Tony Banks Discusses Learning to Play Piano

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11 жыл бұрын

In this video,(taken from Tony's official Facebook page), Tony discusses when and how he learned to play the piano when he was a boy. Tony gives some great insight on his past here and it's great to see him in a new video.
Here's the link to Tony's official Facebook page: / tonybanksofficial

Пікірлер: 105

@edsknife 7 жыл бұрын

My right ear enjoyed this one quite a bit.

@HH-xo7fu 7 жыл бұрын

quite ironic, since it's in a damn recording studio

@artrock101 6 жыл бұрын

I always look for this comment, to make sure my sound card driver hasn't borkd...

@rmartin7558 5 жыл бұрын

You just don't appreciate good stereo sound when you hear it. The interviewer was mixed hard left, and Tony mixed hard right. It's just that Tony did all the talking.

@edsknife 4 жыл бұрын

@@rmartin7558 Mixing should be mostly based on the perspective of the camera, otherwise this video sounds like a confessions box.

@shea086 4 жыл бұрын

Tony Banks is such a great writer/musician. His whole band really is inspirational.Genesis music was a musical education. Still is. It may take a while to get it but when it clicks your hooked.

@acheron4444 10 жыл бұрын

I like a lot the good remembers about his teacher, i like too that teacher said "you don't play perfectly but with a lot of passion", this is the distinctive sign of banks music. I think so, and that's why he is one of my favorites, no doubt, he is the best rock keybordist ever.

@joecool9978 9 жыл бұрын

Tony Banks has givin us some of the best piano parts in the history of music, Mozart, Beethoven, Banks, The guy is great.

@heathaze6088 8 жыл бұрын

100, 200 years from now Tony will be studied and played and will be looked upon like Mozart and other greats.

@fvansoldt 7 жыл бұрын

I agree but it will not take that long. There are already tribute bands playing the music like orchestra's playing classical music.

@thepamesan4184 6 жыл бұрын

That will never happen, 'cause his music, exept of "Seven", doesn't count to classical music. :(

@anthonyrinaldo1133 3 жыл бұрын

Tony pound for pound...the best. Writing, playing, passion, depth. Love it.

@theresa42213 8 жыл бұрын

Aah Tony. Your such a sweetie. When l hear the intro of 'Firth of Fifth' I find it very classical. That's the kind of playing that turns me toward classical. Keith, Rick, and Tony are just beautiful when it comes to flavor.

@SpaceCattttt 7 жыл бұрын

Yes, I suppose it's not out of the question to assume that Tony's playing has brought as many people to classical music as ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition did?

@MrMjp58 10 жыл бұрын

His work with the early Genesis should ensure his fame and notoriety for eternity.

@RicardoMartinez-jy5lo 7 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, a fine musician and songwriter, one of the best in popular music.

@LuisEduardoGalindo 10 жыл бұрын

¨We were lucky¨ .... how honest, simple and humble... Cheers Mr Banks!

@mrkimble2618 3 жыл бұрын

Intro to firth of fifth is technically perfect.

@race4711 2 жыл бұрын

In the next century Tony Banks will be loved like Debussy, Satie, Mozart or Chopin... today we have Tony between us and we are lucky men.

@shirleymental4189 10 жыл бұрын

The old story goes: A child prodigy is sent to play for a maestro and he plays a Mozart piece for him note perfect. The maestro listens and say's " very good young man, but one day you will learn to make music!" Sums it up for me really.

@mikearchibald744 3 жыл бұрын

LOL, or he won't. I liked the interview with Anthony Phillips when he talks about feeling guilty that he didn't spend enough time playing scales on guitar. He says he felt a little better because he was a 'writer' and not a 'player'. A lot of really great players probably couldn't come up with anything original. Then you get guys like Captain Beefheart who technically couldn't even PLAY an instrument. But thats mostly why classical music bores me, there is very little newness to it. Whatever you say about Genesis, in the seventies they were doing something 'new'.

@frankhartis6039 9 жыл бұрын

He played an RMI with expression. The man used all the tools he had and enhanced the sound live as well. Thanks Tony.

@edsknife 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, he and the RMI hold very sentimental spots in my mind.

@Deebz270 6 жыл бұрын

A musician after my own heart. I did learn to read music at the age of 9, but soon gave up on it, it was far too mathematical for my discalcular brain. Yet I've always been a prolific composer of music and can play most instruments by ear. In fact today, I ran through 'Firth of Fifth' on my recorder, just to keep in practice... I often play (on guitar...) that Banks/Hackett (and Daryl Stuermer) guitar line to this song, which still remains my favourite melody and Genesis composition. . Selling England By The Pound is one of my top five favourite albums.

