100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know: Play the Same Song 100 Different Ways
Author(s): Jerald Simon (Author)
Publisher: Music Motivation
Publication Date: December 18, 2018
Language: English
Print length: 96 pages
ISBN-10: 1948274027
ISBN-13: 9781948274029
Book Description
100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know (Play the Same Song 100 Different Ways) by Music Mentor Jerald Simon, is one of the books from the Music Motivation® Series. This book was created to help piano students of all ages and skill levels learn how to improvise and arrange music of their own. The 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book can help piano students, piano teachers, and music professionals take their piano playing to the next level by learning how to play the same song 100 different ways. Use these 100 left hand patterns in this book to arrange the 100 songs from the FUN Fake Book or use the left hand patterns to arrange any music you’d like to play. You can even use the 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book to compose music of your own. It’s all about creating, arranging, improvising, and composing music you want to play. The left hand patterns taught in this book have been divided up into four different groups: 1. Basic Left Hand Patterns, 2. Jazz, Blues, and Boogie-Woogie Left Hand Patterns, 3. Rock and Pop Left Hand Patterns, and 4. New Age and Contemporary Left Hand Patterns. I only included 100 left hand patterns, but there are so many more patterns you can create. See what you can come up with and take your piano playing to the next level! This book is divided into two sections: 1. 100 Left Hand Patterns, and 2. The FUN Fake Book featuring 100 songs in Fake Book Format (where the right hand melody is shown with corresponding chords notated above each measure – the piano player fakes, or improvises, their own left hand pattern using the 100 left hand patterns taught in the book). Here is a list of some of the 100 songs found in this FUN Fake Book:Section 1 (Children’s Songs): 1. Mary Had a Little Lamb 2. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star 3. Pop Goes the Weasel 4. The Enemy Weensy Spider 5. This Old Man 6. Three Blind Mice 7. Row, Row, Row Your Boat 8. Skip to My Lou 9. London Bridge is Falling Down 10. She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain 11. Old Macdonald 12. Free Jacques 13. BINGO 14. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean 15. The Farmer in the Dell 16. Alouette 17. Green Sleeves (and What Child is This?) 18. Rockaby Baby 19. Lullaby 20. Reveille 21. It’s Raining, It’s Pouring 22. Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes 23. The Wheels on the Bus 24. If You’re Happy and You Know it! 25. I Love the Mountains 26. Chopsticks 27. A Tiskit, A Tasket 28. John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt 29. Camptown Races 30. The Mulbry Bush (Mulberry Bush) 31. For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow 32. The Muffin Man 33. Home on the Range 34. Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? 35. The Old Gray Mare 36. Polly Wolly Doodle 37. Take Me Out to the Ball Game 38. Ten Little Children (to the tune of Ten Little Indians) 39. Buffalo Gals 40. A Bicycle Built for Two – Section 2 (American Folk/Patriotic Songs): 41. Oh Susanna 42. Good Night Ladies 43. I’ve Been Working on the Railroad 44. O My Darling Clementine 45. The Marine’s Hymn 46. Anchor’s Aweigh 47. You’re A Grand Old Flag 48. The Battle Hymn of the Republic 49. America the Beautiful 50. The Star-Spangled Banner 51. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee 52. When Johnny Comes Marching Home 53. When the Saints Go Marching In 54. Yankee Doodle 55. The Army Goes Rolling AlongSection 3 (Christmas Music): 56. Jingle Bells 57. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas 58. Up On the House Top 59. Deck the Halls 60. Joy to the World 61. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 62. Hark the Herald Angels Sing 63. O Christmas Tree 64. Silent Night 65. Angels We Have Heard on High 66. Still, Still, Still 67. Bring a Torch Jeannete, Isabella 68. Good King Wenceslas 69. The Holly and the Ivy 70. The First Noel 71. Go Tell It on the Mountain 72. I Saw Three Ships 73. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 74. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy 75. Away in a Manger 76. We Wish You a Merry Christmas! Section 4: Classical Music Section 5: Gospel/Spiritual Music
Editorial Reviews
Review
An invaluable collection, presented clearly and organized well. This book is perfect for anyone who is ready to expand their piano-playing into the realm of improvisation, composing, or arranging. All of the patterns are written in the key of C, but there is a section that deals with transposing and what the common chords in each key are so you can play along with your favorite instrumentalist in a key that’s comfortable for them, or transpose for your vocalist’s range. Most patterns are simple enough to fit on one line, with a few that extend to two or three, maximum. Many of the patterns are simple variations on a basic pattern, which I feel helps those who are beginning to improv realize that it’s okay to make small changes ‘just to see’ instead of trying to pull stuff from thin air.
