How to Play "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the M.G.'s | HDpiano (Part 1) Piano Tutorial

In this piano tutorial we'll learn how to play "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the M.G.'s!
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🎹 You can find the full tutorial, along with thousands of your favorite songs at HDpiano.com
This song came out of an in-studio jam session that took place when a scheduled singer failed to show up. It was originally titled "Funky Onions," but Jim Stewart, owner of Stax Records, worried that it sounded too much like a certain curse word, so it was changed.
0:00 - Welcome!
0:14 - Demonstration
0:44 - Form
0:55 - Key & Question
1:30 - Swing feel
2:07 - Left hand
2:45 - Right hand
5:15 - Bb, Db, Eb
7:10 - Return to F riff
7:36 - C, Eb, F and final return to F riff
9:05 - Review
9:36 - Left hand variation
10:05 - Final play through
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#HDpiano #pianotutorial #GreenOnions #BookerTtheMGs

[@HDpiano]

Full lesson: hdpiano.com/lesson/green-onions-by-booker-t-mgs/ ♬ Sheet Music for this lesson available at Musicnotes!: www.musicnotes.com/l/HHhqW ♬

[@lashamaisuradze5292]

Hello Mister. I am Lasha from Georgia... it's poor country. I really really want to learn the whole melody but I cant afford that. You would make me very happy if you could send the whole lesson.. because it's only joy I have for now. Sorry for disturbing ...

[@RickyOldham]

Your videos look like actual comercials

[@MultiGlennbo]

Actual quote from the Band. “Someone at Stax had an MG motor car, so we called ourselves Booker T and the MGs. When the British car firm’s lawyers told us to desist, we told them it stood for Memphis Group. We all had to swear to secrecy that we’d never talk about the car again. Years later, we were being interviewed and someone asked: “What does MG actually stand for?” Duck Dunn [who replaced Steinberg in 1964] said: “Musical geniuses!”

[@HDpiano]

Wow, super cool. Thanks for sharing!

[@electro-akrasia]

That's brilliant.. Absolutely, cool.

[@potattoggled]

woh

[@chrisholland3552]

Yes! Now we have a song to demonstrate the organ presets on our electronic keyboards. Thank you for this stone, cold classic.

[@HDpiano]

WOOOOHOOO

[@ronniemoyer578]

Just what I needed…I had most it. You helped a bunch! This is so fun to jam to. Thank you ! 🎹

[@RogerT-kt3zd]

Thank you so much!! i’ve been playing the keyboard for a week and you taught me how to play one of my all time favourite tunes!!!

[@danmatthews3102]

Great Job! The visual layout makes it very easy to see and understand. Thanks for posting this.

[@HDpiano]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the kind words, Dan.

[@faridb.3468]

Thank you very much for your job !

[@biometa6232]

perfect tutorial cheers, gonna try it on the organ setting on the keyboard :D

[@HDpiano]

love that call

[@danielrowe8373]

I’ve never had lessons but with a few days of practice I’m able to play this now! Thanks for making the video. Such a great song

[@HDpiano]

Rock on, Daniel!

[@Simon-xu1qt]

Amazing. It took me ages to learn this but I love it

[@HDpiano]

Good job, Simon!!

[@DWDHARVEY1]

Great job of explaining , thanks, Don

[@HDpiano]

np!

[@beat2009]

Thank for crystal clear tutorial.

[@HDpiano]

That's what we do - thank you!

[@leeclarke8993]

I tried to learn that awhile back now I think I’try again.

[@danstokesmusic]

Great tune Love the vids

[@HDpiano]

Thank ya!

[@VIVI_TheBEATS...RuSTiCkSTuDiO]

Thank You!🎶

[@davidconnellchicago]

MG's stands for the "Memphis Group" Stax is located in Memphis Tennessee. I believe they have a museum down there for Stax. And of course, Sun Records or the Memphis Recording Studio is located there.

[@mrman6436]

learning this with a cold is hard haha I like this song thanks HD piano:)

[@HDpiano]

lolz

[@noi5emaker]

Think of it as Greed Odiods... ;-)

[@reanimatedchild]

The Memphis Group is what MG’s stand for!

