So I'm trying to impress a girl with my piano skills. Which piece would you choose? I'm thinking something by Yiruma, but maybe Taylor Swift or so...

Funny topic... ten points for honesty.

Get her to tell you her favorite song ever, and then learn it. Quickly.

writing one and name it after her.

That's it!

what if you can't write a song?

Or worse... what if you write one, name it for her, and she doesn't like it? I stand by my original suggestion.

How old is she ? Taylor Swift imo

fur elise [does she play piano? --better than you?]

Nah she doesnt play it. Now I'm thinking more about My Heart Will go On since I can't personally write music. Any more suggestions?

Depends on the girl. If I were a girl I'd probably just like it that you're playing something for me. I like Legal Beagle's first suggestion. How impressed she'll be probably depends on how fast and how well you learn it, and if you can't find piano sheet music for it, she should be impressed if you transcribe some, then learn it well, then play it for her. Boom, headshot.

Edit: ...and if she says her favorite song is the Rach 2 or something, no worries because the difficulty is directly related to how impressed she'll be; she'll be über impressed if you learn it well and play it for her.

Legal Beagle's suggestion is excellent.

Even better, learn to sound out the song on the spot. Check out the girl's reaction at 2:00 of this awesome ChatRoulette / piano improv video making the rounds:

Learn a song with her name in the title. "Emily";" Lucille"; "once in love with Amy"; etc.

Oooh, I like that a lot, daviel. Of course, if her name is Lafawnda or something you might have a little trouble...

Of course, if her name really is Lafawnduh (discovered I had spelled it wrong), then I recommend this: For Lafawnduh

My proposition: learn a good ragtime from Scott Joplin. Ladies love ragtime - but will never admit..

The Godowsky-Chopin etude arrangements.
She'll think you're Superman.

Sweet Bye and Bye, or The Robin's Return? Not very difficult to learn but the melodies are sweet.

I would play whatever impresses YOU the most.

You will put 100% into that one, and she will like you for who you are (or not) and not just because you are trying to impress her.

That is absolutely hilarious. What a champion this guy is!! pure gold, hahaha

Even if you play badly and she still is happy you played something for her, then you have true love

This is so AMAZING!!! Also, a great way to share his music and to make people smile!
: )

Claire De Lune (what girl doesn't watch Twilight)
Traumerei (sweet piece)
Rhapsody on a Theme By Paganini (Maybe for the older women but it has a sweet melody

Now if you want to play something virtuosic, you need to stay away from the abstract and dissonant works not exactly appealing to the ears of non-musicians - Liszt, Bach, Rach, Prokofiev, e.t.c.

Maybe take a look at some Chopin Nocturnes

Probably try to think of a song that reminds you of her, tell her why and then play it for her. Unless it's "Back Dat A** up" or something like that. Although, if she has a good sense of humor, it might make her laugh

Hi, maybe you should play the overplayed moonlight's sonata 1st movement. Even if its really trivial all girls like it, especially if you play it for them. And you can learn it in less than a week.

But I have to admit (sadly) that Bach is NOT the way to go
But some "romantic" bach pieces would do the job.. IE variation 25 (Goldberg), some transcriptions (like 1068 aria), adagio 564..
maybe contrapunctus 1 from the art of fugue can please an untrained ear.

I forgot to include an other easy romantic piece, the chopins op28 #4 "suffocation", easy to play and good for girls

It really does depend on the girl, but make sure it's something you can play well. Better to play an easier piece well than mess up on a harder one in front of the girl you like...

anything but "Lord I Was Born a Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers...

this one worked for me though, I wrote it on Valentine's Day for my girlfriend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ZqKLfKQQU

When I was in college there was a beautiful grand piano in the student union. My freshman year I sat down and started to play "The Days of Wine and Roses." This incredible blonde came over to me and just stood there. When I finished I knew she had a strong connection to the song. We dated for quite a while after that and all my friends would call her "Days." Go with a ballad my friend.

Andy

Either the Mendelssohn or Wagner Wedding March. "I know it's silly, but it's always been my favourite tune..."

Or compose one. A skilfully constructed "special song" can be adapted to any name. Think "Happy Birthday". Mine has been recycled several times :-)

The only time I ever got picked up on a gig, she said she always liked pianists, they had such clever fingers. (Yes, really)

Has anyone mentioned Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water? Take a crack at that tune and any woman will be impressed.

katt

"What do they want?"

Freud asked, and I see men are still asking. Even the great Sherlock Holmes found this all but impossible to interpret... and I suspect they like it that way.

However, some detective work of your own could help the odds. A look at her music collection, for instance; noticing what radio station she listens to; asking her friends or siblings (though they may give you away); even asking her.

