Customer Reviews

DVD-Learn To Play Blues Piano #1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cohen uses a fair amount of musical terminology (like diminished chord, 6th chord, 7th chord, minor scale, major scale) and if you don't know those terms you're likely to feel lost. If you do have a basic grasp of musical terminology and theory, however, then you can use this DVD to learn some cool piano blues.

I've only been working on piano for a couple of months now, but this DVD helped me to learn some basic shuffles with the left hand and some of the less-challenging comps with the right hand, and it's enough to motivate me to work even harder to conquer the harder stuff. (Disclaimer: At this point I'm playing stuff very slowly, and chord changes and turnarounds are still pretty awkward and frequently flubbed. I don't want to make it sound like I've mastered anything. I'm just...on my way.)

Cohen moves fast and takes no prisoners, so be prepared to use the pause and rewind buttons a lot. He doesn't spend much time on any given topic, but his explanations are clear and helpful. I keep moving from the piano bench to the couch, playing then watching.

There's no secret magical formula here to make blues piano easier. It was quite a struggle for me to make that initial breakthrough, and I have a long, long way to go to be able to play smoothly and up to speed. But if you're determined and motivated, the material here is definitely enough to get you well on your way.

I have had no musical training and cannot read any notes yet after watching this DVD i can play these blues chords and notes. The instruction is so simple and practical. You will have to pause a few times to practice the notes and chords you just learned before going on to the next step. As he is teaching the camera will view down on the top of the piano and keys so you can see exactly what you are being taught and exactly where to place your fingers.. I think its a very helpful video and very fun!

I've found this DVD well-suited to my learning style. It's oriented not around sheet music, but demonstration & explanation.

The presenter is personable, communicates well, and introduces some fun & interesting blues piano in a way that sends me dashing constantly back to the keyboard to try things out.

I agree with the other reviews here, if you are not into sheet music you can learn from this very quickly especially if you already know something of the terminology of 1 3 5 7 and how it applies to your keyboard activity. My son is tinkling away as I write inspired each time he watches a bit more of the DVD.
My only criticism is that the overhead camera would be better about 10 or twenty degrees off to one side to give a better idea of the finger movement.
if not that then maybe lighting from the side to give some shadows for the same effect.

If you are like me and play by ear - this is an excellent learning video. A background in music theory will help you take this even further. Highly reccommended.

Mr. Cohen, having played for the sixties psychedelic band Country Joe and the Fish, imparts his deep musical knowledge in this video.

If you have some piano experience and basic knowledge of the blues you will find this video useful. The lessons are well formatted and informative and Mr. Cohen begins by demonstrating how to play a basic blues on the piano. Subsequent lessons show blues licks that we all know and love. With a little effort you will be up and playing these licks quickly.

The video is professional shot and edited. Mr. Cohen plays a beautiful piano and there are snippets of his improvised playing which serves to inspire and motivate the student.

Well worth the price tag considering the cost of hiring a piano teacher.

My 11 year old daughter enjoys this because it offers information that she's not getting from her traditional lessons. She thinks he's a better teacher than her piano teacher. We watch a portion and pause the DVD while she practices what she just learned.

Although the title suggests that this is primarily instruction in blues, Cohen spends a lot of time on New Orleans style piano in the tradition of Professor Longhair, James Booker, and Doctor John, which I love. He even has a great zen quote on New Orleans blues: "It's very simple music: but that does not mean it is easy to play." He takes it slowly, but you still need to be equipped with a laptop or portable dvd player sitting on top of your piano and one finger on the pause button. Compared to other instructional videos, this one you can actually figure out what notes he is playing and the proper syncopation; his theory instruction is useful (I suggest first spending some time getting familiar with basic theory: scales, intervals, and standard "fake book" chording and inversions). I contrast this instructional video to Dr. John's videos which are dazzling but downright comical in his inability to tell you how he did it.

This is an excellent introduction to blues piano. I agree with other reviewers that some music theory knowledge will be helpful (knowledge of intervals, etc.), but Mr. Cohen does a good job of illustrating these concepts as far as they are required to learn the material presented in the lesson. The material is simple, fundamental and it is REALLY GOOD STUFF. If you can play a root/fifth at the keyboard, you will be doing blues shuffles immediately. All of the examples are in the key of C to keep down on the accidentals. As an adult beginner on the piano, I am very pleased with the instruction. Pick this up and start developing the ability to improvise some blues piano. This also makes a great companion to his David Bennett Cohen Teaches Blues Piano: A Hands-On Course in Traditional Blues Piano (Listen & Learn).

Although Mr. Cohen won't hope to hear it; he's been around for a hundred years and is a HUGE pro. His thumbprint on the music scene for my (baby boomer) generation is indelible. Learning a new instrument at 50+ takes patience and repeated example. This format is entirely useful and beneficial. Although it will take me a long while to gain accomplishment before moving on too-much to the next level, I'd surely acquire (hook or crook) the next series of lessons from Cohen.