recommend some books...

[truth4life]

Ok, I have been playing for a year now, still kinda a beginner, I know chords and scales and can play songs very simply, but I want to utilize my chords more in songs and practice flowing better with my left and right hand...what books does anyone recommend?

[4hisglory]

I'll go through my list of books and see what I have.

[BBoy]

Also, you can get a fake book arrangement of christian songs, which will of course just have the melody line and the chords written above. That way, you can be as creative as you like with arpeggios and basslines.

Also, I would recommend "Teach Yourself To Play Jazz" and "Teach Yourself Chords and Progressions." Your local music store should have them or should be able to order them for you.   

[Cesarbraga]

I've posted a reply talking about practice and mentioned this book:

I have bought a book that seems to be the ultimate one in piano Jazz and music.
Metaphors for Musicians - Randy Halberstadt. I bougt it last year, around Christmas. I've almost gone through it! It's so interesting and well written that you want to devour it all day long. It has great tech for you to enhance your right and left hands' playing. It's got it all: Practice tips, scale fingerings, the coolest ideas for piano playing, voicings for differente environments (solo, duo, trio, quartet), tips for professional musicians (there a really helpful) about behavior and the act, there's a bunch of theory made easy, all the works! Randy is a genious, man! He teaches like Jesus: Using metaphors. Very didatic.

Go for it!

[Cherri]

Okay. Will be checking this out. Thank you.