I am looking for an accurate description on how to play a bent note on the piano. Specifically; as Floyd Cramer does in "Last Date" Thanks!

My very simple way to describe it is:

1. Add a slow grace note on the beat consisting of a whole step below your target note at one volume level louder than your target note.(so your target note is jsut past the beat).
2. Add a 3rd above your target note to be played at the same time as your grace note, and held through/with your target note and at the same volume of your grace note.

Example:
If your target note in the melody is F. Then on the alledged down beat of the F you will actually play a D (below f)and an A (above f)on the beat at about a forte dynamic. You will then hold the A and resolve the D into an F at mezzo-forte dynamic, in a time span of about a 16th note.

Just to make sure I am clear, wouldn't the whole step below the F actually be D#?

The sheet music is written in the key of C Maj and is showing F as the bent note, followed by a CFA chord. There is also an F# as the bent note followed by EG.

Your help is greatly appreciated!!!

My bad. The whole step below F is Eb or D#, yes. Sorry for that momentary brain failure.

I don't what all written on your end, but from I hear and see when he plays this what I think he does. If you listen you'll hear what he's doing. I don't know how to explain which notes he chooses to place bent notes on, but when you hear it, it seems to make perfect sense.

I've listened to it dozens of times and viewed the video as well, but since I'm terrible at playing by ear hopefully I'll figure it out.

Thanks again!!

Bill

If you go on You Tube there are quite a few free 'bent note' video instructions of different variations. If you learn to play and understand some of those it will help you understand the Cramer style.

If you think you have issues playing by ear try this. Figure out how to play "Mary had a little lamb". just the melody for now. then play it very slowly and add the whole step grace note on the downbeat of the lamb. When you've got that going, then practice doing ir while adding the 3rd above. Then you can speed it up slowly. Then you can add the left hand chords. This will give you the feel of what you want to do. And you can transfer that feel to other pieces.

The slower you learn this, the more perfect you learn this the quicker you will be able to speed it up.

I will give your suggestion a try. I do not have any problems with adding chords or etc for the LH as long as I have a melody. I'm sure if I took the time I could master it.

thanks
Bill