Basically I have a piano fake book filled with songs I want to learn so I can sing the songs along with my playing. (Scott The Piano Guy)

But the book is written in a way that the vocal melody is what is played with the right hand. I don't want to play each note with my right hand as I sing along, it doesn't make sense.

How can I change the arrangements so that I'm playing simple accompaniment whilst I sing? Are there any tricks out there?

Or can you recommend a better book?

thanks!

Play chords in your right hand just like you do in your left You can play arpeggios on those chords, or "oom pah" bass lines, or other rhythms. Or little runs between chords. Experiment.

Cathy

AS jotur said, play chords on right hand, bass on left. Go to youtube and search for anyone singing the song with piano accompanying.

Do you have a particular song in mind? If so, what is the key?

What you have in front of you is in no way intended as specific instructions on what to play on your piano, but just information on what the melody and chords are. Actually, what you would NEVER do is play RH melody, LH chords (unless you had a taste for musical mud :-)

Here's one approach. Pick a tune that's a reasonably slow 4-in-the-bar ballad. Think of a guitar playing a simple strum pattern, hitting each beat. Do that in the RH, just playing the simple chord as indicated. Play the root note in the LH. Maybe whole notes, maybe halves or quarters. For a faster song that is easily modified to an "oom-chum" vamp. As you progress, consider supporting the melody some of the time in the RH, or filling in the rhythmic gaps in the melody with little echoing phrases. Always remember, the melody leads, the bass supports, the chords are just a filler.

If you are confident of chords, and you know what key your music is written in, then play a chord accompanient along to the bass line, maybe listen to an original version of the song to help you get a suitable rhythm for the piece.

I play in a little duo, and a lot of my work in this band requires a lot of chord progressions, with soloing and stuff. As you don't play the melody as you have a singer which takes that on as there main section. So if you haven't already, get practicing some chords.

I can help you out with this if you want, just PM me.

You can listen to Diana Krall sing as well as accompany herself on piano playing through standards that most everyone has heard or performed..

Singers can get real nit picky about how and what a piano player is using to accompany behind them. There is a fine line between playing too much at the wrong time or too little at the right time.

Some sheet music is written quite well with good accompanying parts, but the best way to get an idea of accompanying techniques is listening to how good pianists accompany singers.

I work with singers and years back I ended up bringing one of the singers I was working with to my piano lesson with a teacher who was a great accompanist and learned many things watching and listening to him play behind her.

Some pianists have a knack for good accompanying, some don't. it's an intuitive relationship developed between singer and pianist over time and takes some work too get it at a pro level. Hope that helps a bit.

katt

Hi ticklingIvory. You're absolutely right about not playing melody as you sing. As others have said, you need to play chords in the right hand. And the left hand can be as simple as just playing chord roots.

You might want to check out my online course Chords at the Piano: Getting Started. Most of the lessons and videos are free.

It's perfect for players who are just getting started accompanying themselves at the piano. It starts with basic chord theory, and by the end, you're singing and playing a simple ballad.

I'll be delighted to answer any questions you might have.

This is one of my biggest qualms about PVG music! Norah Jones actually released the sheet music of what she's playing note-for-note in her first album, the actual accompaniment. As a singer, I've been contemplating purchasing this book just to see what she's doing to learn to mimic.

I second the other suggestions: YouTube, chords in the RH, listen to Diana Krall. Get a teacher who DOES this. You'll learn really fast that way.