My friend who is pretty good at piano wants me to find him queens most technically difficult song to play.
I do not play piano so I wouldn't no.
What Queen songs could be considered hard to play?
None of them, really. But to capture the feeling Freddie played with would be another matter. There are ten thousand guitar players who can play Brian May's licks, but I've only seen two or three actually able to capture the feeling properly. There's so much more to music than just playing the notes in time. If your friend is interested in making it a contest of trying to play the most technically difficult piece possible, then he should be getting into playing the music of Robert Schumann, Bill Evans and Frank Zappa, not anything in the pop realm.
I realise none of them a that hard for good pianists. But if you could pick the most challenging or just technically well written song then that could help me out. thanks!
Sir GH wrote: None of them, really. But to capture the feeling Freddie played with would be another matter. There are ten thousand guitar players who can play Brian May's licks, but I've only seen two or three actually able to capture the feeling properly. There's so much more to music than just playing the notes in time. If your friend is interested in making it a contest of trying to play the most technically difficult piece possible, then he should be getting into playing the music of Robert Schumann, Bill Evans and Frank Zappa, not anything in the pop realm. =====
Bill Evans really isn't too challenging, the problem is *improvising* like him. Transcripts of Evans-performances are available, and they are quite playable. As far as classical compositions go, I think most Rachmaninov compositions for solo-piano are quite complicated to get right. In jazz, Cecil Taylor is probably the most technically daunting of all pianist-composers. I do agree 100% with Sir GH that you probably shouldn't be looking at pop music for technically challenging pieces.
ThomasQuinn wrote: Sir GH wrote: None of them, really. But to capture the feeling Freddie played with would be another matter. There are ten thousand guitar players who can play Brian May's licks, but I've only seen two or three actually able to capture the feeling properly. There's so much more to music than just playing the notes in time. If your friend is interested in making it a contest of trying to play the most technically difficult piece possible, then he should be getting into playing the music of Robert Schumann, Bill Evans and Frank Zappa, not anything in the pop realm. =====
Bill Evans really isn't too challenging, the problem is *improvising* like him. Transcripts of Evans-performances are available, and they are quite playable. As far as classical compositions go, I think most Rachmaninov compositions for solo-piano are quite complicated to get right. In jazz, Cecil Taylor is probably the most technically daunting of all pianist-composers. I do agree 100% with Sir GH that you probably shouldn't be looking at pop music for technically challenging pieces.
Surely if the lids down - no seriously - as mentioned above it's a lot to do with feeling. I think BM's piano playing is pretty good - didn't he get to grade IV standard?
Brian did get to IV but by the time Queen began his technical skills were way below that. He's a good player, but there's a reason why he's more famous as a guitarist, singer, composer and arranger. The likes of Save Me and Teo Torriatte are even simpler than the average Freddie piano piece (e.g. Bo Rhap).
The hardest piano to play would be the one I saw at the local charity shop - it had no keys. The most difficult Queen song to play properly on piano would be My Melancholy Blues, or pretty much anything else on a piano with no keys.
Of course this is completely subjective and open to opinion...
In my view, one of the more challenging pieces is the opening to Millionaire's Waltz. Getting the Feeling of the intro to Melancholy Blues is challenging but that whole song has a great bluesy feel that if you understand how the chords relate, isn't overly difficult.
Freddie had tremendous dexterity and seemed to work like a dog to get it 'right' the first time. He fought with the instrument and wouldn't let it win or defeat him. Very percussive in his approach.
While he might not have had the speed and skill as someone who could master a concerto, as a "rock" musician, he was among the best. He became one with the instrument and didn't simply see it as an extension.
These are simply a few thoughts...
I'm not a muscian, but I wiil say the millianare waltz and My Melancholy blues.....I liked freddie as a pianist, he wasn't the greaest technical player, but what he did do was play with emotion and had his own style. alway;s sounded good...............Now, Listen to the wise man.........you want to learn some good pianist try New orleans styled player's. these guys are amazing from back in the day, . Take a listen.....I'll start with my favorite of the new orleans groups. His name is" DR John" If You're interested this DR John album is "Gumbo" A classic album with tons of brilliant piano playing. Next try DR John's' Idol Prefessor longhair. Another brilliant one. If you have any questions about Dr. John, The Night Tripper give me a buzz. He's becomming one of my all time favorite muscians. Dr. John Rocks!....Another one you could get is "going back to new orleans" A classic.
Sir GH wrote: None of them, really. But to capture the feeling Freddie played with would be another matter. There are ten thousand guitar players who can play Brian May's licks, but I've only seen two or three actually able to capture the feeling properly. There's so much more to music than just playing the notes in time. If your friend is interested in making it a contest of trying to play the most technically difficult piece possible, then he should be getting into playing the music of Robert Schumann, Bill Evans and Frank Zappa, not anything in the pop realm.
While none of them are incredibly difficult, some of them are on the harder side to play especially if you're not an advanced piano player. I've been playing for 12 years and it took me a while to learn Bring Back That Leroy Brown up to speed...though its mild difficulty doesn't come close to that of most classical stuff. Though as you said, it is much harder to capture the feel of Freddie's playing. He had incredible rhythm and precision that not many pianists (especially rock ones) have. And till this day, I've barely seen anyone even play Bohemian Rhapsody right because they have trouble with the hand-crossover.
Well, I kind of agree that My Melancholy Blues, Death On Two Legs and the opening of Millionaire Waltz are probably little more difficult than other accompaniments. But there is also one song that is probably one of the most difficult piano accompaniment for Queen songs: Don’t Stop Me Now. Yes, there are just basic chords, but if you want to play it correct (rhythm, dynamic, feelings and so on) than it is not easy anymore. You can check on youtube, there are only 2 or 3 persons who play it good.
But if you friend wants to play really difficult pieces, than he should play Liszt’s compositions. Tell him to play Transcendental Étude No. 5 in B-flat also known as "Feux follets". :)