Piano for Dummies

Piano for Dummies
by Blake Neely

Piano for Dummies
List Price: $24.99
Our Price: $7.00
You Save: $17.99 (72%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.54 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Blake Neely
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-09-18
ISBN: 0764551051
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: For Dummies

Book Reviews of Piano for Dummies

Book Review: Excellent despite the stale jokes
Summary: 4 Stars

I wanted to brush up on piano playing as I haven't been near a piano for about 40 years, and for this purpose I found the book excellent, though I haven't read similar introductory books so can't compare. Other reviewers have complained about the stale jokes, but for me this was a minor irritation. Music theory can be tedious, and the typically light "Dummies" touch counteracts what could otherwise have been a ponderous read. Even bad jokes are preferable to learned tomes that take themselves oh-so-seriously.

The book contains a wealth of basic and reference information, and the various issues are explained clearly, assuming no prior music knowledge. Unlike many introductory books the chapters do not necessarily have to be read in sequence (though doing so would probably provide a better basis) - the book is well structured, with lots of references to other chapters should you need clarification of terms explained elsewhere.

Using a DIY book effectively instead of piano lessons obviously requires some effort from the reader's side, though the accompanying CD does help. I also liked the attention given to the various styles, from classical to rock, blues, pop, jazz, country and soul.

One of the first hurdles is learning to read notes, after which things become much easier. If you want to start playing real songs and tunes as soon as possible, you'll find a few in this book, including the beautiful "Aura Lee" (made famous by Elvis Presley as "Love me Tender") which is surprisingly easy to play.

On the downside, many of the other tunes serving to illustrate a point are, to my mind, not very exciting, but then having musical notation of the more modern hits would probably have increased the selling price due to royalties considerations. So, for instance, we get the traditional and rather tame version of "The House of the Rising Sun" instead of the haunting hit arrangement by The Animals, who made it famous in popular culture.

When I was a kid I had a year's piano lessons, but it just didn't work for me. Reading this book has helped me looking at music and the piano / keyboard in a new way, and I have since bought a few "Easy Piano" songbooks and enjoy mastering new tunes.

Summary of Piano for Dummies

At first glance, a piano may seem like an intimidating instrument that would be very difficult to learn how to play, but despite what your seventh-grade piano teacher may say, playing piano isn't brain surgery. It just takes time, practice, and patience.

Piano For Dummies starts at the very beginning and walks you through everything you need to know to turn that oversized hunk of furniture into an instrument that can make beautiful music. If you don't know how to read music, this book explains in friendly, uncomplicated language all the basics of music theory and applying it to playing the piano. And if you've been playing piano for a while ? or took piano lessons when you were a child but haven't played since ? you can pick up some valuable tips to improve your playing or use the book as a refresher course.

Here are some of the topics you'll find in Piano For Dummies:

  • Buying a piano: Acoustic versus electronic
  • How a piano works, and how to care for one
  • Left- and right-hand piano techniques
  • Examining keys, scales, melodies, harmonies, and chords
  • Plenty of musical examples to play
  • The history of piano musical styles
  • Advice for piano teachers
  • A Top Ten list of pianists you should know about

Piano For Dummies also includes a glossary and a free CD, which includes audio of all of the examples in the book so that you can play along.

So if you've always wanted to learn to play piano, but you don't have the time to take piano lessons, you can pick up the basics in Piano For Dummies; you'll be tickling the ivories with ease in no time!

Instruments & Performers Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Instruments & Performers Books
Instrument of Worship Volume One ImageInstrument of Worship Volume One
Benson Records; Paperback; Book
Season of Peace: Guitar ImageSeason of Peace: Guitar
GIA Publications; Published: 1993-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $9.95
Amazing Love: Piano ImageAmazing Love: Piano
Genevox Music Group; Published: 1994-07; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $11.95
Majestic Trumpet Trios Christmas: Volume 2 ImageMajestic Trumpet Trios Christmas: Volume 2
Majestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-09; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $19.95
Majestic Brass Quartets: Volume One ImageMajestic Brass Quartets: Volume One
Majestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $24.95
101 Ways to Evangelize: 88 Keys Image101 Ways to Evangelize: 88 Keys
Intrada Music; Paperback; Book
Keyboard Duets for Organ & Piano ImageKeyboard Duets for Organ & Piano
Hope Publishing Company (IL); Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Medium Range ImageGlory Forever: Medium Range
Alexandria House; Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Full Range ImageGlory Forever: Full Range
Alexandria House; Published: 1991-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $5.95
Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion ImageBeethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion
by Dr. Charles Rosen, Charles Rosen
Yale University Press; Published: 2001-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $26.73
Price in other shops: $35.00
Similar Books and other products
Singing For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) ImageSinging For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
by Pamelia S. Phillips
For Dummies; Published: 2010-11-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.16
Price in other shops: $24.99
Music Composition For Dummies ImageMusic Composition For Dummies
by Scott Jarrett, Holly Day
For Dummies; Published: 2008-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.46
Price in other shops: $21.99
Guitar For Dummies ImageGuitar For Dummies
by Mark Phillips, Jon Chappell
For Dummies; Published: 2005-10-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: $24.99
Learn to Read Music (Softcover) ImageLearn to Read Music (Softcover)
by Howard Shanet
A Fireside Book/Simon and Schuster; Hal Leonard Corp; Published: 1971-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.69
Price in other shops: $14.00
Music Theory For Dummies, with Audio CD (For Dummies (Career/Education)) ImageMusic Theory For Dummies, with Audio CD (For Dummies (Career/ Education))
by Michael Pilhofer, Holly Day
For Dummies; Published: 2011-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.47
Price in other shops: $24.99
Music Theory For Dummies, with Audio CD-ROM ImageMusic Theory For Dummies, with Audio CD-ROM
by Michael Pilhofer, Holly Day
For Dummies; Published: 2007-04-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops: $24.99
Piano Exercises For Dummies ImagePiano Exercises For Dummies
by David Pearl
For Dummies; Published: 2008-12-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.45
Price in other shops: $22.99
How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons: The Fastest, Easiest Way to Learn to Play from Sheet Music or by Ear ImageHow to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons: The Fastest, Easiest Way to Learn to Play from Sheet Music or by Ear
by Norman Monath
A Fireside Book/Simon and Schuster; Touchstone; Published: 1984-11-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.19
Price in other shops: $15.95
Teach Yourself to Play Piano: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners ImageTeach Yourself to Play Piano: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners
Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 2004-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.59
Price in other shops: $5.99
ABC Keyboard Stickers ImageABC Keyboard Stickers
by Hal Leonard Corp
Hal Leonard; Hal Leonard Corp; Published: 1990-07-01; Misc. Supplies; Book
Best price: $1.53
Price in other shops: $2.50