Featured Song: Pirates of the Caribbean - He's a Pirate

Probably the most recognizable song from the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, He's a Pirate is pretty easy to learn but really fun when playing it up to speed.

Here's some sheet music to get you started:

Pirates of the Caribbean - He's a Pirate

I think this arrangement does a good job capturing the feel of the original and doesn't oversimplify it.  It does take a bit of practice before you can play it up to speed though.

Here's a video tutorial for those who prefer learning that way:

The beginning of the video is just showing what it sounds like when played up to speed, and the actual tutorial comes after.


Lastly, here is an actual piano cover:

His arrangement simplifies the left hand a bit in my opinion (makes it into two even notes), but it still sounds great.

Billboard Top 10 (10/25)

Sheet music (and if sheets aren't available then a video tutorial) for the top 10 songs on Billboard today.  Enjoy!

1. Far East Movement - Like A G6 (video tutorial)

2. Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are

3. Nelly - Just a Dream

4. Rihanna - Only Girl

5. Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love

6. Taylor Swift - Back to December (a good cover, couldn't find sheets/tutorials)

7. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

8. Taio Cruz - Dynamite

9. Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me

10. Trey Songz - Bottoms Up

Featured Song: Owl City - Fireflies

Fireflies is a hit single by Owl City, from his album Ocean Eyes (which has other singles that I'll feature later!). 

Here's some basic arrangements to get you started:

Owl City - Fireflies

Owl City - Fireflies (version 2) - has some problems displaying score correctly, but printed okay on my computer

Version 2  has the full song (13 pages), while the first link has just the main theme (3 pages).


Here are the guitar chords for improvising:
Owl City - Fireflies (chords)

A video tutorial:

And here are two covers I like:


This one is slower and has a more melancholy feel to it:

and this one feels more upbeat:

Featured Song: Don't Stop Believin'

Don't Stop Believin' is a great song, recently featured on Glee, and is fun and not too difficult to play on piano.


Here's some basic sheet music to get you started:
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'


and here is an alternate link:
Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (version 2)


I personally like version 2 better because it's slightly more complex, but both sheets are pretty basic and easy to improvise off of.  


Here are the chords for guitar or piano improvising:
Journey - Don't Stop Believing (chords)
 

A video tutorial for those who like to use visuals instead of sheet music:


And lastly, here is the best (in my opinion) piano cover.  Unfortunately he plays it by ear and doesn't have sheet music available, but you can improvise off the chords or the sheet music I linked above and get something similar!

Billboard Top 10 (10/20)

Sheet music (and if sheets aren't available then a video tutorial) for the top 10 songs on Billboard today.  Enjoy!


1. Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are
2. Far East Movement - Like A G6 (video tutorial)
3. Nelly - Just a Dream
4. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
5. Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love
6. Rihanna - Only Girl
7. Taio Cruz - Dynamite
8. Taylor Swift - Speak Now (video tutorial)
9. Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me
10. Eminem - Love the Way You Lie