How to use a Fake Book - Featuring 100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know

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✅ Essential Piano Exercises by Jerald Simon
✅ 100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know by Jerald Simon
✅ Essential Jazz Piano Exercises by Jerald Simon
✅ Essential New Age Piano Exercises
Learn more about my best-selling book, "100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know" (Play the Same Song 100 Different Ways - Includes the FUN Fake Book), on Amazon at this link: amzn.to/2QKHwH7 - Here is the link for the Essential Piano Exercises Series on Amazon: www.amazon.com...
100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know was created to help piano students of all ages and skill levels learn how to improvise and arrange music of their own. The 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book can help piano students, piano teachers, and music professionals take their piano playing to the next level by learning how to play the same song 100 different ways.
The left hand patterns taught in this book have been divided up into four different groups:
1. Basic Left Hand Patterns, 2. Jazz, Blues, and Boogie-Woogie Left Hand Patterns, 3. Rock and Pop Left Hand Patterns, and 4. New Age and Contemporary Left Hand Patterns.
A few years ago I began composing COOL SONGS for my own piano students. It was a way to motivate or inspire them to keep playing the piano through original compositions I composed specifically for them. Learn more about my COOL SONGS at this link on my website: www.musicmotiv...
I, Jerald, try to be an additional resource and help out as time permits. Please connect with me on the following platforms and social media sites:
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[@JeraldSimon]

Thanks for watching my video. I'd love to have you subscribe to my KZbin channel at this link: kzbin.info - Let me know what kind of video piano lesson you'd like me to create and I will film one for you. The 3 main areas I like to focus on are: 1. Music Theory (Theory Therapy), 2. Improvisation (Innovative Improvisation), and 3. Composition (Creative Composition). I enjoy doing piano tutorials and reviews on music instruments, recording/filming technology, and also helping piano students get ideas for creating and composing music of their own. Leave a comment below and let me know what type of piano tutorial you would like me to create to help you on your musical journey! I have more resources available on my website at: musicmotivation.com/. I'd also love to have you check out my COOL SONGS Series I created to help motivate piano students - especially during their teen years: musicmotivation.com/coolsongs/. I primarily create music for teen piano students and adult piano students. You can learn more about my Essential Piano Exercise course at this link: www.essentialpianoexercises.com. I also teach weekly group online piano lessons to students all over the world in my Essential Piano Lessons series. You can learn more about joining our weekly group online piano lessons at this link: www.essentialpianolessons.com/. I have started teaching a two month long course for piano teachers who are wanting to learn more about how to teach music theory, improvisation, and composition. If you are a piano teacher, you can learn more about my course for piano teachers at this link: www.essentialpianoteachers.com/. If you have a minute, listen to some of my albums on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, or Pandora. Type in my name (Jerald Simon) and you will be able to listen to various albums I have released. Let me know how I can help you on your musical journey! Thanks - Jerald

[@julieharris47]

Hello Gerald, have purchased your book, 100 left hand patterns, can manage twinkle twinkle, but at a loss as to which patterns go with the other easy songs you printed, it would be helpful if you could have suggested suitable arrangements for these as well, or do I have to try all 100 patterns, I am also trying to teach a blind friend and she’s getting fed up with twinkle twinkle. Having passed grade 7 Trinity college; with as you guessed it classical music, really want to get into easy listening and jazz, but finding it difficult, I am 81 so perhaps it’s an age problem. Best wishes Julie

[@carolynmatondo3258]

Sir,You're so brilliant, you have lots of techniques of playing piano in the left hand. I tried myself to learn your techniques because I'm playing the piano by ear. Thank you so much for sharing your video. ❤❤❤

[@ClaudiaChestelson]

I am getting ready to purchase your book .."100 ways ..left hand.." I absolutely love how clear your explanations are for improvising. Took grueling lessons as a little girl reading notes and never ever knew that I could improvise anything. Thought that was against the law! Always wondered and was in awe of random great jazz musicians who could just play in a group - no music...they just picked a key and off they went...into improv utopia.. I was so envious. And now I have the opportunity through your incredible teaching and book to finally do something that just belongs to me. ...Thank you for being so brilliant.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you! Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything! Thanks - Jerald

[@gufra9835]

@ Claudia! Madame, thank you so much for your proper words. You talk for billions! And for me, too! Regards from Austria, Guenther Started with piano this year (Jan 2024) after 55 years guitar... Thought to myself, 70 is good age... 😉

