Hello everybody,

I know transcribing is the best way to approach rock piano What Id like to do is compile a list of, lets. say, 40 tunes, gradually going from easiest to really hard. The starting point is basic technique and an ability to pick out melodies and basic chords. The list would then start with some easy piano parts (like Imagine) and gradually go to the harder tunes, training ones ear and technique in the proccess, so that at the end of transcribing one would have a good ear and technique for rock piano.

Does anyone think thats a good idea and has any suggestions for the list?

Thanks!

That's basically what PianoMagic has you do, so yes, it's a good idea. Now my list will not necessarily be what you would like to spend your time on. Start with 10 and if one of them proves to be too hard move it into your to do later list. Again that's what PM has you do.

I'm not really up for trying to transcribe anything yet , but I think a list of where to start when the time comes would be great. I think it would be nice to have a list of rock piano pieces either in order easiest to hardest or out of order with a notation of how difficult they are just to play from the music available for them. In classical they can go by grades but I'm never sure when I think of a song whether or not I should be trying it. I've found that some things that sound simple aren't, but others I was not going to mess with at all because they sound so difficult were really not so bad after all.

Start with bands or soloist that have a piano in their line-up. Beatles "hey jude" or "golden slumbers" are a great starting point. When you're mastering this songs, go on advancing to other Beatles tunes and you can try with some Tom Waits songs like "waltzing matilda", some Queen and a few Billy Joel, Ben Folds Five or Elton John.

Bruce Springsteen has some fun songs that sound good on piano like "The River", "Thunder Road"...when I fit these into the mix in piano rooms/hotel lobbies, people's ears perked up in appreciation! There are tunes by Neil Young that work ("Til the Morning Comes") comes to mind and singer/songerwriter tunes by James Taylor/Carly Simon that work well. But if you are looking for strickly rock, don't forget that swell Eric Clapton interlude in "Layla" (Eric and the Dominoes")...always a hit!
Robin Spielberg

I'd say start with the songs you like the most. What are your top 5 favorite piano songs? It's more fun to transcribe a song you REALLY like assuming it's not too difficult.

A few rock songs which I think would be worth transcribing:

Fade to Black - Metallica
Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
One - Metallica
Somebody to Love - Queen

Oh and by the way, its best to transcribe something that you feel comfortable listening to and know well, i.e melody, key signature and basic chords. Have fun