The 4 Piano Styles Of Elton John

The songwriting, the piano playing, the voice, the glasses - it's got to be Elton!
In this video, I will demonstrate what I consider to be his four main piano styles. Enjoy :)
0:07 Half-Time Style
3:22 Rock and Roll Style
5:02 Triple Feel
6:57 Pop Style
stan.store/mar...
You can download my finger guides or my short piano course by clicking the link above.
#howtoplaylikeeltonjohn #learntoplayeltonjohn #eltonjohnspianostyle #eltonjohnyoursong #eltonjohnpiano #eltonjohnpianoforbeginners

[@martinfinnmusic]

If you would like to learn how to play scales, chords and arpeggios in a quick, fun and accessible way, download my piano finger guides at this link: stan.store/martinfinnmusic

[@caryheuchert]

EJ was one of my greatest musical influences growing up in the 70s. Thanks for making this video!!!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Hey, that's great. Me too, although I discovered him in the 90s! One of the real greats.

[@vincetxwa]

Glad I stumbled over this, been a hobby pianist and Elton John fan for over 30 years I've played many of his songs simply by ear and instinct not really thinking about what I was doing. It's great to get a clearer picture of what's actually going on there! Thank you!

[@roundchaos]

What an amazing series of videos man.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thanks for that! I'm really enjoying making them. It really requires a lot of digging and research which I love.

[@captainalpaka1551]

One of his most underrated songs is Mona Lisas and Mad Haters. Thanks for the Video. I'll study it.

[@martinfinnmusic]

I must confess - I don't know either of those. You study my video and I'll go study those.. :)

[@Kieop]

@@martinfinnmusic It's one song called 'Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters'. :D

[@Thejamescaseyshow]

This series is so good man. So clear. Really insightful and great communciation. Keep them up.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you very much. I really try to make it accessible. I'll keep going!

[@ipezmusic]

Really interesting video! Thank you.

[@michaelprowse7060]

Martin Nice voice! Do more please! And a very nice presentation. I didn’t realise Irish folk were musical? Oi! Thanks so much.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you very much, Michael! Very kind of you. Yes, we're very musical here in Ireland. Our traditional music is really something and has had a huge influence on American folk music among others. Keep watching! Martin

[@Gill3D]

This is a fantastic insight into Elton John's techniques. Thank you so much!

[@martinfinnmusic]

I hope so! Thank you very much for the support. :)

[@mrmustard4478]

So amazing!! I hope someday you can dedicate individual videos to quick lessons of songs, just covering each chord change in this brisk style. Each of these snippets is so informative, I wish I could have a peek at the rest of each song with the same accuracy.

[@martinfinnmusic]

I may end up doing just that. People seem to like the format. Thanks for the feedback.

[@mrmustard4478]

@@martinfinnmusic Thank you for considering! It would be a unique approach to teaching, one that you've already nearly perfected. Either way, can't wait to see more.

[@Gas2311]

He really influenced my piano playing, and it took me way to long to realize that. His use of sus chords and the triple feel style really changed the way I played!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Really? That's great. Me too. I just love that half time groove and I do those incidental sus chords all the time - probably way too much!

[@MrHighlander26]

As a kid in Edinburgh I learned piano. Got my 1st classical diplomas. But I abandoned my Victorian teacher when she battered my fingers one too many times with the lid or knitting needle 😢. Beatles ending, Elton taking off at the time I would have loved to play their styles... Your explanations are clear and almost inspire me to relearn... but I'll just keep plodding on with guitar/ harmonica/ songs. See if I can inspire more kids to learn piano with you. Thanks!😊😊😊😊

[@Skelterz]

These videos are the absolute best man, I’d love to see a Bob Dylan video because I feel like even though he’s a very simple player there’s some great tracks in there like Ballad of a thin man and went to see the gypsy. Great for beginners like myself!

[@martinfinnmusic]

I'm getting so many requests to do one on Bob Dylan. I really have to start researching his different styles. Thank you.

[@andrewwatts2695]

Great information 👍 I'm really into Elton's style of playing 🎹

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you, Andrew. Yes, he’s such a masterful composer, singer and piano player. I don’t even know which is the right order for those!!

[@euanmitchell7765]

Superb analysis! Many thanks!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for the support!

[@billhasty5197]

Always cranking out high quality content. Thanks Martin.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thanks for that Bill. I'm so glad you like the videos. :)

[@susanmundy8037]

Really interesting, Thankyou - EJ - one amazing piano player 🎹🎶❤️

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you. I never tire of learning from Elton John!

[@stephencindrich135]

Wonderful stuff!!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you very much!!

[@АпПпр-ь5м]

Thanks, it is useful and interesting

[@martinfinnmusic]

My pleasure! Thanks

[@julietammmmmmm4]

Hey! I just wanted to say that I really enjoy these type of videos because they help me to understand the different ways of playing the piano. It helps me a lot. Greetings from Argentina! ❤

[@martinfinnmusic]

Glad you like them! Thanks for your support. Good luck to you from Ireland!

[@bienvenus.n4072]

Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, simple chords, but awesome arrangements.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Yes, indeed. By today’s standards though their chords and chord progressions are about ten times as complex.

[@MiMMiMMiMMiM]

THANKS a lot, well done !!!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you for that. Much appreciated!

[@coloaten6682]

Great video, much appreciated.

[@martinfinnmusic]

It’s my pleasure. Stay tuned for more!!

