ELTON
Elton John is a fantastic Singers of the times I love you so very much thank you.
I’m a guitarist and love everything about the instrument but in terms of absolute beauty, there’s nothing like a piano, a mini orchestra in one.
Check out some of the best classical guitarist they make the guitar sound like an orchestra as well good stuff
I feel the same way. Piano is a different beast, but learning piano helps to learn the notes that make up the chord. Wish I would have learned more piano....
I just don't get it, Elton, you speak about it like it is easy, piece of cake! I think Elton does not understand how unfathomable to us, plain people, he really is, when he touches the keys. I know it was hard job at the Academy, but... it is like he is so effortlessly genious.
He started playing the piano at age 3.
He's able to play by ear, a piece he might hear on the radio or perhaps a venue, without any sheet music.
Thank you Sir Elton.
Regardless of no one liking the bright tone of Yamaha on this video, this is the most informative interview Elton has undertaken in a lot of years. So much better than the same inane questions and jokes about his wild costumes in the 80s and his drug use. Hope that once he’s finished his world tour and had a bit of time off he puts Greatest a Discovery and The King Must Die into his deep cuts he’s planning to play live at a small residency of shows.
PianoeyBoi and...how did you meet Bernie? Ugh.
I think (without checking) the Yamaha is very prevalent on 'Ice On Fire', which is one of my very favorite albums ... gives that album it's own feel .... esp. on 'Cry To Heaven' .....
@@groofoot I think the acoustic piano he used in the studio was a Yamaha at least in the 80’s cause in an 1984 interview he says I sat down at the Yamaha for sad songs say so much and used the old Steinway on tour because it has pick ups and later midi built in it for the stage
Beautiful
Looks like he's starting to have issues with his hips . I can't imagine all the touring he's done and he's still going - you know he love it.
Well, he is retiring next year...
He has bad hips and knees from all those years of doing handstands on the piano and playing tennis.
@@gaminglegend At this point in time, because of COVID-19 lockdown, Elton has had to postpone a couple of concerts 'til January 2023 & there may be more concerts he has to postpone !
Probably his diaper! 😆 😆 😆 😆
I was in the audience for this event, It was obvious Elton was having difficulty walking. But it sure was nice to see and hear him.
Just listen to Funeral for a Friend and you can hear that Elton John belongs among other classical composers such as Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart.
Um. no. Elton's not even in their class, no where near a genius as these three.
@@glennmiller9768 Elton very rarely plays classical music but he could play it more often, if he wanted to.
@@nonnamadonna Hi, guess what my friend? Sir Elton FREQUENTLY plays classical music in his private digs, just like other knowledgeable rockers, eg, Billy Joel, who understand that the foundations of their craft has underpinnings of the historical roots where all pianoforte history began. In terms of musical history the invention of the unparalleled range dynamic of the pianoforte is a very recent addition to music; you could call it one of the infant musical instruments just as the saxophone is.
Rock and roll is but a most primitive expression of the more controlled and disciplined studies of more delicate and subtle themes and motifs of classical music. Having said all this, just like Eric Clapton I've got a rock 'n roll heart. There's something about the primitive that has appeal to most people.
@@glennmiller9768 Very interesting - thank you. However, I heard Elton say in a recent-ish video that he never plays the piano at home except when his sons want him to play a song (not one of his, I gather) so if he still plays classical (& I wish I could hear him do it!), it's not at his home. In COVID-19 lockdown, he's working on musicals while he waits to continue his mammoth "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Farewell" tour. Concerts have had to be rescheduled & at this stage, he has concerts up until January 2023 & who knows .... maybe longer.
musical genius
...wunderbar - I would have wanted to listen for a while longer...
The first point he made about piano vs guitar composition is so true. When you look at Elton and Billy Joel, you notice the chords are typically different from a lot of guitar. Also, looking at Dylan's piano compositions vs his guitar is very interesting...
In a Barbara Walters interview, Elton said that he remembers how to play every song he has ever composed but he does forget some of the lyrics of songs he hasn't played in a long time. But since he doesn't write the lyrics, maybe that's why. Still, remembering how to play every single song is yet one example of his genius.
That is very impressive. Even big artists like Metallica had to relearn how to play Jump in the Fire, a song from the early 80s when they were getting ready to play it again in the early 2000’s.
@@jwardbass4452 Yes. Others like The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney have to rehearse their own songs that they have played for decades whenever they go out on tour again which is normal. But Elton said in another interview that he has never had to practice any songs, even though his band members do. Elton didn't even practice when he was in Royal Academy of Music in London for five years before he turned pro. He just improvised his way through by remembering every note he heard of a piece of music and replaying it live. The only other person I ever heard of who could do that was Mozart.
My Master .
SIR ELTON JOHN FOREVER! LONG LIVE SIR ELTON JOHN!
Magician
2:08 sounds like the classic version of the Office theme😂
Dunno about the piano being too ‘bright’, it’s all taste I think. but the description deffo suits the chic at the end pugging the chan!
