How to Play Love on the Piano

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source: www.youtube.com

Pianist Lindsey Cloud demonstrates "L.O.V.E." on piano, providing the basic chord progressions you will need to play this jazz standard.

"L.O.V.E." is an old Jazz classic that is simple enough for beginning pianists to pick up with relative ease. The transitions of the song are basic, and require no advanced skills.

The song was written by Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler for the title track of singer Nat King Cole’s 1965 album. This was to be the last album that Cole recorded before his death in February of that year. The song has since been covered by his daughter, Natalie Cole, as well as by Michael Bublé, Chelsea Krombach and Joss Stone. "L.O.V.E." was featured in the film Sleepless in Seattle.

Step 1: Learn the Chord Progression for the First Four Lines

The first line of the song is, "L is for the way you look at me." The chord progression for this line is:

C Am Dm G

The second line, "O is for the only one I see," is accompanied by:

Bm G C C

The third line of the song is "V is very, very extraordinary." Here you will play the chords:

C F

The final line is "E is even more than anyone that you adore and...," which is accompanied by:

D7 G

This leads into the second verse, which repeats the entire pattern.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMZwaCg-xjo

Step 2: Learn the Chord Progression for the Final Line

The word "love" at the end of the fourth line brings the melody back to the beginning. It is both the final word of the first verse and the first word of the second verse.

"L.O.V.E." has no chorus or refrain; only the same melody, repeated twice. However, the second time around there is an extra line that resolves the melody at the end.

"Love was made for me and you."

This final line is accompanied by the chord change:

C G Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMZwaCg-xjo

Step 3: Practice Singing while Playing

Sometimes it can be challenging to sing in the proper rhythm and on key while accompanying yourself on the piano. "L.O.V.E." is a good song to practice singing and playing at the same time with, because the piano part is basically a sequence of block chords. The song is carried by the melody.

Rehearse the melody in your head or hum along as you learn to play the chord progression. When you are ready, try singing along with the chords. It is important to maintain the proper tempo, not letting yourself fall into the habit of speeding up at the easy parts and slowing down when you get to a difficult chord change.