[@firstblob]

Jerald is the best piano teacher, ever! I'm 64 years old and have been playing piano most of my life--by notes, classical, ragtime, etc. I was taught old school, to play what was on the page. Drudgery, to say the least. In other words, I was a proficient "typist" and sounded good if I practiced hour after hour, memorizing what was on the page. But I couldn't improvise my way out of a paper bag. I was lost if I forgot a passage in mid performance.. Side note: I was accepted into the I.U. school of music based on my piano audition. But again, I always felt like I had little to no talent because I didn't "own' what I was playing. Jerald's teaching method is exactly what young pianists need. I wish I had a teacher like him when I was young. He taught an old dog like me a lot of new tricks, and fast. In fact, the first day I was playing songs I thought would take me weeks to learn. Jerald is an awesome teacher. As good as I've ever seen. I bought his book with the 100 left hand patterns. Incredible. I am grateful I found it. Thanks, Jerald.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much, Daniel! I hope these videos and my books help. I hope you have a wonderful day today. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks again! - Jerald

[@molliedeb]

Daniel, you described my playing exactly and we are also very close in age! I just bought a keyboard to see if I could start playing differently with a little help using the keyboard functions, chords, and maybe, just maybe some improvisation.I happen to find this KZbin video and based on your recommendation I’m gonna give this a shot. Anyway, you perfectly described my frustration with always having to play note by note. If I don’t have sheet music, I literally cannot play.

[@danielkamen6035]

@@molliedeb I'm surprised I'm learning as quickly at my age. And I discovered that learning all of these improvisational skills is the same as learning just one more Beethoven sonata. About the same amount of work but it's doable.

[@julieharris47]

So glad I’ve found you, I’m trying to learn a virtually blind 50 year old to play piano, managed to get to an pass Grade 7 myself , from 70 to 78, but never learnt rock, pop or country, so hopefully we both will benefit from your book, yes so impressed I bought it, and saving your sets which are on U Tube. We are starting from page one, wish me luck, looking to have some fun. 😀

[@z-man7883]

Liked and subbed! Still a bit fuzzy on the part of playing both chord and the melody with the right hand. Can play the melody with my pinky but not yet sure how to form the chord with the other fingers on the right hand. Still more practice to be done.

[@dry509]

Me too. I don’t get which inversions use and it looked like he used more than the pinky?

[@mindciller]

I always wondered how each piece could sound so basic and so complicated. Excellent

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much for your comment. Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@annhester3983]

Really learned a lot . But I never want to incorporate new age anything in my life.! With exercise yoga or music. I really appreciated all the other patterns. Thank you for teaching those. Have a good day. 😊

[@staticklingon2182]

This was AWESOME! The thing that amazed me, not that I think I might be able to work up to this, but that I watched you play and I knew exactly what you were doing during these extremely complicated (to me) patterns. Now I've got to see if you have a video for this Jazz exercises book you have on the back of the 100 left hand patterns!

[@wayfarer1101]

Excellent!!! Love it! I'm a newbe, very inspiring. 😊 😄 😊

[@milagrosholdiem8363]

I bought this book. It’s the best for me .

[@dry509]

Hello. What inversion of the chord did you use when you introduced playing melody with your pinky and playing the chord with your right hand? You showed the inversions but I could not tell which one you used or how to determine which inversion to use. Also you appeared to be using more than the pinky, more than one finger, to play the melody? Correct? I was following you till that point then got lost. I’ve been wanting to learn that. Thanks.

[@ynotttt]

Wow!! You’ve got the talent I dream about. I’m 60 and been playing just 5 years with teachers and classes. I DON’t like my progress at all from a timeline standpoint. I’ll try anything. Interesting stuff…

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks - Jerald

[@fshome]

The closing of the song at 14:02 - 14:10 is a nice touch. Can I ask what chord sequence do you use, Jerald. Thanks.

[@tonywells6108]

Jerald, do you have a left hand pattern you would recommend for accompanying the singing of the Doors version of Crawling King Snake?

[@Digmen1]

That was great Now can you do Happy Birthday

[@JeraldSimon]

Sure! I’d love to. Thanks - Jerald

[@spirosmoutsatsos4590]

Not bad thanks

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you too!