It's so bright that I gotta wear shades ;) , but seriously it's so bright that it sounds like a harpsichord sound is mixed in. I know it's not, but the "hammers" sound like a tack piano or something
That was beautiful !
Amazing ! Greetings-Gerd
Bota pilha nele conversando sobre música, que não tem mais fim. Aí gosta mesmo do que faz. É uma das coisas que eu acho legal também no Elton John.
MAESTRO DEL PIANO
He is the greatest of today ❤
Wonderful 💥💥💫💫🌹🌹💐💐💞
a lot of talent has Mrs Eltonina John
Wow Elton just rewrote I Need You To Turn To...
I think that's how he originally wrote it tbh, in his original Demos
@@Amaiii No, he's actually playing the wrong chord progression here. And he did change the melody he's singing. He probably forgot, not a song he plays very often.
I love that song...........
Senang mendengarkannya. ❤
Músico maravilhoso 🇧🇷
An authentic modern Musical Genius. (Got to be the 88th to hit the 'like')
I have collected over a thousand bootleg recordings of his concerts in the 1970s when he used a real piano. There is never an instance when his piano isn’t forefront in the mix (even during the rockers). And this was in the early stages of large live concert sound systems. There is absolutely no comparison between a real acoustic piano and the awful sounding digital pianos he’s been using since the late 80s (which he began using when they sounded absolutely terrible). For anyone who plays piano (or has a fine tuned ear) a digital piano is anathema. I don’t care how much technology had been poured into developing the sound; there is no way a digital instrument can emulate the sound of an acoustic instrument. It’s like saying a cyborg will one day replicate a human being. There are natural acoustic phenomena that simply cannot be replicated by an electronic device. The human ear is too perfect to be fooled. As a musician and a fan of Elton; I connect his abandonment of acoustic piano to the decline of his artistic integrity. It’s no coincidence he began using digital pianos around the time he was at his lowest as a drug addict and alcoholic. I had hoped his rehabilitation in the early ‘90s would bring about an artistic rebirth. When he released a duet with Ru Paul I realized that wasn’t going to happen. Something happened to Elton that shifted him from being all about the music to being more about the celebrity. In his early days he often said his greatest wish was to become a legend like Mae West or Groucho Marx (both of whom were comedians). I think he succeeded. Sorry.
His early concerts are amazing.😊
Elton is the best piano player i n the the w o r l d e v e r oh my God she have to use microphone because my fingers are too pudgy to use the keyboard so if there's any mistakes in my diction I apologize okay I'm still standing I'd love Elton
Gênio
That was amazing.
What do I have to do to get a chance to be invited to these shows? I can see the I Heart Radio theater from my office and always wonder what's going on in there! :D
Can anyone share anymore information on the song he plays, I thought he said it was called “the great discovery” but tried lots of variations but can’t track it down, it sounds beautiful and would love to hear it? Thanks In Advance.
Yes, he played a piece from "The Great Discovery". There are clips of the whole song on CZcams. He sang/played it with an orchestra on his "Live In Australia (With The Melbourne Symphony)" in 1986 & the clip of it is on CZcams. He'd come to the end of a huge concert tour & his voice was suffering (as you will hear if/when you play/listen to it) such that he had to undergo throat surgery in Australia, as soon as the tour ended.
"The Greatest Discovery" off the "Elton John " album.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John_(album)
Beautiful clothes he wears.
He forgot the songs (I need you to turn to and King must die) and played new melody 😁😁
No. He just played it different. Would you play a song the same after the 1000th time?
Maybe he did. He did originally write those songs more than 50 years ago.
I hear the Roland MKS-20 piano.
Can someone please provide sheet music links for the pieces he played and what are the titles of the songs?
Dude, every song he played during this clip is on his self titled debut album, which was released in August of 1970 .... He played snippets of 'I Need You To Turn To', 'The King Must Die', and 'The Greatest Discovery' .... if you don't have that album, you simply must get it. That album also contains 'Your Song'. I have at Least 5 copies of it on CD ..... and a couple of them are still in the shrink wrap, because I treasure it so .... it'll be money well spent! As far as the tabs (sheet music), you're on your own, lol
@@groofoot thanks for answering but why am Inony my.own..surely someone must have it?
As a classical pianist without the talent to play like he does, I am in awe.
At 66, my goal is to try to learn some of his songs by watching him play, listen to him explain his methods on shows like this and watch CZcams videos which explain the structure of his songs.
This is difficult because I have never played by ear - sight reading only.
“ Can you feel the love tonight “ is one of my favourite pieces of his. It is so calming.
To compose an original melody requires genius.
That was my mistake. I learned to read music and can play well enough but clueless when it comes to 'breaking out' and playing something off the cuff. Get a few chord progressions under your belt and see the difference. For some real fun, learn some blues-scales, it gets much easier. Well, 100s of hours practice instead of 1000s anyway :)
Philip Jones I’ve learned some chord progressions and the blues scale and the pentatonic scale from CZcams.
Playing off the cuff still seems impossible to me.
I was at a performance level, but couldn’t play almost any of the pieces because of tiny hands.
