Greatest Piano Intro Ever? 'The Way It Is' by Bruce Hornsby

🔥 Download your Free PDF Lesson Book → download.thekeyscoach.com/bru...
In this video, Adam breaks down the iconic piano intro to “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby. Adam will guide you step-by-step on how to master the classic groove that forms the foundation of the song. Then, he'll demonstrate how you can integrate some of Bruce's unique piano tips and tricks into your own playing. This is the most widely requested piano intro in this series so far, so if you’re looking to get more creative with your keys playing, then this is the video for you.
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Video Breakdown:
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Step 1: Learn the Groove
4:51 - Rhythmic Pushes
5:40 - Step 2: Add the Detail
8:01 - Left Hand Breakdown
9:34 - Intro Breakdown
10:47 - Step 3: Extract Some Nuggets!
11:36 - Nugget #1 - Split the Triad
12:58 - Nugget #2 - Rhythmic Pattern
13:30 - Nugget #3 - Gospel Triads
16:30 - Step 4: Get Creative!
17:25 - New Chord Sequence
18:35 - Add the Rhythm
19:35 - Add the Split Triads
21:33 - Add the Gospel Triads
22:40 - Playthrough
Check out the Podcast! 🎧 - podfollow.com/the-keys-coach-...
ABOUT THE KEYS COACH
===
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[@frgreen4]

All of your videos are valuable, but this one is especially impressive. Unlike nearly all other KZbin presentations, this one provides insight as to how to incorporate these techniques into our own playing. You are true to your intention to help us expand our creativity.

[@scwyldspirit]

I started learning this on HDPiano. And this kind of brings it all home. Yeah I started on it yesterday and started with the beginning of the song.

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome!

[@bienvenus.n4072]

Gospel Triads, Sus2 and Sus4 may be the best discoveries in piano. Great work, i have learned today.

[@thekeyscoach]

That's awesome! Thanks!

[@nickmorley1159]

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better ... Boom! Itching to get to the piano as I'm away for the weekend so I can't wait to get to this.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Nick! Glad you enjoyed - let me know how you get on trying it out! 🚀

[@marcmcconnell]

Really enjoyed you taking the techniques and applying them to another chord progress. That clicked in my brain in a way that will let me use them in other contexts. Well done!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Marcus! So glad it’s useful for you!

[@bleuShoErn]

Never noticed it before you breaking it down, but I do believe there is a styling of Floyd Cramer slip note in this. My mom loved Cramer, herself being a pianist and influenced me to play. Last Date was one of the first songs I learned to play. Thx for reintroducing me to this song. It’s been along time since I’ve played Hornsby music.

[@thekeyscoach]

Interesting! Thanks for checking the video out - so glad it's reintroduced you to this amazing track.

[@toskaninimissebukpo8410]

Sooo whoa🎉

[@thekeyscoach]

🙌

[@Ozgurs_piano_journey]

Now this is my all time best of and I've been trying to learn it since ages and always failing...Needless to say I'm so excited to start this today immediately! Hope I get it this time!

[@thekeyscoach]

You got this! Let me know how you get on!

[@felixdada2044]

Very Good teaching , Thank you so much

[@erykadubois4555]

AMAZING...........Adam, when I grow up, I wanna be like you. The way you break it down, even a relative beginner like me could play the rythmn in a few minutes.

[@marshac1479]

That's a song. I keep meaning to play the solo...

[@thekeyscoach]

The solo later on in the track is awesome! Too much to cover in one video 😅

[@patriciaann6380]

Yet another great video Adam , thank you so much 🤗

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure!

[@DieBirte]

Danke!

[@michaelkeithson]

Great lesson Adam! Bruce Hornsby was my biggest inspiration when I first started playing. Still love listening to him. 🎹

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Michael! Yeah he's awesome isn't he! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@EuripidesChimbidis]

Excellent lesson, Adam. Thanks!!

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks!

[@fernandovp230]

great lesson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congratulations 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you! 😃

[@chaotictherory]

My 3 favorite piano/keys players are Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bruce Hornsby. You've done 2 of 3 and am stoked! This song was always one of my inspirations to learn. You're awesome Adam and keep up the outstanding blessings you share with all who tune in to your channel. Mad respect coming to you from Oregon, USA.✊️

[@thekeyscoach]

Ah that’s so great to hear! So glad you’re finding these videos useful! What Billy Joel song do you reckon has the best piano intro? 🤔

[@chaotictherory]

@@thekeyscoach In my opinion, Allentown. There's something about that intro that every time I hear it, I want to play it.

