Elton John Demonstrates The Chord Structures In His Songs + More! 

I cannot imagine my life without Elton John’s music. His music has enriched my life so much.

Elton John stopped playing full acoustic Grand Piano's in de late 80's and switched to the Roland RD-1000 Digital Piano. After that, he began using top of the line Yamaha Grand Piano's during concerts. But, and this is important, he didn't and still doesn't use the acoustic sound of the Yamaha. His piano's are MIDI and he uses the Roland MKS-20 Sound Module (the one from the Roland RD-1000 Digital Piano) and he also uses a Yamaha Motif Rack to create his live piano sound. Those two things, the Roland Sound Module and the Yamaha Motif Rack, form about 80% of the piano's sound during concerts. The other 20% is the acoustic sound of the piano, which is negligible. So that is why his piano's sound so high in pitch, it's an electronic sound and he likes it that way. One of the reasons is because you can hear him playing during rock songs. The sound of an acoustic piano practically disappears when there are drums and guitars. So maybe you don't like the sound of it, but you can't say it's cheap or garbage because frankly it takes some work and technical knowledge to recreate his live piano sound ;-)

Absolute master. Making those musical connections as easy as thinking it, and reproducing it all on the spot. A true genius

Sir Elton is one of my favourite pop music musicians of all time. When it comes to the piano or the keyboard he plays.

That's because it is a digital baby grand without strings - and the sound "patch" he chose is probably a "rock" setting, which has the treble boosted up quite a bit.

I hereby pledge to provide Elton with 24/7 security coverage, and wrap him in protective bubble wrap.

These chord structures and songs are really timeless - they do not get old compared to other stuff written at that time.

That why always like his tune, his cultural Classical background. In his career brings to all of us splendid melodies, and memories too ! cross decades and still continues with great musical hits !

What a treasure to the world Sir Elton John is.

Love how he changed the first few up from the originals then kept The Greatest Discovery and on the same. What a genius.

His songs are difficult for me to play. I have these big hands and I can't cover the keyboard like Elton. He is an accomplished piano player. One of a kind actually.

So beautiful. I also LOVE "Carla/Etude/Fanfare/Chloe" from Elton's "The Fox" album.

In a music appreciation text book, "When I am laid in Earth" (from Henry Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas') was discussed, in particular the descending bass line found in the aria. This was compared to the descending bass line found in "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John.

I'm always singing--since I was a little boy. I can't walk down the street or go shopping or do any small task without singing. And almost all the time, the song is one of Elton's. He has put a song in my heart and on my lips nearly every day. I'm an old man now, and I had no idea when this all began that it would last a lifetime. I'm so grateful that his immense talent somehow found a way into my life to make all my days better.

I can’t believe he went up there and played a deep cut like the greatest discovery. I love that

Three of my most favourite Elton Songs are those he played here. Masterpieces. They can be heard in their absolute greatness on the Eton John Live in Australia with the MSO. Breathtaking, Splendid and truly awesome.

every time someone asks him to do something he always goes very quickly and say yeah sure or alright haha.

I've always thought that you could clearly hear his classical background in "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". But, it's even there in "Your Song", the way the voices move in the piano part etc. Cool video 👍

One of my fav songs ever from Elton and Bernie = The Greatest Discovery! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This may have un-stuck me from my funk....been teaching myself piano/keyboards and wondered about his piano technique.....now I have some ideas and some direction to go in.....I'm hoping this is the breakthrough I need to take a big step forward. I've always thought he had that classical education woven in to his creations.....I think he has way more talent, ability than he's given credit for.....not just a simple pop piano player/composer......Very nice video :)

I’m a guitarist and love everything about the instrument but in terms of absolute beauty, there’s nothing like a piano, a mini orchestra in one.

The Greatest Discovery is one of my favorite EJ songs. In the top 50 anyway 😋 It is so beautiful.

One of the greatest songwriters of the modern era

Elton John Is the Best Musician and Entertainer hands down! I love Elton!

Also Elton started out playing harpsichords and the like... Instruments you tend to tap out a lot of broken chords on. He kinda plays the piano in a harpsichord style with his repeated arpeggios and broken chords which are one of the signatures of his playing style.

I love this man.

Love his music.

Such a treasure this man.

amazing ... anyone who can do this....EJ truly genius -- chords and then words !!!! so beautiful

You are so generous with your audience.

I need you to turn to" is so beautiful !

The Greatest Discovery!! What an extraordinary song!! I love it ❤️

Just listen to Funeral for a Friend and you can hear that Elton John belongs among other classical composers such as Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart.

Regardless of no one liking the bright tone of Yamaha on this video, this is the most informative interview Elton has undertaken in a lot of years. So much better than the same inane questions and jokes about his wild costumes in the 80s and his drug use. Hope that once he’s finished his world tour and had a bit of time off he puts Greatest a Discovery and The King Must Die into his deep cuts he’s planning to play live at a small residency of shows.

I just don't get it, Elton, you speak about it like it is easy, piece of cake! I think Elton does not understand how unfathomable to us, plain people, he really is, when he touches the keys. I know it was hard job at the Academy, but... it is like he is so effortlessly genious.

I just love this man so so much

In a Barbara Walters interview, Elton said that he remembers how to play every song he has ever composed but he does forget some of the lyrics of songs he hasn't played in a long time. But since he doesn't write the lyrics, maybe that's why. Still, remembering how to play every single song is yet one example of his genius.

Looks like he's starting to have issues with his hips . I can't imagine all the touring he's done and he's still going - you know he love it.

Elton John is a fantastic Singers of the times I love you so very much thank you.