I did laugh when I learned the Blues scale - like - this is all it is!! I had just never been encouraged to play by ear or learn anything other than sight reading. I played all 24 scales beautifully as required for my exams.
But it’s a goal to learn a different way of playing.
Hi Troll. Hope you're having a good day.
@@pjsmith4369 I smiled when I read your comment about the blues scales. Left me feeling that there has to be more. Do keep trying, nothing worthwhile comes quickly.
Philip Jones I hope to keep trying, when I am not exhausted. Have a chronic disorder, although I look perfectly fine.
Do I know the work!! Last six years of lessons - practiced 2 hours every day, even when working 12 hour shifts as an RN. I hope I can get back a sliver of that energy, lol.
Big difference between 26 and 66.
Cream Rises to the Top and that's where this man, lives! At the Top!
Which piano is used in this show ? Yamaha , but which Yamaha ?
MY MASTER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I played all his songs for years. I'm slightly known for analysing "Total Eclipse of the Heart". If any of you would like to vote for an Elton song for me to analyse I'd love to do it, throw some titles my way in a reply please. Not an obscure song though as people won't enjoy it as much.
How about this one... czcams.com/video/9tRgYfQ48A0/video.html ?
You should do, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."
1:11 he is still in the key
Master muso.
Play in a little piano sounds like that, he used to play with Yamaha piano. Those pianos are good to beginners.
Thats a real acoustic piano. It has midi. The cables are ran to the back of the stage where his rack unit is with all the sound modules. That bright electric tone you hear is a Roland MKS-20 hes used since the 80s and he layers that sound with an acoustic sound from another rack unit. Its really bright here cause its not mixed right. The electric is to high. He uses this mainly so the piano sound cuts thru the mix of his live band so it can be heard but its also taste he likes the sound I dont blame him its very nice when tuned properly
What type of piano is that? Brand? I'm looking for a new piano and that looks interesting.
Yamaha Avant grand but its a MIDI controller to his Rack units the back you arent hearing that piano. Its connected to his digital piano modules in the back. Roland MKS-20 layered with Yamaha Motif or a Alesis Powergrand
@@jordan6988 well that's way to complicated 🙂 I guess I'll get a yamaha baby
@@irishman4671 the piano itself makes sounds and is a normal piano. Its just modern technology and cool features that are built into the piano that allow all this "complicated" stuff lol but yes a yamaha baby grand is a very beautiful and fun instrument to play. Its truely and experience
what is the song called like he played the intro but I did not understand the title
It is unfortunate that the piano sounds very synthetic and bright.
TheEmmef , it’s too bright that you can hardly hear the melody through the multiple notes played.
I totally agree. It's excruciating to listen to.
It has been his live sound since 1988. But yes, I too wish he’d go back to playing piano without any digital sounds added.
@@eliassandgren3132 Aha. I can understand that when you play with a band (or the piano will be barely audible).
He has been running this patch for years. It cuts well live in a band situation. Its like a harpsichord and piano blend.
Does anyone know which type of Yamaha piano he is playing here? It´s not his usual grand, presumably this is a fully electric grand!
It's a Yamaha Avant Digital Grand, but you're not hearing the samples from that at all. It's MIDI-ed out to a rig containing a Roland MKS-20 and two Yamaha Motif Racks (one running the PowerGrand sample, not sure about the other). It cuts through a live band very well. When he plays live at his big shows, the piano *is* technically an acoustic grand (modified Yamaha Disklavier), but I don't believe the strings are struck. And if they are, it wouldn't matter since they don't mike it up.
@@KyleCourounis Thanks so much for this informative reply! I knew he had never really left the Roland sound behind, so this makes total sense! I just didn't realize to what extent he was using it. But you're right, the sound does cut right through the band. Thanks again ;)
@@sirvbbwilde No problem! Glad I could help! ;)
@@KyleCourounis I know that's his usual rig, but I don't hear the MKS-20 here...I wonder if this is just a more basic setup for this show. Sounds brighter than usual.
@@jamesrogala I hear the MKS-20. It's so distinct. It is slightly different. I think they EQed differently based on the size of the room. It's smaller than an arena.
Sometimes, with all the other stuff, we forget what a fine piano player he is?
LOL, no.
@@christheother9088 yes
I wish they had a camera on his hands so we can see that intricate playing
1:44 Inspiration for Someone saved my life tonight?
Is that Fred Norris from Howard Stern?
Elton's songwriting was also influenced by the New York prodigy Laura Nyro - he discusses Nyro here czcams.com/video/WLY0XaSNF0A/video.html
Nyro played at the Troubadour the week before his debut there, and he was thrilled to play the same house piano Nyro did.
❤️
Would have been nice if you listed the music he was playing.... not all of us are familiar with his entire library of music.
From the sound of the comments I think his fans want him to give up that old Roland electric grand sound box gimmick that he has been using since the eighties.. In other words they want to hear him play a real piano not a synthesizer..
At 1:31 wrong note or am I not hearing well?
Come on...
@@stephaniemay1926My forgotten comment shocks me as well! But don't misunderstand me. I am a HUGE fan of Elton and think he is the greatest player and composer.