How To Play Great Balls Of Fire On Piano?

How To Play Great Balls Of Fire On Piano

The thrill of playing "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis is one that every pianist knows well. From the raucous upstart of the opening notes to the charging finish, this is a song to take you back to the heyday of rock 'n' roll. But how do you play it? Let's break it down and look at some tips to take your performance up to the next level!

1. Start with the Right Hand Melodies

You'll begin each verse and chorus with a rapid ping-pong like movement between two chords. It's this lively rhythm that gives the song its characteristic bounce and sets the tone for the whole track. You'll want to have your left hand doing basic chords and you right hand buzzing over the top with the treble notes in the melody.

An important note when playing the right hand melodies is to make sure you're not using straight down/upward motion. Rather, you should create a rocking motion, hammering each note in a repeating sequence. This means bringing the fingers up and down while still maintaining the speed and playing the notes accurately.

You should practice this separately until you can execute it with accuracy and speed as this will be the base of the performance. The secret here is not to think about each movement as a single note, but rather to think of the sequence of notes in a phrase. Practice looping it until it has become almost like a muscle memory.

2. Get In Sync With The Left Hand Chords

Once you've got the right hand melody down, it's time to get the left hand into it. The secret here is to think of it not as a bunch of individual chords, but rather a sequence of short phrases. As the right hand hammers through the short notes, you'll want to time your left hand chords to land on the downbeat of each phrase.

The trick is to practice this until it becomes almost instinctive. You'll want to be able to switch between chords, voicing cleanly and accurately even in a rapid bar of music.

Once you're playing the left and right hands together, you'll hear how they interact and lock in to create a unique kind of groove. Make sure you take your time to really get this part down before you move on.

3. Add The Power With 6ths and 7ths

In the chorus, you'll find yourself playing a powerful left-hand pattern of 6th and 7th chords. This is where much of the harmonic weight of the song can be found and it's the opportunity for you to give it some real fire. When playing these chords, be sure to add some power to them. By accentuating the notes and giving them an extra kick you can give the part a real lift.

The key here is to practice each chord separately until you can hit them and move between them accurately. Once you can do that, practice playing the entire section until it sounds good. You'll be amazed at what a difference a bit of practice makes.

4. Get Some Swing in Your Step!

The song's natural groove is a modern swing blues, and you'll want to make sure to emphasize that when playing. Aim to add a loose, swingy feel to the track. You can do this by subtly heating up the timing and articulating notes with a bit more swing.

To get this feel down, practice playing a straight 4/4 pattern slowly and then speed it up. Make sure to keep the rhythm with a metronome and strive to hit every note exactly as it should be hit. This isn't as easy as it sounds, so you might have to practice quite a bit before you get it.

5. Let Loose and Put Your Character In!

The performance wouldn't be complete without putting some of yourself into it! Remember, Jerry Lee Lewis was known for his wild performances and flamboyant style, so don't be afraid to let go a bit and give the song some energy. The trick is to keep the dynamic within your range and not overdo it. You don't want to end up coming off as too cheesy or amateurish.

But don't be afraid to get in there and really give it some spark. There's a lot of music to be made when playing this classic tune, so have fun and explore the possibilities.

6. Pull it All Together

By now you should have a good understanding of the basics of playing "Great Balls of Fire". You should have a good handle on the right-hand melody and left-hand chords, the power of the 6th and 7th chords in the chorus, and the swing-style rhythms and articulations that are needed.

It's now time to practice pulling it all together. You should practice playing it all the way through with all the elements included until you can execute it accurately and within your own style.

The key to playing "Great Balls of Fire" is practice and familiarity. Once you've got the basics down it's just a matter of playing it over and over until you feel comfortable. Make sure you take the time to really get to know the song and you'll be amazed at how good your performance can be.

So grab your keyboard or piano and get going! Everyone deserves to experience the thrill of performing a classic song like "Great Balls of Fire". So give it your best shot and have some fun.

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