[@PianoforPleasure]

Loved this video, I’m going to get a fake book and try “faking” it myself! I’ll also look into buying your book, 100 different ways to play one song sounds quite amazing!

[@JeraldSimon]

Piano for Pleasure Thank you! I hope this video helps. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks - Jerald

[@julieharris1212]

I tried to buy it from amazon guess what it was completely blank no print at all, very dusapointed, re ordered it, same problem, so have sent them back to Amazon with a note to tell them to check thier stock.

[@dominadorsantacruz1900]

Thank you very much Sir, for your tutorial lesson, by the way, asking you Sir if that book is cerculating, or sold here in the our country, Philippines ? thanks for any information you can furness us .

[@stephencullen441]

Wonderful Lesson! Thank you.

[@JeraldSimon]

You are welcome. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@gringomandingo3016]

Wow! You're an awesome piano player

[@JeraldSimon]

Gringo Mandingo Thank you so much! You are so kind! Have a wonderful day. - Jerald

[@thedancingalien7766]

Dashing through The Snow.

[@junas4837]

this is gold

[@JeraldSimon]

Junas - Thank you! I appreciate it! - Jerald

[@stratcat4461]

I just bought your 100 LH patterns book in PDF format from your website. It's a great find. It would be cool if you would create a video page on your website showing a short clip of each pattern for people who purchased your book. Some of us aren't that swift at reading music and a short demonstration video clip would be very helpful.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you for your comment and for purchasing the book. I am actually in the filming process right now where I am doing exactly what you have just suggested. It will have all of the left hand patterns that those who have purchased the book from my website will have access to watch, but I will also be filming some tutorials where people can purchase an additional 100 Left Hand Patterns Course where I walk them step by step through the process of arranging any song using these 100 left hand patterns. I will let you know as soon as everything is ready. I'm hoping to have everything finished before the end of January, 2020, but I'll keep you posted. After you have had a chance to use the book, I would love to receive a testimonial/review from you about the book. You can leave a review at this link on my website: musicmotivation.com/shop/pdf-downloadable-books/100-left-hand-patterns-every-piano-player-should-know-pdf-download-single-use-license/, or on my Amazon at this link (you can read the other reviews as well): amzn.to/2ZboSsO

[@stratcat4461]

@@JeraldSimon It's great to hear you're going to add the video demos. They will be a big help. I'll give some feedback on the book after I've used for it for while. Thanks!

[@stratcat4461]

​@@JeraldSimon​ It's July, 2020. Have you made the video of all of the left hand patterns that those who have purchased the book from your website can have access to watch? I couldn't find it on your website.

[@JeraldSimon]

@@stratcat4461 Thanks for the comment. I actually have started filming all of the videos and have turned it into a course because I just finished a new book, "Essential Piano Exercises Every Piano Player Should Know," and will be adding additional books to this course as well that I am coming out with later this year and next (i.e. Essential Jazz Piano Exercises, Essential New Age Piano Exercises, 100 Chord Progressions Every Piano Player Should Know, Fake Book FUNdamentals, and a few others). I am creating video lessons for all of these. New video lessons are being added to the course every week for the rest of the year. You can learn more about this course at this link: www.essentialpianoexercises.com/ - I am also launching an Essential Piano Exercises Affiliate program next week where anyone can become an affiliate and earn a 25% commission whenever someone purchases this course using the affiliate's unique affiliate ID. I can let you know more about that when we launch the affiliate program in two weeks. I hope you are enjoying the book. In this course, I go through all of these books and demonstrate everything step by step and then show piano players what they can do with the left hand patterns or exercises as a way to help them learn the practical application of music theory. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@jenniferpan6559]

@@JeraldSimon I’m looking forward to the program

[@pazbea610]

I learned a lot Jerald. I'll practice your methods in playing the left hand with different rrhythms. More power to you! God bless!

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much! - Jerald

[@HARBANSSINGH-qr5gf]

Great teaching

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you!

[@HARBANSSINGH-qr5gf]

Awesome I have already ordered this valuable book.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much! Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks again! - Jerald

[@alysonwhatcott9135]

I’d love to get your book but I live abroad. Do you have a digital version for sale? Thanks!

