Billy Joel lives among the pantheon of the great piano-playing singer/songwriters. He’s in lofty company, along with such icons as Neil Sedaka, Elton John, and Randy Newman. A musician generally doesn’t reach such heights without putting in countless hours of practice to refine his or her craft. It comes as no surprise that a talent such as Billy Joel’s was nurtured from a young age. Among his early musical influences, Billy cites Ray Charles, the Beatles, Dave Brubeck, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding. This diverse list is reflected in the piano man’s artistry. Thanks to his years of study, Billy’s music has a solid foundation. Whether his approach is classical, jazz/fusion, blues, or rock ’n’ roll, Billy’s themes thrive on variation. Let’s look at some of his classics, and how to create your own variations, Stranger-style.
Play Audio and MIDI
The audio and MIDI files to the right correspond to the lessons and full song transcription beginning on page 50 of the October 2007 issue of Keyboard. All files performed by Scott Healy.