Is it just me, or does it sound like he's baning on those pedals more for percussive effect, rather than using them to sustain etc.....


I've tried playing the song and the pedal sounds don't seem to match when you would push down or release them for sustaining the chords.

it's funny cuz i used to that too as a kid....play them as percussion while playing the piano

It's a pretty cool effect. It's almost as if he's tapping his foot and the pedals just happen to be there.

I always wondered the the pedals were for

Janfriend said:

are you asking what pedals are for in general, or in the song?

The main pedal on the right is used to sustain or hold notes. you push odwn on it before you strike the note and hold it to keep that note or chord ringing while you move your hands to play something else.

The Left most pedal is really only use in classical music to my knowledge.... an shifts the piano strings so they only hit 1 of the 3 strings for each note (Una corda it's called). The middle pedal varies based on the piano..... not all have them.

anyway, i think prince is just tapping is feat on the pedals not using them for their purpose. was wondering if others got the same feeling.
[Edited 11/13/05 21:09pm]

I play a little piano. I've never tried this song, but any chance of you giving me a chord progression or something? I wish I had a real piano to bang the sustain pedal, but all I have is a Yamaha keyboard

Amazing. . .I was listening to this song last week and thinking the same way.

Harry Connick, Jr. plays the piano similarly, in that he stomps the floor and the pedals.

NuPwr319 said:

but do you think they're "Using" the pedals or just banking on them? In HCUDCMA to me it seems like he's not really using them, just doing it for percussion (like tapping on an acoustic guitar).

What do y'all think?

8up: I have a chart somewhere..... i'll look for it and post back.

it reminds me of church...listen to gospel singers playing the piano on a song and you will hear this. I love that effect it always was kinda comfortable for me.

I think the pedal stomping is all supposed to add to the organic sound
of the record, rather than actually serve a purpose.

I love it. Been looking for the sheet music, but having
no luck. I might check Alicia Keys' song book
next time Im in the bookstore

Hi,

The song is not in the European version of the Alicia Keys songbook (for copyright reasons). I worked on the tune on guitar and later on piano. These are the chords as far as I can hear:


( * means bar line, 12/8 beat)



First part (verse):

*___C(no third)___Ab6____Ab+___*___F_____F/G(=G79sus)___* (repeat)


suggested voicings (third position guitar):
Ab6: Ab, F, C, F
Ab+: Ab, F, C, E (don't know the exact name)



Second part (chorus):

*____F____*___C/E___*

*_Dm___Dm/E___Dm/F____F#dim_*____G79sus_____*



Third part (second longer chorus):

*___F___*___Abdim___*

*___Am____Am7__*___D(7)___*

*___Dm__Dm/E___Dm/F___F#dim__*____G79sus___*




BTW, C/E means C-chord over E-bass etc.
good luck,

jazzz