7 Tips For Playing Better Jazz Piano

Here it is! World touring jazz pianist Steve Nixon’s tips for playing great jazz piano.

1) How to play chords 100% authentic to the jazz style

That means using chords that contain the prettiest notes. If you only play triads and basic chords you’re missing 99% of the style.

You don’t want your playing to sound cheesy right?

Great jazz chords must contain notes like the 7th, 9th, 11, and 13th. They should be balanced properly with the right note order too.

Note: If you don’t know how to play these chords yet, don’t worry! I’ll teach you how. 

2) Learn the 7 most common chord progressions in jazz 

Jazz is a style of music that features many of the same chord progressions over and over again.

Instead of looking at every chord individually it’s critical that you start seeing chords as patterns. This will set your playing free.

That’s because these 7 jazz patterns are in 99% of jazz tunes. Learn them and watch your playing skyrocket.

3) You must learn how to take a great solo on every song you play

Jazz is a style that’s filled with improvisation. It’s at the very core of the genre of music. So, it’s expected that you know how to take a great solo on every tune.

Studying licks, great jazz solos, patterns, scales, and special practice techniques will unlock your creativity.

4) You must use authentic swing rhythms in your playing

Jazz is a very rhythmic style of music. There are classic rhythms that every great jazz pianist uses in their playing. They’re syncopated and groove like crazy! If you play everything on the downbeat you’re missing a big part of this style.

5) You must substitute your own unique chords into every song you play

If you want to avoid the pain of sounding like a total newbie you should absolutely be changing some of the chords in your songs.

Don’t sound like a million other wannabes. Be you! Audiences love it when you can insert unexpected and hip chords into your songs.

6) Memorize the patterns, chords and melody for every song

If you’re just playing off sheet music you’re missing 99% of this style of music.

Playing stock arrangements off sheet music is not really playing jazz. It’s the same thing as you reading someone else’s words and saying that they’re you’re own.

Fortunately, there is a fun course that teaches you how to build your own jazz arrangements.

7) Model the playing of proven jazz masters

I’m talking about people like Herbie Hancock,Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, etc.

There’s a reason why millions of people LOVE their playing. Success leaves clues.

People who succeed consistently are not lucky; they’re doing something different than anyone else.

These legends have a playing strategy that works and if you follow the same proven strategy then you’ll reap the same rewards.

That’s why I always recommend people follow a system that teaches how to play the same classic chords, licks, songs, and rhythms that the legends use.

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