@geraldmellon740 5 жыл бұрын

No one compares to Tony for his voicings and attention to detail. Even as late as And then there were Three it is evident the amount of work he must have put in to the material (Undertow for example) that Genesis produced. Incomparable. First heard them 1978 and still listen to them.

@CrippleMansNuts 11 жыл бұрын

TONY YOU ARE THE BEST.

@WintersWar 11 жыл бұрын

have always admired tony, took his work seriously and gave us great tunes.

@mikearchibald744 3 жыл бұрын

"I hit the thing". He's got a way with words. I'd like to ask him when and WHY he picked up the guitar after that.

@yesshows100 10 жыл бұрын

Banks, Best keyboard player ever! No contest. THE FOUNTAIN OF SALMACIS! Banks and Wakeman 1A and 1B.

@marciabates7921 6 жыл бұрын

Don`t forget Keith Emerson !!

@joecrow1481 6 жыл бұрын

Dave Sinclair!

@oddities-whatnot 8 жыл бұрын

What a fab bloke he is. Saw him with Genesis is 1987 in Leeds I think.

@Eleventhearlofmars 7 жыл бұрын

Simon George roundhey park I was at that concert

@Morgena1 11 жыл бұрын

Everybody have his strength in live, doing something different, because of economical pressure , too much of a persons talent would be lost, glad Tony worked towards his strength, and found happiness by doing what he enjoyed the most.

@IvaanCZ 7 жыл бұрын

Morgana You couldnt be more right

@MikeGervasi 11 жыл бұрын

Banks, Wakeman, Emerson, ... all top notch players.

@Eleventhearlofmars 7 жыл бұрын

Modest till the end Tony, the teacher he spoke highly of should get an honoury induction into the genesis hall of fame lol

@GoodSneakers 3 жыл бұрын

Unparalleled. Never topped.

@wardka 10 жыл бұрын

This is a completely different smiling person than the Banks we see on the boxed set interviews. Maybe those were just an off day, though I did enjoy them too.

@jenniferpratt765 3 жыл бұрын

You bless my life

@mrxsg 4 жыл бұрын

I wasn't expecting the laugh from the left speaker at 2.10. Scared the crap out of me!

@555ontario 8 жыл бұрын

Tony Banks playing bum notes? Never heard a single one but awesome to know someone who may not think he is is often seen as a virtuoso. Solid to the core. And did I mention super melodic?

@christiewang1016 8 жыл бұрын

I think he is just unassuming as usual, don't forget he never saw himself as a "virtuoso"...

@555ontario 8 жыл бұрын

Agreed. It's great seeing these guys who have given us this amazing music being modest and just normal folk.

@edsknife 7 жыл бұрын

I've heard just a few, most of them being just a short stutter (not wrong notes), which is across tons of bootlegs and other videos of their performances. I would say that 1% (or less) of all genesis recordings had mistakes from Tony.

@edsknife 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, he has been known to put himself down and not give himself the recognition that he deserves.

@555ontario 7 жыл бұрын

And for someone who says he does not have certain technique, the stuff he does is amazing. It's difficult stuff to cover. I play by ear, hit bum notes, and have technique issues that show... he doesn't lol.

@funontariomix 4 жыл бұрын

Bum notes? Lmao. Never heard Tony play a bum note to be honest. One of the greats in a band of 5 good song writers. Perhaps the most talented band of them all :)

@ericfellner3524 5 жыл бұрын

Best keyboard player ever, there's nothing quite like that Genesis sound, like Firth Of Fifth and many other classics too numerous to mention.

@lazycalm41 8 жыл бұрын

I agree with all the comments below, Tony is a great guy & also really really funny in the right moments too. Wakeman, Banks. Lord & Emerson , the best rock keyboard players of all time by miles!

@ladyblackstardust390 8 жыл бұрын

+lazycalm41 Mike Garson, David Bowie's keyboard player in the 70s, 90s, 00s and 10s, including touring, needs to be included. He's also a concert level classical pianist. I've always loved Tony's playing, although I haven't listened to him since 1978.

@anonymusum 8 жыл бұрын

Take Emerson out - you can´t compare him with the rest as he is just in a class of his own.

@christiewang1016 8 жыл бұрын

+anonymusum haha agree with you, the rest can't play like his enormous left hand(like in Tarkus). Tho Tony is my second fave after him. I love Tony’s magnificent chords.

@ladyblackstardust390 8 жыл бұрын

I met Tony Banks in a social setting in '76. Along with Phil and Mike. A nice evening with Steve Hackett who introduced us. They were a happy bunch and enjoying jokes and a relaxing evening. It was a thrill! Love those guys in early Genesis.

