Hey all,

My name is Asaf, I'm 20 years of age, from Israel. I recently began playing the piano after a long-long break.

When I was little, like most sons of polish parents, I took piano lessons. I spent 3 years learning how to play, and this is where I learned most of the basics. So technically if you were to hand me a note sheet today, I would most likely manage my way with it.

Anyway, a few months ago, I bought myself a new electric keyboard and a "sustain" pedal (the one that holds a note), and began playing following a 7 year break. As I am very lazy and not looking to play "BIG" pieces like those of Mozart, Brahms or Beethoven I've decided to play using chords and bass notes, only. So basically I just google for the chords of "The scientist" by coldplay or "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor and just play those chords accordingly. I use the "Quack" systems, taken after the voices ducks make, as I play back and forth the bass note and the chord, according to the song's rythem (So it sounds more like Quack-Quack-Quack-Quack...).

Now when the song is originially composed in that manner, like in the case of "The scientist", it sounds pretty good. However usually its not that great. So here's my question:

If you got what I said thus far, and I haven't lost you already - How can I upgrade my songs? Do you have any tips or techniques I can use? Like lets say - transition notes? or how to recognize the songs melody and then play it? or how to even play melodies while playing bass notes and chords? or more things I can do with my left hand than just playing a single bass note - and so on. Any help will be highly appreciated...

If I wasn't clear enough I'd be happy to explain myself again.

Thanks in advance,
-Asaf

hehe... I didn't quite understand your answer as well :-).

Basically what I am saying is that today I play all songs just by chords. for instance I would play the first verse of "Yellow" by coldplay as follows:

Look at the stars,
(B bass | B) X4
Look how they shine for you,
(B bass | B) X4
And all the things you do,
(F# bass | F# reversed) X8
Yeah they were all yellow
(E bass | E reversed)

Now it's okay, I can play the songs this way and it comes out good. However I'm asking how I can upgrade the song. and on my first message, I kinda directed you to what I was looking for (i.e. more things to do with my left hand, how to recognize the melody of the song and to incorporate that to the way I currently play etc.)

Hope this time I made a bit more sense...

Thanks again for your help,
-Asaf

the E bass | E reveresed is also played 8 times...