It is so easy to create your own piano arrangements for your favorite songs. In this video tutorial I show you how to create your own piano arrangements. All you need to know is how to play basic chords and how to read simple treble clef notation. I show you the rest!
How to create your own piano arrangements
What could be more satisfying than to create your own piano arrangements? Choose your favorite song, find a lead sheet online and get to work creating a satisfying arrangement. The best part of this process is that you don't have to be able to read challenging music AND you can customize your arrangement to your musical taste and your skill level.
For this tutorial, I use the classic Bette Midler ballad The Rose, but you can use this same set of steps for any song you like. Try songs like Let it Be, Eternal Flame, Amazing Grace, or any favorite song!
Follow the steps below that I have used to teach hundreds of people how to create their own piano arrangements.
BEFORE YOU START: Know your chords
I know it might super daunting, but you only need to know your major and minor chords in order to create fantastic piano arrangements. Sign up below to get a free copy of my Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheets and an amazing video tutorial that show you how!
Need to learn chords?
Sign up and get my FREE Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheets! Perfect for mastering your chords on piano.
How to Read a Lead Sheet
A lead sheet is a style of sheet music the shows the melody, the chord symbols and the lyrics. In this version of The Rose, you can see that the melody is written in music notation. The letters written above the music are the chord symbols. Learning to read a lead sheet is a great way to start with music notation. Watch this video to learn how!
Step #1: LH Chord, RH Melody
Your first step will be to play the chord in the left hand, while your right hand plays the melody in the right hand. You are always welcome to sing along if it helps you to play the melody more accurately.
Your ears are a great tool as well as your eyes!
Step #2: LH Root and 5th, RH Melody
Your next step will be to play just the root and the 5th of the chord in the left hand, while your right hand plays the melody in the right hand. This is a preparatory step to get you ready for our next accompaniment strategies!
Step #3: LH PULSE Root and 5th, RH Melody
Your next step will be to play just the root and the 5th of the chord in the left hand, while your right hand plays the melody in the right hand. This is a preparatory step to get you ready for our next accompaniment strategies!
Step #4: LH arpeggio, RH Melody
Our final step will be to take the Root - 5th - Root and break it up in the left hand. This creates a beautiful flowing accompaniment that sounds very full but is surprisingly not too hard to play!
You have created a beautiful piano arrangement!
In these four simple steps, you have now created a beautiful and complete sounding piano arrangement.
Make a list of some not-too-hard songs that you would like to play and follow these steps!
Songs like: Let it Be, Hey Jude, Eternal Flame, Amazing Grace, America the Beautiful that aren't too difficult to play. Find the lead sheets on line or buy a fake book and go to town!
Want to level up your musical skills? Strengthen your piano skills, develop your ear training, become a rhythm ninja and learn new skills like jazz and improvisation.
The Versatile Musician is an all-in-one membership that combines video lessons, print material and live support to help you level up your skills and thrive as a musician and music teacher.
To learn more, check out www.theversatilemusician.com and get ready to become the best musician possible!
What a Wonderful World Piano Tutorial