Keyboard books for absolute beginners!

[original flipper]

HI

I did not notice this forum until recently; having read a few posts it is clear from the comments of 'non' trained or learned members that finding the 'right' book is rather difficult.

Lets not beat around the bush; there are thousands of books on every aspect of musical practice - most of these are very specific and more often will confuse you big time, I just want to suggest that people who actually own specific books come forward and recommend/review them for 'newbies'.

In my own mind (!?#%) I would say I am a little beyond a beginner - but not much!

My recommended title is this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Play-Keyboa ... F8&s=books

This book is not perfect but it is a very good STARTING point for those who really are at a total loss and want to learn the very BASIC 'knowledge' of reading and playing in a simplistic way - 100 pages long, some nice fingered chord charts and useful information is packed in here.

Flipper.

[dougsyo]

I took music theory in high school (one semester class, 30 years ago). I've forgotten a lot, and at that time I wasn't a keyboard player. I do remember slogging through parts of Walter Piston's "Harmony" (pretty heavy reading for a 17-year-old!)

Besides taking a keyboard class at the college where I work, the two books that have helped me recently in getting up to speed with playing keyboard and a theory refresher:
- How to Play From a Fake Book (Keyboard Edition) by Blake Neely - of the various "beginner's books" for playing from lead sheets, etc, this was the most useful one I've found.

- Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians by Keith Wyatt and Carl Schroeder. This book is oriented towards performing musicians, not academic classroom settngs.

I also recommend a good keyboard scales book.

Doug