Music Lesson: "The Scientist" by Coldplay

Hey there, everyone! Hope you enjoyed that performance of "The Scientist."

Introduction

Today, we're going to talk about this great, well-known track by Coldplay from their fantastic album, Rush Of Blood to the Head. This song is very piano-heavy and is considered one of the great piano songs of the 21st century.

Key Aspects of the Song

• Fundamental Aspect: The most important element of this song is chords.
• Track Composition: With this song, you'll learn that around 90% of the track is just chordal technique and structure.
• Opening Riff: The opening riff is very recognizable.

Playing Technique

I'll just play a bit of it for you, all the way through. This is what Chris Martin plays on the piano as he sings.

• In this particular arrangement, we're focusing on what Chris Martin would originally play when singing the song.
• If you've got any friends who are singers, you can have them sing while you play the exact part.

Voicing and Chord Structure

Let's take a closer look at what's happening:

• The lower part of the left hand and the lower part of the score is a quaver, while the top part in the right hand mostly consists of crotchets.
• Although I mentioned there's no melodic interest, there is some melodic interest with those crotchets.

Importance of Note Emphasis

When we talk about voicing in chords, we have:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 notes being played.
• However, which of the six do we want to hear the most?

The answer is we want to hear the A the most. That's why it's scored as a crotchet while the rest are more delicate.

• You'll want to bring out:
  • A
  • B flat
  • C (the octave)
  • Then down to G.

Finger Technique

To achieve this effect:

• Hold the note with your little finger.
• It might be tricky as your fingers are still developing, but try to hold it as long as you can to let it dominate the other chords.

The Importance of the Pedal

A very important point I want to make about this song is related to the sustain pedal:

• You may not have much experience using the pedal. It's crucial that you use it correctly.

What Not to Do

Let me show you an example of what not to do:

• Don't do this. It sounds blurry and messy.

Proper Pedaling Technique

• On the first beat of each bar, you want to up and down the pedal as quickly as you can. Listen.

• This means you have:

  • Voicing
  • Pedaling
  • Touch

We don't want the sound to be harsh or ugly. Instead, aim for a gentle and delicate touch, almost like a cloud.

Handling Difficult Chords

This particular chord can be very difficult for beginner pianists.

• A little note in the score mentions that the C may be omitted from the right-hand voicings throughout.
• If it's a stretch to reach with your last two fingers, you can leave that C out. You'll still get the music's effect.

Moving Through the Score

As we move through the score, the same pattern continues until we reach the chorus.

Chorus Technique

• In the chorus, you want to create a bit of a bounce without even playing:
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
  • The rhythm remains constant: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Note Emphasis

Make sure you hear all the notes in the chord. Sometimes, the top note isn't played well, so remember:

• Look at your shoulders while you play. Play into the piece to express the music.

Summary

To summarize:

• Focus on getting those chords soft and even.
• Ensure every chord has the same volume. Unevenness is what we want to avoid.

Feel free to sing along to help with the feel, and you can even play along with the track since you're playing exactly what Chris Martin plays.

Practicing This Piece

As always, I recommend separating the hands for practice.

• For the left hand:

  • Find the shape using 4th finger on that B flat, and then 2 and 5.

• For the right hand:

  • Practice going from the B flat to an octave, then find that chord.

With time, you'll achieve the evenness you want, and you'll be playing this piece to perfection in no time at all.

If you have any questions about this piece, feel free to send me a message, and I'll be happy to help you.

Best of luck, it's a fantastic song, and you're going to do great. Well done!