@anonymusum 8 жыл бұрын

Christie, that left hand on Tarkus sounds more difficult than it actually is. Anyway - the main difference between Keith and the rest is his knowledge in modern classical music and in jazz and jazz improvisations. Tony didn´t improvise at all and if he did it sounded terrible - but that´s ok, his approach was totally different. Jon Lord played the same licks around pentatonic scales and triads over and over again. If you heard one solo you heard them all. Wakeman surely had great moments and he had the best classical piano technique of them all. Harmonicwise Tony composed in the style of the late romantic era but Keith could do that as well. Listen to Stone Of Years - which still gives me goosebumps whenever I play it. But many tunes show a much more modern Strawinsky-like approach and again - in this issue he was the only keyboardist and composer who was inspired by modern classical music. What brings me to classical adaptions. Keith was the only one who could integrate classical music in rock music with skill and taste. And he chose those tunes that were not overplayed and added new aspects to them. He never would have chosen Bach´s Toccata & Fugue in d minor or Beethoven´s Ninth Symphony or Mozart´s Little Night Music like Jon Jord did. And if he would have done it he would have added some musical surprises and contrasts to it so that the whole tune wouldn´t have sounded like a classical piano arrangement plus a rock rhythm section. In fact Jon Lord made classical adaptions for dummies - Keith made them for intelligent listeners.

@Ursulauu 11 жыл бұрын

The World's greatest keyboard player!

@DannyBoi2112 Жыл бұрын

Wakeman, Emerson and Banks

@Timbretwo 7 жыл бұрын

Genius.

@BanksianCentral 11 жыл бұрын

Damn right!! :D

@Shred_The_Weapon 5 жыл бұрын

In a longer edition of this video, would Tony have mentioned how being obligated to use bass pedals helped improve his technique with his hands?

@temeralane7867 2 жыл бұрын

🤗 #ILoveYou 💛👑

@grahamkey8496 3 жыл бұрын

He's very modest about his "bum notes". I think I've only noticed him play one bum note out of about 50 years of making fabulous music.

@RicardoMartinez-jy5lo 7 жыл бұрын

I wish the British spoke English a little slower.

@YMeDoyElLujazo 4 жыл бұрын

@Big Bill O'Reilly Yes

@kevincarey1453 7 жыл бұрын

In some ways, Tony was more impressive than Rick Wakeman. I remember playing with a band in the late 80s -- we did some tunes from ABACAB. There was an interview with Phil Collins where Phil said, "Now is a very exciting time for music because you can do just about anything and people will love it." We didn't know what planet Phil was living on because all we saw making $$$ was U2, Bryan Adams, Madonna, bad metal, Sting... Phil's cheezy and simple pop tunes, etc.

@Cr8Tron 7 жыл бұрын

Not sure I get the connection, on how this quoting of Collins reinforces your original statement about Banks vs. Wakeman?

@kevincarey1453 7 жыл бұрын

No connection really, just two random-ish Genesis related comments squeezed together in the same paragraph.

@Cr8Tron 7 жыл бұрын

K, that's fair. I used to misunderstand Phil for the longest time, thinking he was saying how much he liked Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Pink Floyd, and Yes, as opposed to all the more obscure prog "dinosaurs". But now, when I listen back, I can hear that he's actually saying he'd rather be stuck on the island listening to all of the above EXCEPT PINK FLOYD AND YES. Those were actually just two bands he wanted to use as examples, to shoot the prog "dinosaurs" down with. I lost a bit of respect for him after I realized that. I still would argue that he's not completely close-minded, considering all the fusion jazz he did on the side (Brand X, Marscape, etc.)

@Cr8Tron 7 жыл бұрын

As for Banks vs. Wakeman, most people don't think too much about the ways in which the notes they're hearing are cascading, harmonizing, modulating, etc. People usually just listen for the incorporation of traditional styles they're already familiar with, and then think someone's really good just for slipping in some blatant jazz or classical in a rock context. I think Wakeman (and Keith Emerson, as well) might've been a bit more physically daring. But Banks' chords and melodies were way more out there, and better-defined as a result of his being relatively reserved. (Compared to Wakeman at least.) And you could probably even argue that his reservations resulted in less screw-ups, when you compare his performances to the others'.

@kevincarey1453 7 жыл бұрын

Phil was (and is) such an amazing talent. I'm so grateful for everything he recorded with Genesis (up to the 1983 "Mama" album) and Brand X. It is a SHAME he can't play anymore, but he made his mark. His autobiography is one of the best I've ever read.

