Customer Reviews

Mel Bay's You Can Teach Yourself Piano Chords (Book & DVD)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are no written instructions inside the book about how to use it as a teaching tool. The contents are entirely diagrams. Thankfully, the accompanying DVD provides excellent instructions on how to do the lessons. The book and DVD work in tandem.

Unfortunately, what this means is that if you misplace the DVD (which I did early on my way up the my learning curve) the book by itself is now only good for reference purposes - it has become worthless as a stand-alone teaching tool. So... I had to order another copy. Had there been (at least minimal) written instructions describing how to do the exercises in the book I would have given it 5 stars.

I purchased this product because I have had some training with piano. The training that I have recieved was based on classical and those of you who know, classical background can hinder chord arrangements when it comes to gospel music. I wanted to be able to climb the scales. Mel Bay's teach yourself piano chords was very helpful because the notes are in the book so you can alternate your learning experience by either watching the DVD or follow the book or both. The one problem I have is that the DVD that I have is not compatable with my DVD player and can only be used with my Labtop. Otherwsize, so far so good.

Of the 5 five books I purchased while learning to play piano by ear. This one was by far the most practical and fun. You'll be immediately hammering out big rich chord progressions. Further into the book you'll be learning how to make them sound even better by adding new keys. If you know nothing about piano you can still use it, but I'd recommend something to accompany it so you understand how the instrument works.

If you'd rather shoot yourself than practice "Oh Susanna" or "Camp Town Races" again. I highly recommend this book. It's just to much fun to pass up!

Does everything it says it does.
If you want to learn chords, this helps.

This is a good book with DVD to learn how to play piano chords but you need to know how to play some basic piano already. In my opinion, you should already have some piano lessons for about 6 months and be able to play with both hands at the beginner level before you can learn to play chords with this book.

I was very disappointed in this book and DVD from the very beginning. The author has you guessing where the middle C is located on the piano. I had to go to the internet to find out exactly where the middle C is located. The author of this book gives the appearance of being into his own talent rather than teaching someone else. Why could he not just say that the piano keys start with A and go through G and begin again with A once more to G and continue all across the key board in the same manner. That would have been so simple instead of saying that the middle C on a piano is somewhere near the middle on a piano usually where the key goes.I had to take a wild guess and I was wrong. Thank God for the internet!