[@thomasklang8887]

Band name For many years, Stax publicity releases stated that the initials in the band's name stood for "Memphis Group", not the MG sports car. However, this has proved not to be the case.[16] Musician and record producer Chips Moman, who worked at Stax Records when the band was formed, claimed that the band was named after his sports car, and only after he left the label did Stax's publicity department declare that "M.G." stood for "Memphis Group". Moman had played with Jones and Steinberg in an earlier Stax backing group called the Triumphs, which was also named after his car.[17] Jones, in a 2007 interview on National Public Radio's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, confirmed Moman's account of the origin of the group's name.[18] Jones has re-confirmed this story on several occasions since, most recently as a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman on May 9, 2012. Stax historian Rob Bowman has averred that the reason the label obscured the story of the meaning of the name M.G.'s (and concocted the "Memphis Group" explanation) was to avoid claims of trademark infringement from the manufacturers of the car. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Steve Cropper confirmed the motor car origin and "Memphis Group" explanation, but added 'we were being interviewed and someone asked: "What does MG actually stand for?" Duck Dunn said: "Musical geniuses!"'[19]

[@JoostArchives]

Thanks man! Awesome lesson!

[@HDpiano]

My pleasure!

[@LaCroixIIJohn]

Bro you rock thanks

[@MickCorgi]

Thanks! I got the idea. But the thing is ♩♪♩. ♫ bass beat is so difficult to combine with the right. I always slip into ♩ ♩♩♫ and hell of repetition needed.

[@hccarder]

well explained ;)

[@HDpiano]

Glad to hear it, thanks for the feedback!

[@kingjacksgaming2774]

Love the vids keep it up is there a song that you consider hard and if there is what is it??

[@HDpiano]

Here! hdpiano.com/search/difficulty/advanced/

[@mick947]

Great lesson. I sometimes get confused when you repeat small parts of the lesson.. i don’t know if that’s how the song goes or it’s just a repeat and I lose the thread. Thanks again!

[@rubyt.yyc1350]

I just started playing and I love this song but I swear it’s so hard

[@HDpiano]

you can do this!

[@tictac4949]

its pretty hard but you got it

[@garykeating4964]

hi my son travis is learning this song thanks alot for your amazing help

[@HDpiano]

You're welcome; good luck to Travis!

[@norcal6181]

Was there ever a part two released for this? I need to learn the lead licks!

[@HDpiano]

All parts to all lessons are featured at hdpiano.com!

[@imamerican3720]

5:39 this is for me

[@HDpiano]

yay

[@mrman6436]

❤️❤️

[@HDpiano]

[@tonespinner]

Thought this would be an easy song to learn but its not. Thank you for the great tutorial. Helped me out a bunch. PS: I'm thinking that the "MGs" in the band name might be taken from the British sports car that was so popular at the time that this recording came out. It gives the group name "Booker T and the MGs" a nice phonetic ring.

[@HDpiano]

Fair enough! And nice, hah.

[@martynanstis1620]

Think it’s more to do with Memphis Group?

[@forresterickson6225]

Because one of the other members had an MG automobile. You may need to explain quaver for us west of the Atlantic.

[@Afonso.Francisco]

Great job but where is the second part..?

[@gthrockstar]

Short for “Memphis Group”

[@HDpiano]

Woo!

[@grezair7117]

No, "Memphis Group" was what the Stax Records publicity dept. claimed it stood for because they were afraid the "MG" car company would sue for copyright infringement. But it was named after a Stax employee's car, and Jones has confirmed this on numerous on-air interviews.

[@jepchang]

If learn with this matter means i will be good as the one learning with the cord?

[@HDpiano]

sure!

[@themanofknowledge8941]

:o It looks so hard but it wasn't thanks to you

[@HDpiano]

Way to go.

[@tonimiebach]

M.G. stands for Memphis Groove.

[@HDpiano]

ah!

[@s.a.4570]

pleeease do "I Lost A Friend" by FINNEAS!!!! :)

[@HDpiano]

Enter your request at requests.hdpiano.com! Easy, fast, and fun.

[@Alex_OW]

Yo I’ve always loved hill climb racing

[@HDpiano]

neat!

[@josephlawrence2042]

I love u guys but can u teach me how to play the power to resist

[@HDpiano]

Enter your request at requests.hdpiano.com! Easy, fast, and fun.

[@thomasthomassufok]

I thought the left Hand was just quarter notes, isnt it ?

[@HDpiano]

Can be!