Amor incondicional..Te Amo Elton ❤ 🇦🇷

The first point he made about piano vs guitar composition is so true. When you look at Elton and Billy Joel, you notice the chords are typically different from a lot of guitar. Also, looking at Dylan's piano compositions vs his guitar is very interesting...

Superb clarity and bass was so rich..... Awesome piece of kit

Thanks for posting.I thought as much his approach to music.

Insane skills and talent

Dunno about the piano being too ‘bright’, it’s all taste I think. but the description deffo suits the chic at the end pugging the chan!

Legend, piano hero

Amazing 🤩 At 2021 You and I, we are learn with the best.

Love love love THE GREATEST DISCOVERY!!!

2:08 sounds like the classic version of the Office theme😂

musical genius

Wow Elton just rewrote I Need You To Turn To...

My Master .

SIR ELTON JOHN FOREVER! LONG LIVE SIR ELTON JOHN!

As a classical pianist without the talent to play like he does, I am in awe. At 66, my goal is to try to learn some of his songs by watching him play, listen to him explain his methods on shows like this and watch RU-vid videos which explain the structure of his songs. This is difficult because I have never played by ear - sight reading only. “ Can you feel the love tonight “ is one of my favourite pieces of his. It is so calming. To compose an original melody requires genius.

Thank you Sir Elton.

I have collected over a thousand bootleg recordings of his concerts in the 1970s when he used a real piano. There is never an instance when his piano isn’t forefront in the mix (even during the rockers). And this was in the early stages of large live concert sound systems. There is absolutely no comparison between a real acoustic piano and the awful sounding digital pianos he’s been using since the late 80s (which he began using when they sounded absolutely terrible). For anyone who plays piano (or has a fine tuned ear) a digital piano is anathema. I don’t care how much technology had been poured into developing the sound; there is no way a digital instrument can emulate the sound of an acoustic instrument. It’s like saying a cyborg will one day replicate a human being. There are natural acoustic phenomena that simply cannot be replicated by an electronic device. The human ear is too perfect to be fooled. As a musician and a fan of Elton; I connect his abandonment of acoustic piano to the decline of his artistic integrity. It’s no coincidence he began using digital pianos around the time he was at his lowest as a drug addict and alcoholic. I had hoped his rehabilitation in the early ‘90s would bring about an artistic rebirth. When he released a duet with Ru Paul I realized that wasn’t going to happen. Something happened to Elton that shifted him from being all about the music to being more about the celebrity. In his early days he often said his greatest wish was to become a legend like Mae West or Groucho Marx (both of whom were comedians). I think he succeeded. Sorry.

Such awesome gifts.

BEAUTIFUL thank you ELTON

Cream Rises to the Top and that's where this man, lives! At the Top!

Magician

...wunderbar - I would have wanted to listen for a while longer...

He is the greatest of today ❤

An authentic modern Musical Genius. (Got to be the 88th to hit the 'like')

Elton is the best piano player i n the the w o r l d e v e r oh my God she have to use microphone because my fingers are too pudgy to use the keyboard so if there's any mistakes in my diction I apologize okay I'm still standing I'd love Elton

Beautiful clothes he wears.

Beautiful

That was beautiful !

He forgot the songs (I need you to turn to and King must die) and played new melody 😁😁

MAESTRO DEL PIANO

I played all his songs for years. I'm slightly known for analysing "Total Eclipse of the Heart". If any of you would like to vote for an Elton song for me to analyse I'd love to do it, throw some titles my way in a reply please. Not an obscure song though as people won't enjoy it as much.

Sometimes, with all the other stuff, we forget what a fine piano player he is?

It is unfortunate that the piano sounds very synthetic and bright.

1:11 he is still in the key

Amazing ! Greetings-Gerd

1:44 Inspiration for Someone saved my life tonight?

a lot of talent has Mrs Eltonina John

I wish they had a camera on his hands so we can see that intricate playing

He forgot how to play The King must die but the new melody isn't too bad 😊

Master muso.

Músico maravilhoso 🇧🇷

Wonderful 💥💥💫💫🌹🌹💐💐💞

That was amazing.

I see a lot of people complaining about the piano sound and that it sounds muddy or too bright. Yeah it’s a bright sound, but the fact here is that he didn’t remember the chords to the songs. I love Elton, to death and forever on, but it’s just that. He probably should’ve chosen one he’s played more recently or looked over the chords before the show. God bless him I love him so much ❤️

What do I have to do to get a chance to be invited to these shows? I can see the I Heart Radio theater from my office and always wonder what's going on in there! :D

Senang mendengarkannya. ❤

From the sound of the comments I think his fans want him to give up that old Roland electric grand sound box gimmick that he has been using since the eighties.. In other words they want to hear him play a real piano not a synthesizer..

Does anyone know which type of Yamaha piano he is playing here? It´s not his usual grand, presumably this is a fully electric grand!

At 1:31 wrong note or am I not hearing well?

Play in a little piano sounds like that, he used to play with Yamaha piano. Those pianos are good to beginners.

Can anyone share anymore information on the song he plays, I thought he said it was called “the great discovery” but tried lots of variations but can’t track it down, it sounds beautiful and would love to hear it? Thanks In Advance.

The interviewer sounds exactly like Jeff Goldblum

He didn't say anything about the structures of the songs.. just played them. I wish these guys would get down n dirty in theory! hahah

Bota pilha nele conversando sobre música, que não tem mais fim. Aí gosta mesmo do que faz. É uma das coisas que eu acho legal também no Elton John.

He’s got harpsichord mode on sheeeit

Can someone please provide sheet music links for the pieces he played and what are the titles of the songs?

The singer from Simple Minds hasn't aged so well.

It’s tuned to be rock piano

MY MASTER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I hear the Roland MKS-20 piano.

Who's the young asian woman @ the very end of this video? She's my favorite artist 😉