Free Audio Lesson: How To Accompany Almost Like Being In Love and Other Standards

A subscriber named Stan writes:

I have really enjoyed both of your courses! I’m playing piano for a local senior citizen group and leading a sing-along, and have been struggling with ‘It’s Almost Like Being in Love.’ I cannot find a rhythmic pattern to fit the song.  Can you suggest one, Bruce?

I’ll be glad to, Stan! In this audio-only lesson, I present a pattern you can use for countless ballads of that sort. I’ll also provide a variety of options to keep it interesting, teach a simple intro, and show you how to apply the same style to two other standards: I’ve Never Been In Love Before, and Isn’t It Romantic.

As you may know, my first course, Play & Sing, includes a video tutorial called Piano Accompaniment Styles For 50 Great Songs. In Part 2, the first style is called Alternating Bass, and today’s lesson builds on it. I’m assuming you can already play that basic style, and also, that you’ve at least begun to master these skills in Pop Piano Accompaniment: playing 7th chords, creating smooth voice leadings, and transposing (shifting a song from one key to another).

To get the chords for the song for free, just click here. If it doesn’t already appear in the key of F, then use the transpose feature (the up and down arrows on the left) to bring it to that pitch. The first chord needs to read: Gm7. (G minor 7th.)

You can then use your computer to copy the chords, paste them into a simple word processing program, and print out the results so you can refer to them for this lesson.

Here’s the audio. Enjoy!

[audio:http://doctorkeys.com/piano-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/style-for-standards.mp3|titles=style for standards]