[@michelrail]

MG's stands for Memphis Group.

[@HDpiano]

ya!

[@Gladgara12]

0:14

[@HDpiano]

:)

[@jarovdz1065]

Please do Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John

[@HDpiano]

Unfortunately some artists & titles are temporarily unavailable in our catalog due to licensing exclusions. Don't worry though, we're working so hard to get their approval! Click this link for real-time licensing updates: hdpiano.com/licensing.

[@narrabeenstudent7027]

4:46 (for me)

[@HDpiano]

:)

[@fricknmcnugget]

7:26

[@HDpiano]

:)

[@brandongriggs6934]

4:38

[@HDpiano]

:)

[@bigbadbillb]

To answer your question: M.G. stands for "Memphis Group".

[@HDpiano]

Bingo.

[@reggielondon349]

@@HDpiano Great tutorial thanks, by the way just found this on The Guardian by Steve Cropper himself: 'Someone at Stax had an MG motor car, so we called ourselves Booker T and the MGs. When the British car firm’s lawyers told us to desist, we told them it stood for Memphis Group. We all had to swear to secrecy that we’d never talk about the car again. Years later, we were being interviewed and someone asked: “What does MG actually stand for?” Duck Dunn [who replaced Steinberg in 1964] said: “Musical geniuses!” Booker and I looked at each other. I think we wanted to kill Duck, because we’d never say that about ourselves. But at least they got an answer to their question.' It's a good article - not sure if links in comments get disqualified as spam so search for "The Guardian How we made Booker T and the MGs' Green Onions"

[@jbloomfield795]

The MGS stand for... nah. I can't tell ya. But its a simple name... and a killer band

[@HDpiano]

lol

[@nickc6429]

MGs , Memphis Group

[@HDpiano]

yeah!

[@lewisprice4482]

Called the MGs after the MG cars

[@HDpiano]

oh!

[@azguitar]

Booker doesn't always anticipate the three like you do at 4:35. He often plays swinging quarter notes in the bass, like here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJmcfHewg9Cjias

[@HDpiano]

Yeah it's definitely a bit improvised here and there. :)

[@Nightstroller34]

MG literally stands for Memphis Group....in this particular case.

[@HDpiano]

ah!

[@patthefatcat2828]

Skate 1 hahahah

[@HDpiano]

:D

[@patthefatcat2828]

@@HDpiano um can you pls play skate 1 music in piano thx

[@peterlloyd5285]

MGs = Memphis Group

[@HDpiano]

ah!

[@undergroundmoe]

Thank you fella for the tutorial but the bassline is rhythmical incorrect to the original. Booker T played it straight. You can see how he plays it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJmcfHewg9Cjias Beside that, great tutorial!

[@HDpiano]

hm!

[@demetriforakis]

Got the left hand wrong. Go watch his tiny desk

[@atomicflash1753]

You got to be kidding...you suck

[@HDpiano]

wow thanks

[@wormtownpaul]

You're messing up the timing on the left hand. It's simpler than you are making it.

[@HDpiano]

Hm!

[@StephenRead444]

Slow down man ......

[@HDpiano]

Sorry you’re not happy with our pacing- we’re constantly searching for the perfect speed to suit as many learners as possible. The video player at HDpiano.com lets you slow down playback-from mobile AND desktop-for all videos. We also built a custom looping tool that allows the viewer to focus on those extra challenging spots. If you're not interested in trying our site, you can use the speed controls on KZbin desktop to slow down playback.

[@lukethompson4848]

Love this song but want a different teacher. I think he taught it pretty badly as he gave it all to you in one go with little explanation. No break down at all

[@HDpiano]

Thanks for the feedback; sorry this one didn't work for ya. We appreciate your comment!

[@antoniosantorini9355]

You are not playing this right and making it so much harder to teach this song

[@shockedgaming8391]

this sucks

[@HDpiano]

:'(

[@shockedgaming8391]

HDpiano im sorry it does suck ok?

[@imamerican3720]

Shocked Gaming it really doesn’t tho you just have no taste

[@shockedgaming8391]

ok poop

[@Radioactivemoon]

All wrong

[@kawabungadad8945]

7:25

[@HDpiano]

:)

[@kawabungadad8945]

@@HDpiano took me a few days but finally got it down today. Thanks for the tutorial.