The book is divided into several distinct sections, making it very easy to go straight to whichever style is most interesting. It starts with very simple patterns; as a teacher, I can use these even with those in the first few months of instruction. I wish I had had the section on jazz patterns back when I first started playing in jazz bands, as my teacher at the time couldn’t help me much in that regard! It’s also easy to see the practical application of theory. No more students asking “Does it really matter if I know what a diminished chord is?” Fingerings and chord symbols are written in, and Mr. Simon is obviously a teacher himself, as the reader is constantly encouraged to recognize patterns and make their own cognitive leaps.
Best of all for those using this book independently instead of with a teacher, there is a “Practical Application” page where Mr. Simon has taken several patterns and written out several possible realizations of them with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. This really sets the reader up for success as they move on to the fake book section (or their own fake book if they have one they prefer) and try the patterns there. The fake book itself has a good selection of music. Everybody is bound to find several songs they enjoy to play with in this section.
I would highly recommend this book to teachers for use with their students, but also for those learning piano without a teacher – it’s that clear and easy to use. – Rebecca Bogardus (Piano Teacher)
It has been my belief as a professional pianist you should be technically proficient with your left hand as your right hand. Unfortunately, the approach of most contemporary styles and keyboard players has been to favor the right hand. Simon offers an educational approach to make the left hand a competent component in achieving technical efficiency.
Simon starts with very basic patterns and ideas to strengthen the left hand, I applaud the concept of playing in all twelve keys. All too often keyboard players are amazing in a few keys and stunted in others. He explains each exercise when needed with the key, fingering, and theory applications. His examples of patterns move at a methodical pace easy for the beginner to progress.
If you are a beginner and are looking for assistance to improve left hand patterns and be creative, Simon’s book more than sufficiently offers this.
Steve Goomas Composer/producer stevegoomas.com Author: Keyboard Wisdom A gOOm Tune Assistant Professor of Music Los Angeles Valley College
From the Author
I hope you enjoy “100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know” (Play the Same Song 100 Different Ways). This book is part of the Essential Piano Exercises Course (essentialpianoexercises.com) and is meant to be used together with this course. In the course I demonstrate all 100 left hand patterns and show you how to apply these left hand patterns with music using the 100 fun songs from the fake book section. I demonstrate in the video lessons how you can play any song 100 different ways. I help teach fun, cool piano concepts and skills about arranging and improvisation to help teach piano students how to create their own arrangements and learn to jazz up music.
I have found that the three most requested and often most neglected areas of piano lessons are music theory, improvisation, and composition. I have created piano resources to help piano students, piano teachers, and even professional musicians learn more about music theory, improvisation, and how to compose music of their own. I refer to these areas as Theory Therapy, Innovative Improvisation, and Creative Composition. These left hand patterns will instantly give you a greater ability to take a piece of music and make it your own!
Have fun with the music!
This book was created to help piano students of all ages and skill levels learn how to improvise and arrange music of their own. The 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book can help piano students, piano teachers, and music professionals take their piano playing to the next level by learning how to play the same song 100 different ways.
Use these 100 left hand patterns in this book to arrange the 100 songs from the FUN Fake Book or use the left hand patterns to arrange any music you’d like to play. You can even use the 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book to compose music of your own. It’s all about creating, arranging, improvising, and composing music you want to play. The left hand patterns taught in this book have been divided up into four different groups: 1. Basic Left Hand Patterns, 2. Jazz, Blues, and Boogie-Woogie Left Hand Patterns, 3. Rock and Pop Left Hand Patterns, and 4. New Age and Contemporary Left Hand Patterns. I only included 100 left hand patterns, but there are so many more patterns you can create. See what you can come up with and take your piano playing to the next level!
“My purpose and mission in life is to motivate myself and others through my music and writing, to help others find their purpose and mission in life, and to teach values that encourage everyone everywhere to do and be their best.” – Jerald Simon
Jerald’s personal philosophy about piano lessons.
