Learn to play Reese Wynans’ lead from Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “The House is Rockin”…
… one of shortest but sweetest rocking piano solos of all timeA perfect rocking staples from the boogie and blues vocabulary….
Reese Wynans “The House is Rockin'” Piano Solo…
Frank’s Transcription of “The House is Rockin'” Piano Solo…
Study-Practice-Performance Notes
Note: Frank is planning to reshoot this in HD with two camera angles. Stay tuned!
Frank Playing “The House is Rockin'”…
- Yes, I played the entire solo in one hand! If playing solo, feel free to add your own left hand, but if playing with a good band, your right hand alone is quite sufficient and appropriate. Adding noise in your left hand tends to just muddy the sound.
- This is in Rockabilly, a direct descendant of Blues and Boogie Woogie. How many bars? Twelve, just like 12 bar blues! It sound s bluesy, of course, but it is the straight eighth (as opposed to “shuffle”) rhythm that defines it as rock and roll.
- Rhythm tip: Don’t let your left hand sit around doing nothing. As you play with your right hand, use your left hand to clap time in your lap. Notice how this really tightens up your rhythmic sense.
- This may look very complicated on the surface, but the ideas are quite simple and essential parts of the enduring blues, boogie woogie, and rock vocabulary.
- Using both your ears and your knowledge of scales and chords, study it until you hear and understand its essence and enjoy the results!
- Special Mention about the Key: Did you know that SRV typically tuned down a fret (= minor second = “half step”) in order to facilitate playing with heavier strings… allowing for a fatter sound with minimal physical strain. So, for example, if he is playing PHYSICALLY in the key of C, the sound would be in the key of B… as is the case for House is Rockin. That said, did you know that Reese Wynans did not play this PHYSICALLY in the key of B. He simply played it (on an electric piano) in the key of C and used the transpose button. While some “purists” might call this cheating, I would strongly disagree. The point of playing is to make good music, not to suffer needlessly with an extremely awkward fingering. Our precious time is much better spent on other more important things like developing other aspects of our musicianship. Cheers!
Choreography Video
Is anyone interested in a how-to video demonstrating the technique and choreography for playing this with freedom and ease? Comment below!
Thanks a lot! I am surprised you did not mention that the song is in B. But Reese played also in C, enjoying the transposing mode on his digital piano.
You are absolutely correct, Daniël! My sincere thanks for pointing out my glaring oversight.
I mentioned this on the YouTube post years ago and I simply forgot to update this page as well. Anyway, it’s now explained above as it should have been years ago.
I am particularly glad that you mentioned this because it opens the door to learning something about SRV’s playing along with an important musical lesson…
First, SRV almost always tuned down a fret (= minor second = “half step”) in order to facilitate playing with heavier strings… allowing for a fatter sound with minimal physical strain. For example, if he is playing PHYSICALLY in the key of C, the sound would be in the key of B… as is the case for House is Rockin.
Second, Reese Wynans did not play this PHYSICALLY in the key of B. He simply played it (on an electric piano) in the key of C and used the transpose button.
Some “purists” might call this cheating, but I would disagree. The point is to make good music, not to suffer needlessly with an extremely awkward fingering or to learn things unnecessarily. Our precious time is much better spent on other more important aspects of musicianship.
Thanks again and all the best to you in music and life!
Dear all,
speaking of a how-to video for technique and ease playing this: Yeah, I’d definitly be interested in understanding how to play this without strain and fatigue. haha
Thanks loads for this awesome place of really high-quality content here!
Believe or not, Mister Ed, you are the very first person to express interest! Alas, I have a few too many irons in the fire at the moment, but will hopefully post something this summer. And thanks so much for the words of appreciation. Cheers!
Hi,
I would be really interested in a choreography video, where you go over the fingerings.
Sorry about the slow reply, Max. Thanks for letting me know. It will take me some time to produce, but in the meantime, I have a proposition for you… For a donation to the website, I would be happy to do a live webcam lesson with you… demonstrating both the fingering as well as the choreography that will allow you to play this with freedom and ease. If you follow what I teach you, you will not only be able to play this solo like a pro, but it will open your eyes to the widespread evil that is the finger-training school of piano technique… and will open the door to liberating your technique for everything you play. Cheers!
I, too, am interested in the video. You make it look so easy!
Hi, I would a how to video on this also. Thank you.