Saturday, July 19, 2008

How To Accurately Duplicate The Sounds Of Honky Tonk Piano

By Chris Channing

All types of musical forms exist for the piano. Honky tonk is a form of piano playing that developed amidst the 1950's, where it got acclaim with its "ragtime" appeal and energy. But duplicating the success honky tonk piano players obtained isn't easy in the least.

The best way to fully appreciate the honky tonk pian is to actually listen to those who made an impact in the musical industry. Some of the more popular artists of the honky tonk era were Fats Domino, Jelly Roll Morton, and Jo Ann Castle. It may be hard to find their works in general stores today, but their albums can be bought and downloaded online or through online retailers.

Most forms of music have a certain set of chords and notes that make up their style- and honky tonk piano is certainly no exception. The honky tonk piano uses a common set of chords and notes that most classes and teachers can pass onto those willing to learn them. Taking classes is also a great way to get a background in blues and rock piano, which help greatly in learning to play honky tonk piano.

It takes some getting used to, but learning to play honky tonk piano with two separate hands will do wonders for students striving to learn the art form. One hand should be used to play bass lines, while the remaining hand should be used to play the lighter notes. Using this setup guarantees that one can switch between the two just as quick as the music demands.

The ragtime feel of honky tonk piano can only be observed with the proper energy and vivacity that old-time players exhibited. Players need to capture the glamour and glitz of the 1950's with every single note they strike, and put on the classic grin to match. In some cases, it's a good idea to put a little "boogie woogie" piano into the mix to help keep things entertaining and exciting.

As with most types of learning music, the best advice is to learn to play what one enjoys the most. It's often true that one learns to play instruments based on the awe inspiring feeling they get when they first hear something they think of as intriguing. Likewise, learning to play the music they first found inspiring is a great way to keep motivated. Finding online sheet music or "fake books" in stores is a great way to learn some of the best tunes in honky tonk piano history.

In Conclusion

Honky tonk piano is more than just an art form- it's a part of history. It has shaped the way much of the resulting styles of music have been able to thrive and evolve. It's still quite popular today, even decades after its first influences. As a result, it won't be hard to find more resources in which to learn how to play honky tonk piano- the real struggle comes to duplicate the sheer excitability that comes from a properly laid out piece.

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