Customer Reviews

The Billy Joel Keyboard Book: Note-for-Note Keyboard Transcriptions

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pump out that Piano Man solo! That's why these books are good. There's no section too difficult, there's nothing held back. No stupid interpretations of melody lines - this is the real deal. In terms of sheer enjoyment, nothing beats playing transcriptions of songs, especially ones you like. So to sit down and play 'Piano Man' from start to finish exactly like Billy Joel (solo included), or 'New York State of Mind' with the jazzy intro and the beautifully voiced chords - it's a real treat.

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This is so well done it makes me mad that there aren't many other books like it. I really wish they would have more editions so that i could learn more Billy Joel songs this way. It takes us through 15 songs just the way you hear it played by Billy himself, and even if you cant play this book through note for note (it is difficult stuff) right away, it helps with practicing music that is fun to play. The songs range from She's Got a Way and Just the Way You Are, to Streetlife Serenader and the great intro to New York State of Mind. A must buy for any Billy Joel fan who plays keyboards.

Very good, especially if you're like me and you want the actual music played on the CD and not some sheet music editor's lame rendition. All music books should be like this! It's got the little intro that you hear at the beginning of "Piano Man" and the interludes in the middle of the song as well. It's worth it just for that. Yay for Amazon for carrying sheet music books!

I purchased this along with the Elton John book, both being childhood idols of mine. I found this book to be a great resource not only for performing Billy's songs but to analyze his stylistic traits and chord progressions from a theoretical standpoint. After sitting down for two hours just listening and reading along (which I recommend doing), you begin to see inside the mind of a great modern composer who has strong ties to classical music. As a music teacher and professional pianist, I would say this is a must have for your collection, whether you plan to cover these songs in a band or just to entertain yourself and your friends.

Having said that, I think the editors got a little lazy in parts. The 'fills' as they call them are not consistently written and hard to follow when playing. There are also a few 'throwaway' songs, made to make the book longer but having no real appeal to anyone except BJ freaks. Many of the popular songs that were selected have so much guitar anyway that going to the trouble to write out quarter-note chords seems trite. I'd much rather have Angry Young Man, Root Beer Rag, The Ballad of Billy the Kid, Don't Ask Me Why and Summer, Highland Falls than songs that I can get on olga.net and sound just like the recording. We'll have to hope for additions in the 3rd Edition, but what's in there is more than enough to get your feet wet! Enjoy!

If I had to choose one modern day piano book to take with me, and that includes my Best Jazz Standards book, my Queen book, and much more, I'd choose this one. This book actually inspired me to go buy more Billy Joel CD's. When I played some of the songs of Billy Joel's that I hadn't yet heard, I loved them and immediately had to hear the real thing.

The variety is outstanding also. Thanks, of course, to Billy Joel's creativity. The book includes some of his great romantic songs like "And So It Goes" and "She's Got A Way". And the great upbeat ones like "My Life" and "Tell Her About It". Some of my favorite ones are the ones with the cool piano licks. For instance, "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" has one of the coolest piano solos ever, and of course "Piano Man" is one that will impress friends because everyone has heard it. "Allentown" is amazing also. Well, they're all amazing.

Many reviewers have mentioned how the book is great because it is the real piano accompaniment, not as a piano solo. That means you or your friends sing all the great Billy Joel lyrics and have a party around the piano, where the parties should be. :)

The different style of the book in which it's what he plays rather than banal arranged sheet music makes it wonderful to play. For someone who can't play jazz/rock songs by ear, it's a great tool for some really fun playing. Not much to say other than no billy joel should live without it.

This is where it's at! If you want to play authentic Billy Joel songs, then buy this book. It has the exact versions that Billy plays on the albums. Start practicing, and impress your friends and family with Piano Man and New York State of Mind intros. I own the Complete Billy Joel set (books 1 and 2), but this book is much more authentic. I now know the notes that are supposed to be played, if only I could get better and actually play them well! This is a great book. I would recommend it for anybody who is somewhat serious about playing Billy Joel music!

I have numerous Billy Joel books and this one is by far the most authentic. Unlike some of the other complilations this book does remove the vocal line from the piano part like it is supposed to be. It would be great if "Hal Leonard" would put together the many other great Billy Joel songs in another book like this. Nice work!!

This is the first time I have written a review online for anything but I had to chime in about what a great book this is. I am a medium piano player but recently started playing more. I bought the Billy Joel complete and Elton John Complete books and found them to be great for the extent of songs and the arrangements, but was curious about this book from its reviews, so I bought it too. I have to say I am having a great time with the songs, you feel like you are the "piano man" when you start playing them. I highly recommend the book, although it takes getting used to the format since other instruments solos are listed in certain songs. The book contains most all of the classics you would want to play. I am very happy with my purchase.

The editors of this Keyboard Book deserve the applause supplied by reviewers here. The transcriptions are neat and reasonably comprehensive.

However, as pointed out by another reviewer, there are anomalies, minor though they may be (pardon the pun). For example page 126 bar 3, the first bar of the bridge of Always A Woman has arpeggiated right-hand notes which, if compared closely with the studio recording, are at odds with those recorded. Not radically, but different nevertheless.

This volume has 16 songs in it, representing a fair cross-section of Joel's well-known and lesser-known works. Quite a few piano players may be disappointed by the editors' choices, but there's no way you could do justice to the weight and variety of his output in one volume, so leave some space on your shelf for Vols II and III and maybe more...

The Book represents good value. On another note (gotta stop doing that), as an Australian purchaser of goods from Amazon I feel the company deserves a pat on the back for speed and efficiency when it comes to processing and delivering products to "out-of-town" destinations.