Paul's Piano Playing
-
I've always been curious about Paul's technical abilities in his music. There's a lot out there about his singing ability, songwriting style, bass playing, and even his acoustic arrangements. But what about his piano playing? There's not much out there that talks about his style of playing on the piano. How would you rate his piano playing? He's certainly not as good as Elton or Billy Joel--and they can't match his guitar and bass playing. But there's more to his skills than just a simple rhythm accompaniment, he does more than just play chords to the beat. Some songs like Hey Jude and Let it Be really are pretty simple, while Long and Winding Road gets slightly more complicated and is an unusual key for him, then there's Lady Madonna, which I've heard is not as hard as it sounds. Then during Wings years his playing gets more complex, at least to my ears; Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five, Baby's Request, and others, maybe the run in Maybe I'm Amazed. More recently, Fine Line, Promise to You Girl sound like more complicated piano parts. Here's what I think, he's probably pretty average in his technical skill, but has such awesome rhythm and an ear for melody that he can make simple chords sound fantastic.
-
Agreed!
-
-
I think you're right on. I think he plays piano about as well as anyone who does not read notated music.
-
I'll let any musicians on here speak to Paul's technical abilities, though as non-expert I'm inclined to agree with what's been said already. But what I do think is really worth noting is Paul's ability to give emotional resonance to very simple playing. The opening chords of Let It Be are a perfect example -- gives me shivers every time.
-
His piano playing is pretty good, on a par with his guitar skills. What is more brilliant is his ability to contruct a great song out of a simple riff. Let Em In is very simple, for example. Here the bass stays fixed on Bb as the right hand changes between two chords. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is not very hard, as the bass stays fixed on Eb as the chords change between Eb and Cm before heading off to Ab. What is great is how the piano here does not follow the vocal line. It is hard to sing this at the same time as play when the piano is doing something very different. Martha My Dear is quite hard to play, though. Lady Madonna is also one of the harder ones as the Left hand has a mind of its own. We really need a definitive publication of his actual piano parts, instead of piano-vocal editions which try to compress all the band's parts onto one piano. Not all of us have the time or ability to learn all the piano parts by ear, so I would love a book like that.
-
George Martin called Paul a "competent" pianist. Here is GM's full quote:
Since those early days they've all improved, especially Paul. He's an excellent musical all-rounder, probably the best bass-guitarist there is, a first-class drummer, brilliant guitarist and competent piano player."
-
Paul isn't extravaganet by any means, now, I'm not putting him down, but I don't think he's ever wanted to be a Billy Joel/Elton John type...frankly, he's not the best pianist in his band
-
WixRocks!:
Paul isn't extravaganet by any means, now, I'm not putting him down, but I don't think he's ever wanted to be a Billy Joel/Elton John type...frankly, he's not the best pianist in his band
Like according to John, Ringo isn't the best drummer in the Beatles?
-
Nancy R:
WixRocks!:
Paul isn't extravaganet by any means, now, I'm not putting him down, but I don't think he's ever wanted to be a Billy Joel/Elton John type...frankly, he's not the best pianist in his band
Like according to John, Ringo isn't the best drummer in the Beatles?
Right!
Except Paul WAS the best pianist in the beatles -
Paul was the best at everything in the Beatles
-
Macsback:
Paul was the best at everything in the Beatles
I'd give Guitar and Sitar to George but, other than that......yeaaaaah.
-
WixRocks!:
Macsback:
Paul was the best at everything in the Beatles
I'd give Guitar and Sitar to George but, other than that......yeaaaaah.
why don't we compromise and just say Sitar
-
hear hear!
-
thats that sorted
-
Michelley:
George Martin called Paul a "competent" pianist. Here is GM's full quote:
Since those early days they've all improved, especially Paul. He's an excellent musical all-rounder, probably the best bass-guitarist there is, a first-class drummer, brilliant guitarist and competent piano player."
That quote sounds like it came Martin's book With a Little Help From My Friends? Read that part the other day and was going to pull it out with that quote but you saved me the trouble
-
Macsback:
WixRocks!:
Macsback:
Paul was the best at everything in the Beatles
I'd give Guitar and Sitar to George but, other than that......yeaaaaah.
why don't we compromise and just say Sitar
Geoff Emerick heaped tons of praise on Paul's guitar playing in his book, seemed to be quite critical of George's.
-
Martin Luther:
Macsback:
WixRocks!:
Macsback:
Paul was the best at everything in the Beatles
I'd give Guitar and Sitar to George but, other than that......yeaaaaah.
why don't we compromise and just say Sitar
Geoff Emerick heaped tons of praise on Paul's guitar playing in his book, seemed to be quite critical of George's.
I prefer George's style. Much more precise, and a little less...well, rocking.
-
I'm going with Geoff Emerick's version of events
-
Paul was the Beatles