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much. You can buy the PDF book on my website at this link: www.musicmotivation.com/100-left-hand-patterns-every-piano-player-should-know-by-jerald-simon-pdf-book - You can also buy the Essential Piano Exercises PDF Series on my website at this link: www.essentialpianoexercises.com/pdf-series-by-jerald-simon - All of my books are also sold as paperback books on Amazon (you can check your local Amazon and type my name - Jerald Simon - and it should come up. Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@curtpiazza1688]

Wow! This is great! I have your 📖! I m trying to play piano in the classical way..ie. reading the grand staff..treble and bass clef together....but this is fun...and opens up a new dimension to piano playing! Thanx so much!

[@JeraldSimon]

Playing from a Fake Book is so much fun and it really does open a whole new world of piano playing to you. I hope this helps. Have fun playing from a Fake Book! - Jerald

[@jeremymusic2913]

Hello Sir. I am new to your channel. I love your lecture. Can you make a video about interpreting a jazz lead sheet? Because I have trouble on using them. I don’t know how to start.

[@JeraldSimon]

Jeremy, Thank you for your comment. I would love to make a video about interpreting a jazz lead sheet. I'll put that into my schedule and make a video about it. I'll let you know when I have that filmed. Thanks so much! - Jerald

[@jenniferpan6559]

Awesome 👏

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this! Let me know if you have any questions about anything. - Jerald

[@clairebedard4872]

Great. The link for the free guide is not working for me. Is it still availabke?

[@1TreukFlyyy]

Great advices as usual ! I'll definitely keep practicing your book. I got most left hand patterns down. It is all about implementing and playing smoothly now.

[@JeraldSimon]

David, Thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate it. I hope all is going well with you and I hope the book is helping. Keep practicing. I'll be coming out with more videos demonstrating these left hand patterns and how to use them in playing from fake books or arranging music/composing music of your own. Thanks again. Have a great weekend! - Jerald

[@fly1327]

I'm laughing. 100 year old piano in my living room not played, me mostly on baritone uke where chord melody rules but mostly learned on your own, working it out. Found a lead sheet for a slow jazz/blues in D minor I liked and sat down at my piano. Maybe a couple hours over several days, inverting LH chords to stay in bounds and playing many of the melody notes with chords or partial chords. Sounds pretty good, but not great. Now need to work on LH to bring this piece alive. Fun your video just popped up ;-)

[@eaacowboys]

hi J, I bought the book and I will be practicing. The left hand piano is my big problem. I hope the 100 left hand patterns will motivate me to practice. tnx EdA

[@JeraldSimon]

eaacowboys Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions. - Jerald

[@eaacowboys]

@@JeraldSimon I am waiting for the video clip of each lesson (just like Strat's request). Hope you are progressing. tnx EdA

[@Kundacci]

Thanks ! Do you give online classes ?

[@JeraldSimon]

Kundacci - Thanks for the comment! I actually have a course I created where I do weekly live piano lessons for the members within a private Facebook group only for members. It is called “Essential Piano Exercises!” Here is the link to learn more about the course: www.essentialpianoexercises.com/cool-songs-club1588887179671 - Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@patsmusicnstuff1026]

Much of what you're talking about is way above my skill level. I'm still learning chords and how to change them smoothly while playing the melody with my right hand. However, I hope to someday be able to add some notes to my right hand and you said to play the melody with your pinkie. In that case, wouldn't it be advisable for me to practice playing ALL of the melody notes with just my pinky so I don't get used to using the other fingers?

[@JeraldSimon]

I hope this helps! Much of what I am saying in this video is geared more for more advanced piano students, but I hope this helps. I do have other videos that start with more basics. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks - Jerald

[@johnhume6509]

Would you recommend your book for beginners and the next level? Love your videos.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thanks, John. My COOL SONGS Series starts with primer or beginning level and moves up from there. Let me know if you have any questions about anything! Thanks - Jerald

[@aminorsevenflat5]

Can not play the piano but this was interesting very interesting thank you

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you! I appreciate it! - Jerald

[@jimmyponds5504]

I notice that the book in your hand is wire-bound. Is this particular "style" available. I'd much prefer wire-bound over paperback. Thanks!

[@rpavich]

Jerald, I got your book (100 LH patterns) and I've chosen a few to work on. I've got the 1-5-8-5 and 1-5-8, and the 1-5-8-9-10 patterns working pretty well, coordination of when the right hand and left hand notes land is still an ongoing process but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Can you keep doing videos with examples of other pattens from the book using simple melodies? That really helps. Also, any comments about LH-RH coordination with these patterns would be helpful too.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you for your comment. Yes, I will be coming out with more videos teaching these left hand patterns and how we can improve the LH-RH coordination as well. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again - Jerald

[@dry509]

Hello…which fake book do you recommend?