If you come to piano lessons each week and walk away only having learned about music notation, rhythm, and dots on a page, then I have failed as a Music Mentor. Life lessons are just as important, if not more important than music lessons. I would rather have you learn more about goal setting and achieving, character, dedication, and personal improvement. To have you learn to love music, appreciate it, and play it, is a wonderful byproduct you will have for the rest of your life – a talent that will enrich your life and the lives of others. To become a better musician is wonderful and important, but to become a better person is more important.
As a Music Mentor I want to mentor students to be the very best they can be. If you choose not to practice, you essentially choose not to improve. This is true in any area of life. Everyone has the same amount of time allotted to them. What you choose to do with your time, and where you spend your time, has little to do with the activities being done and more to do with the value attached to each activity.
I believe it’s important to be well-rounded and have many diverse interests. I want students to enjoy music, to learn to be creative and understand how to express themselves musically – either by creating music of their own, or interpreting the music of others – by arranging and improvising well known music. In addition, I encourage students to play sports, dance, sing, draw, read, and develop all of their talents. I want them to be more than musicians, I want them to learn to become well-rounded individuals.
Above all, I want everyone to continually improve and do their best. I encourage everyone to set goals, dream big, and be the best they can be in whatever they choose to do. Life is full of wonderful choices. Choose the best out of life and learn as much as you can from everyone everywhere. I prefer being called a Music Mentor because I want to mentor others and help them to live their dreams.
Your life is your musical symphony. Make it a masterpiece! Jerald Simon
From the Inside Flap
The main goal of 100 Left Hand Patterns by Jerald Simon, is to help piano students, piano teachers, and pianists of all skill level learn how to play the same song 100 different ways . There are 100 songs in fake book format. That means the chord is placed above each measure and only the right hand piano melody is given. You then can “fake” the left hand accompaniment pattern. But Jerald has demonstrated 100 different left hand patterns you can use within this book.
Try playing all 100 of these songs 100 different ways using the 100 left hand patterns found in the first half of the book. Even better, think of other left hand patterns of your own and see what you can do. You can also try to play each of these songs in every key signature as well (100 different ways). It’s a great exercise and you learn so much in the process. All of the pieces (except for the Classical Music section) have been written in the key of C Major to help you apply the left hand patterns taught in this book. Once you have mastered the piece in the key of C Major, try to play every piece from this book in every key signature using every left hand pattern from this book. It’s a challenge, but have fun! As with all fake books, the right hand melody is shown with the primary chord symbols for each measure found above the melody line. You can use the notated chords to change up or arrange the pieces however you’d like to arrange them. I encourage everyone to not only change the left hand, but embellish and change the right hand as well. You can do it!
About the Author
First and foremost, Jerald is a husband to his beautiful wife, Zanny, and a father to his wonderful children. Jerald Simon is the founder of Music Motivation® (musicmotivation.com), a company he formed to provide music instruction through workshops, giving speeches and seminars, and concerts and performances in the field of music and motivation. He is a composer, author, poet, and Music Mentor/piano teacher (primarily focusing his piano teaching on music theory, improvisation, composition, and arranging). Jerald loves spending time with his wife, Zanny, and their children. In addition, he loves music, teaching, speaking, performing, playing sports, exercising, reading, writing poetry and self help books, and gardening.
Jerald Simon is the founder of Music Motivation® and focuses on helping piano students and piano teachers learn music theory, improvisation, and composition. He refers to these areas as: Theory Therapy, Innovative Improvisation, and Creative Composition. Simon is an author and composer and has written 28 music books featuring almost 300 original compositions, 14 albums, three motivational poetry books featuring over 400 original poems (poetrythatmotivates.com), and is the creator of the best-selling
Cool Songs Series (musicmotivation.com/coolsongs), the best-selling Essential Piano Exercises Series (essentialpianoexercises.com) and Essential Piano Lessons for piano students (essentialpianolessons.com) and also Essential Piano Teachers for piano teachers (essentialpianoteachers.com). You can watch Jerald’s videos on his YouTube channel at this link: youtube.com/jeraldsimon. Listen to Jerald’s music on all streaming sites and his podcast, Music, Motivation, and More – The Positivity Podcast with Jerald Simon on all podcast platforms. Jerald has also created Empowered by Positivity (empoweredbypositivity.com) to inspire others to do and be their best!
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