Developing Your Sound Archives | FreeJazzLessons.com

Jazz Piano Improvisation: The 12 Step Method

Ready to improve your jazz improvisation skills for the piano? This step by step article will help. Jazz is such an amazing art form. Unlike classical music where the notes are the same each time, in jazz, each performance of a tune is unique to the performer doing it! At the highest levels each time you…

Quartal Harmony – The Ultimate Guide

Do you want to learn more about quartal harmony? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson we’re going to show you 9 different ways you can use quartal harmony in your own playing. How to Play Quartal Chords Built in 4ths Take a minute and watch Steve break down some sweet quartal based…

3 Best Jazz Albums To Study – Advice For Students

In today’s video I’m going to tell you about 3 of the best jazz albums that changed my musical life. These best jazz albums are my 3 recommendations for students who want to begin learning jazz from recordings. All 3 of these recordings completely changed my life as a player. I learned a ton from…

Emotional Chords: How To Tell Stories With Chords

Are you looking for emotional chords? Would you like to tell a story every time you play? Would you like your listeners to feel like they’ve been on an incredible journey every time you sit down at your instrument? Well this article and video should help. We talk all the time about jazz theory on…

2 5 1 Mastery – Super Jazz Theory Shortcuts

Today you’re going to dive into some awesome 2 5 1 jazz theory shortcuts! Does learning useful shortcuts to the most common chord progression in jazz interest you? If so, you’re in the right place. 2 5 1 is the most common chord progression in jazz. We’re going to dive deep into the pattern behind…

How To Organize Your Chord Practice

Are you searching for an easy way to organize your chord practice? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson you’ll find a free sample from my beginner jazz piano course, “The Zero To Jazz Piano Hero Program” (Free sample video tutorial below) Update: The Zero To Jazz Piano Hero Program has been released! You can…

Fly Me To The Moon Piano Tutorial

Ready to learn how 2 jazz masters would play the Fly Me to the Moon piano chord progression? Well you’re in the right spot my friend! (free video lesson below) In today’s fun new video you’re going to learn how jazz masters Bud Powell and Bill Evans would play the first 8 bars of the tune.…

Harmony Theory: 12 Cool Piano Harmony Techniques

In today’s harmony theory lesson we’re going to dive deep into some powerful jazz harmony training. And if you want to discover the power of jazz reharmonization? You’ve come to the right place… In this video, you’ll learn 12 cool jazz chord harmonies. These chords are all great examples of how to apply harmony theory. They teach…

Piano Transposition Secrets Masterclass

Do you want to skyrocket your piano transposition skills? ==>Click here to register for this masterclass Alright, so over the years we’ve talked about a lot of different strategies to really take advantage and maximize your practice time right… We all only have 24 hours in the day. So, when we can find ways to shortcut…

Announcing A Brand New Piano Lessons Online Website

Hey there! We’ve got a major announcement today. I’m so excited to release this video. So, over the years we’ve had a ton of requests from students who’ve asked us if we could create some different styles of music in our tutorials. I’ve heard things like, “We love the jazz tutorials but can you also teach…

Slash Chords Simplified : Video Tutorial

What are slash chords? Have you ever run into a chord chart or lead sheet that shows 2 notes with a slash in between them? It would have looked something like this F/A or B/D# ? These are known as slash chords! Ever wondered how to play them? Today’s quick and fun lesson teaches you…

How To Practice Piano – Use Your Time Tips

Do you want to learn more about how to practice piano? Today I want to talk about one of the biggest piano practice mistakes that I see jazz piano students make. Many people desperately want to sound better and have more fun at the piano. Yet, when it comes to piano practice, they don’t use their…

Blues Piano Tutorial: How To Play Big Blues Licks

Are you searching for a cool new blues piano tutorial? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson you’ll find a free sample from our blues piano DVD, “The Breakthrough Blues Piano Method.” (Free sample video tutorial below) Update: The Breakthrough Blues Piano Method has been released. You can grab a copy by click right here How…

Tasty Blues Piano Licks #1

Want to learn how blues piano licks can be used over blues, rock, gospel, and jazz chord changes? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s video I’m going to teach you a tasty lick that will be a great source material for soloing, creating melodies, and fills. Why A Free Blues Piano Lick Video? I’ve…

How To Play Blues Piano – Turnarounds

Want to learn how to play blues piano? Want to learn some classic blues piano chords and moves? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s blues piano lesson I’m going to teach you how to play a must know blues piano turnaround. (free video lesson below) This is a super famous turnaround and you’ll hear hundreds…

Learn Piano: The 7 Most Popular Lessons on FJL in 2015

It’s that special time of year again! Welcome to the 3rd annual list of the 7 most popular free piano lessons of the year. This year was quite a special one. We saw record growth in so many ways: What We’ve Been Up To In 2015 I started this site in 2012. I started by throwing…

Christmas Songs For Piano – How Maya Angelou Inspired Me

When you play piano as much as I do, you have to do lots of weird things to stay musically inspired. Sometimes I’ll spend the day listening to Oscar Peterson albums, practice christmas songs for piano, or I’ll learn a new Herbie Hancock chord. Sometimes I’ll just analyze a great composition, or I’ll step away from the piano…

What Kobe Bryant Taught Me About Becoming A Great Jazz Musician

If you haven’t heard yet, the legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant just announced his retirement. He was one of the all time greats. His talent mixed with his insane work ethic truly made him world class. He’d shoot hundreds of jump shots per day Lift weights Study game film Meditate Sit in ice baths Stretch And get…

4 Piano Improvisation Shapes You Need To Know

Are you struggling with you piano improvisation? Do you find yourself quickly running out of ideas when your soloing? In this free piano improvisation video lesson, I’m going to teach you how to start using a cool improvisation technique called ‘vertical playing’. This chordal based approach to improv will add all kinds of new possibilities into your soloing.…

Learn Jazz Piano Comping

Would you like to improve your jazz comping skills? Want to learn some sweet jazz piano chords that you can use to comp over hundreds of jazz tunes? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s free video lesson I’m going to show you how to play 3 tasty jazz comping voicing. Plus, I’ll…

How To Become A Better Musician

As I mentioned in my last article, I recently celebrated my 15th year anniversary as a full time professional musician. After playing over 1500 gigs I’ve learned tons of musical lessons over the years (both good and bad!) That’s why today I want to share 5 more pieces of musician advice. These tips will show you how…

Professional Musician: What I Learned From Playing Over 1,500 Piano Gigs

About 2 months ago I celebrated my 16th year as a full time professional musician. Time definitely goes by quickly! In honor of my ‘anniversary’ I thought I’d create a list of important things I’ve learned from playing 1500 gigs in 16 years. Although, I could fill an encyclopedia with all the lessons I’ve learned, I…

The 7 Day Piano Practice Challenge & New Jazz Piano Courses

Hey jazz piano fans. We have a ton of things to talk about today so make sure you read this whole article. The 7 Day Piano Practice Challenge Update It’s now been 7 days since we started the 7 day piano practice challenge. In my last article I revealed the story of how I overcame…

Jazz Theory 101 – How To Play Chord Extensions

Do you want to learn more about jazz theory and jazz harmony? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s jazz theory lesson we’re going to explore a very important concept called chord extensions. 1. After watching and reading this lesson you’ll understand how to make all your jazz piano chords sound much more beautiful. 2.…

Piano Rhythm – 3 Strategies To Improve Your Rhythm Today

Want to improve your piano rhythm? Well, one of the cool things about learning jazz piano is there are so many different things you can practice that will help you improve your piano rhythm skills. Jazz is a very deep art form and there’s always something new and fun to explore. For example, you can spend time learning…