{"id":2159,"date":"2020-10-30T08:10:17","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T15:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=2159"},"modified":"2023-01-12T12:58:39","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T20:58:39","slug":"iconic-piano-intros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/iconic-piano-intros\/","title":{"rendered":"Iconic Piano Intros You Have To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Some songs are defined by their piano riffs&#8211; catchy, iconic melodies that you&#8217;ll get stuck in your head for days no matter what you try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today&#8217;s lesson is about having some fun at the piano and learning the iconic piano intros to some of these classics&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you can amaze your friends and wow your loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Because every piano player should know these songs!&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>The Entertainer \ud83c\udf66<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1570511883162-7f76248c3d2a?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1772&amp;q=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I can hear the ice cream truck already!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vrdq7pWPUWY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cThe Entertainer\u201d<\/a> is a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Classic_rag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">classic piano rag<\/a> from over 100 years ago, written by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scott_Joplin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scott Joplin<\/a>. It was originally sold in the 1910s as piano rolls that would play on old player pianos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the song was ranked #10 by the Recording Industry Association of America on its <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theassociation.net\/txt-music5.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&#8220;Songs of the Century&#8221;<\/a> list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you should really add it to your repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or at least the intro!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> With a lot of ragtime music, the challenge can be the jumps on the left hand. Practice the left hand separately slowly working up your speed.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Chariots Of Fire \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2642\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p>I can\u2019t think of a more iconic or epic piano riff than the intro to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8a-HfNE3EIo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cChariots of Fire\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChariots of Fire\u201d is the true story of two British runners in the 1924 Olympics. The theme (simply named \u201cTitles\u201d) was written and recorded by composer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vangelis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vangelis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wrote it for the soundtrack of the 1981 film and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, countless slow-motion sequences and Hollywood productions have used this iconic intro.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8a-HfNE3EIo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> Make sure to hold down the sustain pedal for that extra epic-ness.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>A Thousand Miles \ud83d\udee3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This song <i>**is**<\/i> the piano song!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s so cool, and it\u2019s so pretty&#8212; <i>and I\u2019m gonna show you how to play it!<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally titled \u201cInterlude\u201d, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Cwkej79U3ek&amp;list=PLrxn1BKiNwLsU_W9nw9A9KQ09nRdz___H&amp;index=74\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cA Thousand Miles\u201d<\/a> is the debut single written and recorded by singer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vanessa_Carlton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vanessa Carlton<\/a>. Her signature song, it became Carlton&#8217;s break-through hit and one of the most popular songs of 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it might take some practice, but it\u2019s well worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> If you\u2019re having trouble bridging the gap between octaves, I\u2019ve got some tips for you on playing with smaller hands.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:426px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/1156853583\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:139.43661% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1156853583?et=r17XD4BhSc9PLGwlkcJYUA&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=-keLPL1cZk8iY2vBUqnvd11jF5odWtS6MrxX6VHwbV8=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"426\" height=\"594\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>F\u00fcr Elise \ud83c\udfbc<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We couldn\u2019t put a list of iconic piano intros together without this one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know, as one of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ludwig_van_Beethoven\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Beethoven<\/a>\u2019s most popular compositions, it was <i>years<\/i> after his death that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s71I_EWJk7I\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">F\u00fcr Elise<\/a> was discovered and made popular? Sitting in a drawer for 4 decades, it was in 1867 that a musicologist named <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ludwig_Nohl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ludwig Nohl<\/a> found the piece of music and published it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This might be one of the most iconic pieces of piano music in the world, and it\u2019s not too difficult to play for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> The left hand patterns are made up of simple chord arpeggios. Be mindful of the progression and this will help you map your mind to the keys.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/9\/9b\/Ludwig_Van_Beethoven_LCCN2003663902.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/500-songs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hundreds of piano songs<\/a> are waiting to be discovered, and this is just a small selection of what could have made this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These songs all have reasons why they became iconic piano intros or \u201cHollywood moments\u201d with their haunting and catchy melodies&#8211; so <i>forgive me<\/i> if you find yourself humming or singing these throughout the day\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It just means you should be running to your piano to play them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to check out my breakdown on <a href=\"\/blog\/famous-rap-piano-riffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2018Famous Rap Riffs\u2019<\/a> if you\u2019re looking for some more memorable pieces to sink your teeth into, and happy practicing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some songs are defined by their piano intros catchy, iconic melodies that will be stuck in your head for days no matter what you try. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2168,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[837,1105,508],"tags":[1086],"class_list":["post-2159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-classical-songs","category-pop-rock","category-song-tutorials","tag-l3s"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2159"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10740,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159\/revisions\/10740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}