Jazz Blog
The Best Jazz Piano Books: Essential Resources For All Levels
The transformative power of jazz piano emerges through dedicated study, with jazz piano books being important resources. Every legendary jazz pianist started their journey with foundational texts that shaped their musical vocabulary and creative expression. From the revolutionary concepts in Mark Levine’s “The Jazz Piano Book” to the sophisticated harmonic approaches detailed in “The Drop…
Read More5 Easy Jazz Piano Songs
The best way to learn jazz piano is to pick some easy jazz piano songs to work with. You might be wondering what some of those tunes might be. Most of them are part of your standard jazz canon or the Great American Songbook. They’re easier than you might think so let’s get started. 1.…
Read MoreHow To Play Smooth Jazz Piano
Would you like to learn how to play smooth jazz piano? Look no further. This is the lesson for you. Without any further ado, let’s get into it. By the way, check out our lesson on learning jazz piano for beginners here. What Is Smooth Jazz Anyway? The most simplistic answer to this question is…
Read MoreHow Long Does It Take To Learn Jazz Piano?
How long does it take to learn jazz piano? This is quite a complex question. Nevertheless, we’ll try our best to answer it in the most realistic way possible. Let’s get started. Do You Have 10,000 Hours Available? One of the most often quoted numbers in terms of mastering any skill is 10,000 hours.…
Read MoreIs Jazz Piano Hard?
Is Jazz Piano Hard? This is the question we’ll do our best to answer today. Let’s get started. One Common Misconception About Jazz Piano Anecdotally speaking, I have encountered numerous people who say that jazz piano is hard. It’s tempting to say “Yes” to that question right off the bat. This is especially true if…
Read MoreBasic Jazz Piano Chords
Want to get to the nitty gritty of basic jazz piano chords? This is the best place to understand it all. We’ve Without further ado, let’s get into it. How Do We Begin Learning About Basic Jazz Piano Chords? I’m glad you asked. Start with this lesson on piano chord theory. Also go ahead and…
Read MoreNu Jazz: What’s The Deal?
Have you ever wondered, what’s nu jazz? What’s so special about it? Well then, let’s discuss and learn more. What’s Nu Jazz Anyway? Have you heard some sophistically produced electronic dance music with real heavy elements of jazz? This is a simplistic explanation of Nu Jazz. End of story? Not quite. Check this out: There’s…
Read MoreHow To Use Diminished And Augmented Chords
How useful are diminished and augmented chords? They are very, very useful. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use diminished and augmented chords to take your playing to the next level. Let’s get started. What Are Diminished And Augmented Chords? In basic piano chord theory, diminished and augmented chords are considered dissonant triads. At…
Read MoreUnusual Time Signatures – Tips & Tricks
Would you like to learn how to play in unusual time signatures? You’re in the right place. Here’s a lesson on how to play with a very different feel from the usual fare. This tutorial will give you the same skills that legends like Dave Brubeck and the Mahavishnu Orchestra use to navigate odd time.…
Read MoreBarrelhouse Piano – 5 Easy Moves To Get Started
Would you like to learn some easy Barrelhouse Piano techniques? You’re in the right place. In this lesson, we’re going to look at some Barrelhouse Piano moves from Little Brother Montgomery. Let’s get started. Barrelhouse Piano Demonstration By Little Brother Montgomery To kick things off, take 4 minutes to watch Little Brother Montgomery with his…
Read MoreStyles of Jazz – A Deep Dive Into All Of The Different Genres And Subgenres
Would you like to learn more about the various styles of jazz? Guess what: You’re in for a treat as we get you oriented with various subsets of this wonderful musical genre. While there are a lot of jazz subgenres, we’ll take a look at some of the most historically significant jazz styles. Let’s get…
Read MoreBest Jazz Piano Books For Beginners
Looking for the best jazz piano books for beginners? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some of our recommendations you can get your hands on. You can find our full guide to all jazz piano books here. Let’s get started. Why You Need To Know Your ABCs Music is a language, and language…
Read MoreRamsey Lewis: Lick Lesson From Love’s Serenade
In today’s lesson, we’ll celebrate the life of Ramsey Lewis. What would be more proper to honor his legacy than by learning some of his piano vocabulary? Let’s get started. Listen To Ramsey Lewis Play Love’s Serenade Before we dive deeper, let’s listen to Ramsey Lewis playing the entire tune in this studio recording: Now,…
Read MoreWalking Bass Line Writing Step By Step
Are you looking for a walking bass line tutorial? It’s a good thing you stopped by. In this tutorial, you’ll learn an effective approach to playing a walking bass line. Learning how to write them helps you add interest to your jazz comping. Let’s get started. Why Should You Start Your Walking Bass Line With Roots…
Read MoreDiminished Scales: A Jazz Piano Power Tool
Would you like to learn how to incorporate diminished scales in jazz piano? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use diminished scales to spice up your chord and soloing vocabulary. Let’s get started. What Exactly Are Diminished Scales? A diminished scale is one of the symmetrical scales in…
Read MorePiano Chord Progression Exercises In 5 Ways
Would you like to learn some great piano chord progression exercises? You’re in the right place. These piano chord progression exercises are useful for learning many songs fast. Let’s get started. One Chord Progression That Started It All The first chord progression we are going to talk about is the basic I-IV-V chord progression. This…
Read MoreRocket Man Piano – How To Play Elton John Licks
Would you like to learn some Rocket Man Piano Solo licks by Elton John? You’re in the right place. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play 2 Elton John licks from a live version of “Rocket Man”. These licks will help you develop chops for awesome piano soloing. Let’s get started. Elton John’s Rocket…
Read MoreBruce Hornsby The Way It Is Piano Licks
Would you like to learn how a Bruce Hornsby The Way It Is piano solo is made? You’re in the right place. Incorporating some of Bruce Hornsby The Way It Is piano licks will spice up your playing. Let’s get started. Bruce Hornsby The Way It Is Piano Solo Example Before you explore some Bruce…
Read MorePiano Hand Independence Tips And Tricks
Are you having a hard time achieving piano hand independence? Would you like to discover great exercises to develop that important skill? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson, we’ll take a look at plenty of piano hand independence exercises. These tricks will give you the confidence to play independent left and right…
Read MoreFallin Alicia Keys Piano Licks: How To Solo For A Hit
Want to learn some “Fallin’” Alicia Keys Piano Licks? You’re in the right place. In this lesson, you’re going to learn some licks and techniques from a live performance of “Fallin”. These techniques will get your solo piano playing in great shape and wow your audience. Let’s get started. How To Play “Fallin’” Alicia Keys…
Read MoreBilly Joel Piano Licks – Solo Like A Legend
Would you like to learn some Billy Joel piano licks? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson, you will learn a couple of licks from live performances by the Piano Man himself. These licks will help you take your soloing to another level. Let’s get started. How To Play A Billy Joel Piano…
Read MoreMary Lou Williams: 3 Awesome Jazz-Blues Licks
Would you like to learn how to solo like jazz legend Mary Lou Williams? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson, you’ll learn awesome licks from the missionary of jazz. These will help you learn how to improvise awesome solos. It’s the stuff of legend that helped mentor legends like Miles Davis, Bud…
Read MoreBen Folds Piano Licks Lesson
Do you want to learn some Ben Folds piano licks & techniques? You’ve come to the right place. In this lesson, we’re going to breakdown 2 of Ben Folds piano licks. These licks will upgrade your improv skills in rock, pop, blues, and even jazz. Let’s get started. