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EARLY INTERMEDIATE SOLOS

Great for students once they have learned 8th rests, off-beat pick-ups, finger cross overs, movement between 5-finger positions, and C/G one-octave scales.

Recently Released

"Stand Up" by Sugarland
NEW 1/17/22 The dotted 1/4 + 1/8 note rhythm is presented with tied notes in intro to help student become familiar with the rhythm.  RH plays in C, Dm, & F positions and moves frequently.  In m. 2, RH 2 crosses over thumb to Bb.  LH plays in F & G positions with minimal movement.

"Bang!" by AJR
*NEW* 1/3/22 2020 AJR hit transposed to Dm for less black keys.  LH plays lots of 5ths: D-A, Bb-F, C-G.  RH is mostly in Dm and F positions.  RH will reach to interval of 6th and move mostly on rests.  Both hands will play stepwise in parallel motion for 3 beats (the Bang! Bang! Bang! cadence) at the end of each 8 mm phrase.

LISTED ALPHABETICALLY (by song title)

"10,000 Hours"  by Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
Transposed to C to eliminate black keys. LH has very simple, repetitive pattern. RH has significant movement.

"All I Know So Far" by P!nk

Transposed to G for better note reading on staff. LH in C position; RH mostly in G & C positions but has significant movement.  

"Alone" by Heart

LH in Em, C, & Bb positions. Well-known riff requires 3 finger to hop from G to G#.  RH is mostly Em, F,  Am positions.

"Arcade" by Duncan Laurence

RH plays A below middle C to high C.  LH plays in Dm or F position. Movement is via finger substitution on repeated notes, finger crossovers & reaches of 6th/7th.

"Bang!" by AJR
Transposed to Dm for less black keys.  LH mostly 5ths.  RH is mostly Dm and F positions, reaches interval of 6th, and moves mostly on rests.

"Beautiful Mistakes" by Maroon 5

LH ostinato reaches a 6th, so thumb covers two notes.  RH has constant movement of 8th notes primarily in Am, C & Dm positions.

"Better Place" by Rachel Platten

LH ostinato covers E below bass staff to C on the staff.  RH plays mostly Am & C positions, substitutes fingers on repeated notes, & repositions hand within phrases.  

"Blessings" by Laura Story

Transposed to F so RH stays on treble clef. RH moves quite a bit.  LH is mostly in Gm position.

"Body Like A Back Road" by Sam Hunt

RH plays mostly in Dm position; LH stays in Bb position entire song.

"Closer" by The Chainsmokers & Halsey

RH plays G pentatonic scale & needs descending one-octave arpeggio; LH plays 3 step ostinato except last few measures.

"Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa

RH is mostly C position and has an octave leap.  LH plays mostly moving open 5ths.  

"Easy On Me" by Adele

LH plays simple pattern that requires opening the thumb joint to reach 3rd between 1-2.  RH plays in C & F positions.  Movement happens with turn of thumb under 3 in m. 12, crossing 3 over 1 in m.23, and reaching a 3rd between 2-3 in m.8-9.

"Fight Song" by Rachel Platten

RH plays in G position for most of the song.  LH is in C & Am positions until final note.  

"The Fighter" by Keith Urban

LH plays a 4 note ostinato (with rhythmic variation) and does not move.  RH plays Gm, Bb, and Cm positions.  Chorus has lots of movement and has intervals of 6th/7th/8th.

"The Final Countdown" by Europe

LH plays in G & Am positions. RH plays in C, D & Em positions.  While most of the melody is in stepwise movement, there are numerous leaps of 6th and an octave.

"Give Your Heart A Break" by Demi Lovato
LH plays in F position (intro/outro) and Bb position (verse/chorus.  RH plays in C, Dm, F & G positions with significant movement.

"Havana" by Camila Cabello

Transposed to Dm to keep RH on staff.  LH stays in A/Am position, however, RH moves about every 2 measures.

"Here With Me" by Marshmello
RH in D position except for one phrase when it shifts to Em position.  LH has two 4-note patterns in Em, G & D positions.