@SuperJPeterman 7 жыл бұрын

I've never heard Tony play a bum note, ever.

@turnerthemanc 6 жыл бұрын

There was a bootleg Lamb album I heard and Phil started Riding the Scree way too quick. its already fast as it is, but Tony did a fair few bum notes. Not surprised.

@JeffFerguson 5 жыл бұрын

You can hear him play one, and admit to it, here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f7qShNx02bC6fmg.html

@FERRABONE 4 жыл бұрын

i maybe wrong, but i think at minute 1:15 in studio version of behind the lines there's a bum note

@Eleventhearlofmars 4 жыл бұрын

Carlos Carbone you are wrong.

@VasilyMusic 3 жыл бұрын

@@turnerthemanc Riding the Scree is one of the most difficult synth pieces to have ever been written, so I'm sure even if he did play a bum note, nobody noticed.

@awaken77 8 жыл бұрын

How to learn to play as Tony Banks? I can't reproduce intro to Firth Of Fifth :-(

@ElektrikHob 8 жыл бұрын

Take a look at my transcription: v=jAbqkUVYQAA It's not easy to play, but with a bit of practice... :)

@donnietobasco9791 5 жыл бұрын

Paul McCartney attempted to learn to read music at the piano after the Beatles stopped touring and eventually just gave up on it finding it both difficult and restrictive. Why was notation and tablature invented? Simply as a means of remembering compositions and making them portable and explanatory to other musicians. Whilst it's unlikely that a complex classical composition could be accurately replicated 'by ear' alone, there is a tremendous amount of music which CAN be learned in this manner. When it comes to composition, it is not necessary to be able to write notation at all and a basic knowledge of keys and chords is all one needs to relay information to accompanying musicians. I remember my own piano lessons as a youngster and how my often rather complex 'ear' learned melodies and chords were totally disregarded and tutted at by my tutor, in favour of him taking me through boring and rigid theoretical scales which were a total drudge. To this day 'picking a tune out' on the piano is one of my greatest pleasures. Only when I feel a note or chord is defeating me, will I turn to the sheet music to put myself back on track. This happened only recently when I was learning 'Afterglow' by Mr Banks. There was one chord which try as I might, my 'ear' just could not establish. It was some "diminished, augmented seventh" ...as I like to call ANY chord that tricks my ears...lol.. I wonder how Genesis used to relay their music to each-other in the studio? Especially Tony Banks? Did he distribute sheet music to Hackett and Rutherford, or did they just 'jam' along their overdubs until it sounded good enough to go in the can?

@liesandvideotape 4 жыл бұрын

I believe he was only one who could read music in Genesis, so he would develop the others ideas or feelings into a jam or something

@jj-or2jn 3 жыл бұрын

@@liesandvideotape But he can't read music or at least at a decent level. He admits this in an interview that was posted on KZfaq a few months ago.

@michaelakosti2963 3 ай бұрын

silver fox 💋

@charlesheberling2910 5 жыл бұрын

Tone I can cross hand. I still read music.

@kamsandwich6990 5 жыл бұрын

learned a little in elementary school, not scales. now im 28 and trying to restart and learn again. is that weird? thats the only time i really played, in 4th grade.

@padregrande523 Жыл бұрын

If you want to learn piano, do it!

@macsnafu 8 жыл бұрын

I regret never seeing Genesis live. Even if Tony did play bum notes!

@Eleventhearlofmars 7 жыл бұрын

macsnafu he never played bum notes live, he's just being very modest lol

@gitzah 10 жыл бұрын

Just now i'm drawn to his resemblance of the other Tony (Blair) ; )

@edsknife 7 жыл бұрын

There is a senior in my section in band, we both play alto sax, and he looks quite a bit like Tony Banks. I used to joke about calling him Tony, but I am just now beginning to call him that (I haven't called him that, yet, but I came really close just a couple of hours ago).

@temeralane7867 2 жыл бұрын

☎🎹☎

@geoffnorton9279 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry Tony, I have to disagree on the bum notes at the live shows, I never heard one........ having seen you guys five times, (from And Then There Were Three), onwards . I was always totally mesmerised. Sadly, due to the scamdemic, I have to say your live performances are over. I'm not sure Phil would have been up to it anyway. Have you all got material for one last album? Just in case.

@ernestorochehall2303 2 ай бұрын

no se no me explico que se dice que este genio Tony banks ha sido subvalorado cuando posiblemente el y Emerson sean los dos genios de las teclas más importantes de la música solamente un sordo de cañón o un ignorante funcional diría lo contrario