[@VIKTOR-pp8pu]

Excellent thanks you very much 😊

[@martinfinnmusic]

You're welcome 😊

[@jamesbondaygee]

😊 I always really loved Elton John growing up. My mother was always the piano wizard, I played guitars, for now as adults I've really grown to love playing the piano. Excellent analysis in breakdown... This really rocks dude

[@martinfinnmusic]

Elton is the man. Yes, funny how you go back to the sound you grew up with as a kid again and again. There is so much in his music to discover. Thank you for your kind words and good luck with the playing! Martin

[@akdavis3450]

You are so talented and great at dissecting and then explaining. I love this. Thank you!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thanks! And you are so kind to say so. Keep watching. :)

[@Gottenhimfella]

I thought I had a pretty good handle on most of Elton's habits and tricks, but your insightful analysis and playing alerted me to some tiny nuances, which I recognise as important on hearing them isolated. For instance, the primary accent falling on the anticipated (2&) backbeat chords of "Your Song", which really brings the groove to life.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I had the same experience when I discovered a great book called How To Play Elton John with accurate transcriptions. So many things in there that were so familiar to my ear but that I had never known how to play. A game changer for me. Also, it’s essential that you listen to the isolated piano tracks. A lot of them are on KZbin. Good luck with it all. :)

[@rufnsluf]

Terrific instruction - really enjoy this video!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you very much for that!

[@Geritopia]

Nice voice.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you for that!

[@bernardbigorgne2535]

Awesome work, well done dear Martin....Bernard

[@martinfinnmusic]

Many thanks, Bernard. Really appreciate that!

[@josemartinrodriguezlopez2076]

4 styles of Brian Wilson please!!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Yes, everyone is looking for this!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup. Trés intérrisant.

[@martinfinnmusic]

Merci!

[@KeyGuy88]

7:30 sounds like Billy Joel also

[@martinfinnmusic]

Yes, it’s got vibes of My Life, right?

[@KeyGuy88]

@@martinfinnmusic Yes sir

[@warrenclarke9051]

Please do one on Rick Wright

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you, Warren. He was fantastic. I’ll put him on the list.

[@bobjackson3735]

Wonderful playing and wonderful video! You know, there is no good tutorial for "Crocodile Rock," as EJ actually plays it, on KZbin...

[@martinfinnmusic]

I really appreciate that and I didn’t know that re Croc Rock. Gotta get working on it. :)

[@AlexIsBondarev]

Thanks for being so important to my musical education. Was really hoping for someone to explain Elton John’s amazing piano style. Also wouldn’t you mind deliberating the “And the house fell down” solo please. Or Take me to the pilot live

[@martinfinnmusic]

Hi Alexis, thank you for your kind words. I know the recorded version of "pilot" but I don't know the other one. I'll have to take a look at them..

[@antonellorepetto6033]

Very, very interesting thank you!

[@martinfinnmusic]

My pleasure! Thanks for the lovely comment.

[@christheother9088]

Also in his early stuff, lots of Gospel influence.

[@dimulio]

cool lession!

[@martinfinnmusic]

Much appreciated. Thanks!

[@westfield90]

Fantastic

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you!

[@erikvinnes]

Amazing vid! Just wondering , what styles would Harmony or the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road be? Perhaps my favs..

[@martinfinnmusic]

Yes, those are different enough to be a different style. I would call it a ballad style. I may need to update this video! Someone else asked about the funk style on Honky Cat and others..

[@jacksonsay37]

Taylor Swift: *slams a screen door, sneaks out late, taps on a window* Elton John: “And you can tell everybody, this is your song…”

[@martinfinnmusic]

Hee hee. Sounds about right.

[@yoavlevy]

One correction, in Your Song the chorus starts with B flat on D and continues to C minor on E flat (and not on C as you did).

[@martinfinnmusic]

Thank you, but it is 100% Cm and not Cm/Eb at that point. Try it and you'll see it's the right one!

[@PlayingCatStevens]

An episode on Cat Stevens would be great!

[@martinfinnmusic]

I love Cat but his music is not really piano heavy. The only one I can think of is Morning Has Broken. Right?

[@PlayingCatStevens]

@@martinfinnmusic His music is perhaps as piano-heavy as his singer/songwriter peers Lennon and McCartney at the time. His piano hits include, just to name a few in chronological order from 1970 through 1978 (his second stint in the music business), "Maybe You're Right", "I Think I See the Light", "Sad Lisa", "Miles from Nowhere", "Tea for the Tillerman", "Sitting", "Silent Sunlight", "Sweet Scarlet", "Foreigner Suite", "The Hurt", "How Many Times", "King of Trees", "Bad Penny", "Majik of Majiks", "Remember the Day of the Old School Yard" and "Randy". An episode on his unique piano style would be great! His hymn "Morning Has Broken" doesn't really qualify, since Rick Wakeman provided the piano bits for it in the studio on the spot.

[@Breshe]

Next video - the 1 style of Brian Wilson

[@martinfinnmusic]

Really? Just one? I'll have to do a deep dive and get back to you on that!

[@John-cp9ez]

8th notes that’s BW style

[@sayonvertigo]

👌

[@wretchro100]

ah...you left out my favorite style of his... his funky gospel style of Burn Down The Mission, Amoreena, Honky Cat, etc...

[@martinfinnmusic]

OMG. You’re right! Would you believe that I only realised that after. Someone else was talking about his ballad style on Harmony and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I’ll have to remake it!!

[@wretchro100]

@@martinfinnmusicno worries! Great videos! Can you do Tom waits Richard Manuel, and Leon Russell?