"High Horse" by Kacey Musgraves

LH stays in Em position.  RH is mostly D position; lots of movement & complicated fingerings due to range & leaps of melody.

"Higher Love" by Steve Winwood 

You may also know it from Kygo & Whitney Houston.  Transposed to F to keep RH on staff. Both hands move significantly.

"Hold Me Now" ​by The Thompson Twins

LH plays in F position. RH plays in Dm, Em, F, & C positions.  Finger change on repeated notes in mm. 14-15 & 22-23.

"I'll Be There" by Walk Off the Earth

Transposed to F to keep RH on staff. LH stays in place entire song.  RH has frequent movement.

"I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne

RH mostly in A, D, & E positions but moves frequently due to melody range. LH is often in G or A position; must play 7th interval.

"Kings & Queens" by Ava Max

Transposed to Em for less sharps. LH has 4 mm ostinato; RH moves a lot as melody has leaps and range of octave and a third.

"Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat & SZA
LH ostinato in G position with some rhythmic variation.  RH plays in Bm, C, D, & Em positions.  Lots of movement with quick changes on 8th rests, reaching to 6th, finger substitution on repeated notes.

"Leave Before You Love Me" by Marshmello & the Jonas Brothers
LH plays 4-note ostinato in C position.  RH plays in D, Em, & G positions and has significant movement.  Must play interval of 6th w/fingers 1-4 and 7th w/fingers 1-5.

"Lose Somebody" by Kygo & OneRepublic

Transposed to C & put in cut time to eliminate 16th notes. LH plays entire song in F position.  RH plays in Am/C/Dm positions with lots of movement.

"Love Again" by Dua Lipa

Transposed to Em for less black keys. LH plays 4-note ostinato.  RH movement via finger crossovers & hand shifts mid-phrase.

"Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber

Transposed to C.  RH stays in C position; LH plays in F position, except verse which in is G position.

"More Than Words" by Extreme
RH plays C, G, Am & Bm positions with leaps of 7th in mm. 27-28 & 35-36.  Challenging fingering in mm.20-22 due to accidentals.  LH plays G, Am & C positions. 

"Never Gonna Let You Down"
​by Colbie Callait
LH plays in F position.  RH plays mostly in Am or C position.  Knowing RH first inversion chord fingering (1-2-5) will be helpful.  RH has finger substitution on repeated note in m.14.

"Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd
RH in Dm/G positions on verse but moves in pre-chorus, chorus and refrain; tricky 3-over-1 cross in mm. 22.  LH moves between G, Am, & C positions by substituting fingers on repeated notes.

"Shelter From the Storm" by Bob Dylan
Transposed to G.  RH plays mostly G or C position.  LH plays in C position for verse and then descending G scale.

"Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon

RH requires comfort with 1st inversion fingering (1-2-5).  LH plays 5th/6th intervals then moves to F position.

"Slow Hands" by Niall Horan

Transposed to F to keep RH on staff. RH has frequent movement and finger crossovers; LH stays in Bb position entire arrangement.

"Stand Up" by Sugarland

Dotted 1/4 + 1/8 note rhythm is presented with tied notes in intro. RH plays in C, Dm, & F positions and moves frequently. LH plays in F & G positions; minimal movement.  

"Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart
LH gets the intro synthesizer riff (watch F vs. F#!) and settles into whole notes.  RH plays primarily in G, Am, & C positions.

"Too Good at Goodbyes" by Sam Smith 
Transposed to C to keep melody on staff. RH moves between C, Dm & G positions.  LH stays in G position entire song. 

"Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
RH plays in mostly Em, G & Am positions. LH stays in C position.  Transposed to G. 

"What About Us" by P!nk

Transposed to C to keep RH on staff. LH has ostinato with some rhythmic pattern; RH plays in F, F, Am & C positions.

"What Do You Mean" by Justin Bieber

Transposed to G to keep melody on staff. RH is mostly G & Em positions.  LH stays in C position. 

"Willow" by Taylor Swift

RH plays in C pos & G position. LH plays in C & D positions.  In original key.

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
​by Dead or Alive
LH uses C & Em positions.  RH melody is primarily in Em & C positions; movement via finger substitution on repeated notes.  
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