If she thinks you've tried to please her and have thought about what she likes (and dislikes), I think that could help you. Bring out a bouquet of flowers from a place of concealment (not red roses, though) and present it to her when you play--- that helps make an impression. Some piece you really love and can play well, that expresses your own feelings, will at least get you credit for a good effort (and she will remind her husband of it, many times, in the future).

Bottom line: she either likes you, or she doesn't. So, give it a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Debussy's music in general. 'The girl with flaxen hair' is a good example.

This one is easy to learn fast:

The Piano [Life is a song] Yann Tiersen ...

Believe it or not, a girl worth her salt is most impressed with your intracranial contents AND your ability to communicate and share them.. Honest!

This one always impresses me!

For a few reasons! One reason, I like watching the piano open like that, and two, he's just plays the way I like! Relaxed but rough and edgy!

I just like all this! What more can I say!

Or playing like this! A medley arrangement of a few pieces! Mix it up a little!

This is from the movie "Groundhog Day"!

I believe the piece Bluespianofan might be referring to is Comptine d'un autre été by Yann Tiersen. It is a very moving piece of music. This is the piece that made me want to learn how to play piano! Any girl will melt for this one (I'm a little partial to Tiersen)! I also agree with Rob and Jeff...YOU'VE gotta love whatever piece you pick. She will hear the emotion you play it with. Good luck! I'd be curious to know which one you end up going with!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFLF-gh4C2M

If those "intracranial contents" include piano playing knowledge well, that's just even better!

You should try, "I've got so many hundred-dollar bills in my pocket that they're cutting off the circulation in my leg. Here, why don't you take about 50 of them?"

Do you really want to impress her?
is she your dream girl?

then there is a proven rule buddy!

NEVER SHOW HER THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO IMPRESS HER. NEVER!

Nice Topic!
My suggestions would be some of the ones already mentioned. What girl doesn't like Twilight? But depending on what style you're looking for-

Soundtrack- Bella's Lullaby from Twilight (not the Yiruma one). Or The Heart asks Pleasure First from The Piano.

Contemporary- Comptine D'ete ... by Yann Tiersen or many others by him. Struggle for Pleasure by Wim Mertens.

Pop- Love Song by Sara Bareilles

Classical- Debussy's Clair de Lune, Chopin's Nocturne op 9 #2 or some other Chopin- Fantasie Impromptu

Flowers, dinner, and listening to her, will probably impress her the most.

Forget showing off on the piano.

Whatever it is, i think it's best if she recognizes it. It will not be boring that way. People can relate to music they a refamiliar with.

Ok I am dying to know - have you chosen a piece and have you played it for her yet?

though this is an old thread, i recommend godowsky's arrangement of the swan.

"Which piece would you choose?"

Pick a piece based on how she dresses and which sociologic group she belongs to : Emo, rock chick, chav, geek, wigger, nerd, keener and so forth which should also give a clue to the music she admits to listening to...

Checkout VKGOESWILD channel on youtube. She'll send sheet music for a small donation...

If target is Emo or Rock oreinted the how about Nine inch Nails' "Hurt" or Placebo/Kate Bush "Running up that hill" or Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box".

Here's a real killer song guaranteed to make you even more of a babe magnet....


"Cat Scratch Fever"

Hey, just kidding, I couldn't resist. Stick with Fur Elise and have a great day.

Ikeboy

Yeah... c'mon joaquin112, give us an update!

If time is not much of an issue, learn this one. Sheet music available for free.



It impresses me.

If I were you I wouldn't play anything to serious, instead I'd do something fun!

Like a boogie or some blues to get her tappin' her foot haha and then you could show off some sweet improv skills!

Why try and impress. Do what you want to do. Play that wonderful discordant sonata by Xenaxis, or Prokofiev with lots of discord and fortissomos, and bewildering chromatics. Really forget the girl. Blot her out and ignore her. If she's a beauty she'll be intrigued. But if you get steamed up you won't concentrate on your playing and you'll be likely to come over as a sap.

Works every time.

Well I will have to say depends on your girl attention span and how much she really enjoy music. You can try these :S

First Love - Utada Hikaru
Moonlight Road - Amanda

If possible Franz Liszt, Liebestrum No.3
or Debussy, Clair de Lune for Twilight girls :P

Or checkout Chopin's work such as:
Nocturne No.2 - Op.9 No.2 - in Eb
Waltz - Op.64 No.2 - in C#m
Etude No.3 - Op.10 No.3 - in E (Tristesse, Sadness)
Prelude No.15 - Op.28 No.15 - in Db (Raindrop)

Schubert, Ellens Gesang III 'Ave Maria' (Piano transcribe)

J.S. Bach, Air Suite No.3 in D?

Great topic - it's generated a lot of good suggestions that I appreciate having. My suggestion is "The Summer Wind" - the theme to the movie Summer of 42. The sheet music version is a good intermediate version.