[@loly1969]

Has the book got audio?

[@alejandromedina2349]

In a future revision of your interesting video please use a more inspiring melody! I really hate it, so overused : ) I managed to watch the entire video tough since of course it can be applied to any other song. Congrats! I will look for your book .

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you! I will. One of my KZbin subscribers had me to demonstrate this particular piece. Let me know if you have some songs you’d like me to teach and I’ll make a video teaching it. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks - Jerald

[@SADAMKHAMISSY]

Hi Brother!!I real appreciate your work!Can I get a soft copy of LEFT HAND PATTERNS EVERY PLAYER SHOULD KNOW AND HOW DO I PAY TO GET THAT TODAY.SADAM FROM TANZANIA DAR ES SALAAM.

[@Phaseish]

i need this book digital for my ipad friend.

[@JeraldSimon]

Thank you! The PDF book is available from my website at this link: musicmotivation.com/shop/pdf-downloadable-books/100-left-hand-patterns-every-piano-player-should-know-pdf-download-single-use-license/ - Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@clarisalopez1579]

I am getting stuck with a song called Bad it is a slash cord C/E over G what does that mean

[@lampsks433]

Could be c major second inversion

[@MrPholding]

How do I get your book?

[@johnpope1473]

how can i get that cartoon effect for video?

[@JeraldSimon]

John Pope - I use Final Cut Pro (a video editing software by Apple on my iMac). It’s one of the filter effects in the software. You can do similar cartoon effects in adobe premiere (a video editing software) and also in adobe photoshop (if editing photos in a similar style). I hope that helps. Thanks - Jerald

[@cire1973]

Hi Jerald, I'm looking for a kindle version of your book 100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know but i can't find any in Amazon.

[@JeraldSimon]

Eric, Thanks for the comment. Currently I don't have a kindle version of the book on Amazon. I do, however, have a PDF version of the book available on my website at this link: musicmotivation.com/shop/pdf-downloadable-books/100-left-hand-patterns-every-piano-player-should-know-pdf-download-single-use-license/ - In the next year or so I will get a kindle version of the book available. I am currently creating a course where I am filming all of the video lessons for every left hand pattern from the book where I demonstrate how to use the left hand patterns with the Fun Fake Book included within the book (along with several other books I am coming out with soon - including my most recent book, Essential Piano Exercises Every Piano Should Know - www.essentialpianoexercises.com/

[@cire1973]

@@JeraldSimon oh that's great. I'll check it out.

[@SC-xh8ju]

An introduction?? If you can play like that this certainly isn't an introduction

[@julieharris1212]

Sent for the book 💯 left hand patterns from Amazon, guess what it was completely blank. No print at all.

[@JeraldSimon]

Julie, I hope you have received the correct copy of my 100 left hand patterns book. A few months ago there was a scam company on Amazon selling blank copies of a book that had my title, “100 Left Hand Patterns Every Piano Player Should Know,” with my name on it. The book was completely blank but they were selling so many copies of this book. We were able to have this scam company shut down and this blank book removed from Amazon. I am sorry you ordered a blank copy from this scam company. Thankfully Amazon has shut them down worldwide. Let me know if I can give you a complimentary PDF version to apologize for this scam. It wasn’t my fault, but I feel terrible that my name, my company name, and the title of one of my best-selling books were all misrepresented like this. Let me know. Thanks - Jerald

[@jenniferpan6559]

I wish you were my piano teacher

[@JeraldSimon]

That is very kind of you to say! Thanks! - Jerald

[@misternewoutlook5437]

I'll never need to buy an "artist for easy piano" again. My own instinct was right. Fake books are obviously the way you want to go. Make it as easy or challenging as you want.

[@JeraldSimon]

Fake books are so much fun and put you in the driver’s seat! You can add left hand patterns and chords to embellish and make the music your own. It’s so much fun! Have fun with this! Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything. Thanks - Jerald

[@misternewoutlook5437]

@@JeraldSimon Well, I was kinda hoping you could do a video for what I think is great song for us fake book novices. The song in question is the "Theme from Mondo Cane" also known as More.

[@joesryify]

mate ur style and tone of the video are all over the place, pick a theme already :D get gud ;)