[@thekeyscoach]

👍 great shout!

[@mh22xv]

Awesome lesson

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! 😃

[@afhoj]

Really good stuff Adam, enjoyed that one!

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

[@back-seat-driver1355]

Wonderful detailed teaching- thank you so much Adam! I got addicted to your channel.

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome, thank you! 🤩

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

This was way too cool.

[@DieBirte]

Oh, wow, Adam… You‘re the greatest… Speechless. ❤

[@thekeyscoach]

🙏 So glad you found the video useful!

[@billhasty5197]

Another fantastic lesson. I always wait with great anticipation every week for your new video. Thanks Adam. That old Rod Stewart song is a wonderful old classic. How about teaching that to us someday. Glad Rags.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Bill! So glad you're getting lots of value from these videos!

[@geralynpalacol3764]

🎹oh wow, you just uploaded this!!! THANK YOU ADAM!!!🎹🎉🎉🎉

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure!!

[@TedBuffington390]

YAY! Kudos! This is an excellent lesson and production! THANKS Adam!!

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure Ted!

[@kadiummusic]

Either that or Rockin' All Over The World. 😎

[@thekeyscoach]

So good! Status Quo were the first band I ever saw live 🚀

[@werhobbies]

Wow! That was a great video!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you! 🙏

[@larrydupre1545]

Amazing video! Best on KZbin imo 🙏🏼

[@thekeyscoach]

Wow, thanks Larry! 🙌

[@werhobbies]

I’ve been working on this for several weeks. I have much of the intro down pretty well, but not near to the pace Bruce plays. Hope to learn more here.

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome! Let me know how you get on!

[@wedgeproductions]

Great video ! Thanks Adam

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed - it was a lot of fun to make! Such a great tune.

[@talandis]

Wow! What an amazing lesson. I've long dreamed of being able to play BH's "The Way It Is", but this tutorial takes it a step further. Instead of learning to play a master's piece verbatim, and thus being kind of locked into it, the emphasis is on learning from the master and applying those techniques to develop one's own creativity. As a result, there are limitless possibilities to explore. I imagine that if I learned to play TWIS perfectly, I would still get bored after a while. But now, I see there is a real path forward for me that is better. This is what I'm really looking for, a way to express myself on the keyboard in styles that I really love. Thanks so much for this! Keep up the great work.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you so much! 🙏 You’ve articulated so clearly what I’m trying to do here in this video, and on the channel in general. I’m so glad you found it useful. Let me know how you get on with getting this one down! 🚀

[@mreib7]

this sums it for me as well. If I learn a song I love, it just doesn't give me the thrill of creating something of my own. Taking the ideas and developing something of my own is what really delivers the bliss.

[@thekeyscoach]

🙌

[@talandis]

Two weeks later, I'm still at it. I've made my way through it, now trying to get up to the speed of the playthrough. Super fun! Thanks again for this lesson. It's really been great.

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome!! 🙌 Great work!

[@geralynpalacol3764]

Thanks!

[@richardandruthcollins5217]

Nice Stuff here!!!!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Minot855]

Play with song Mr adam

[@Sha.lom123]

Hi how do seperate the track into different instruments

[@Sha.lom123]

May be backing tracks

[@josephsarto2763]

Great question

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi! I create my own backing tracks for all these videos. So I make the drums and then record the bass and any other parts. I haven’t experimented too much with AI stem generators - I quite enjoy making the tracks though!

[@kbstabs5982]

Great video and lesson but not able to download the PDF from this and your previous video.

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi - glad you enjoyed the lesson! Shoot me an email [e-mail] and I’ll make sure you get them. 👍

[@markdwyer5301]

Oh my god your thumbnails.

[@javiera.4120]

Hello Adam, I love your classes, how can I get the accompaniment to this intro " mp3"? Greetings from Spain

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi! Shoot me an email [e-mail] Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Faithful_Watchman]

The Keys Coach: The D is 2nd inversion add G, not Am over D.

[@gittakarlewski7367]

Like yourvideos a lot! This was the first one which was not too advanced and quick for me! Really enjoyed it and learned it! But cannot find your video about Gospel triads which is interesting. ????

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome! Here is the link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r52cdXuZdrikg8Usi=Qg8rXjOTpq74004Z

[@gittakarlewski7367]

@@thekeyscoach thanks!😀will have a try!

[@andrewwright6893]

Superb lesson. What a tune

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Andrew!

[@maxmainzer9978]

Danke!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Max! Glad you enjoyed the video!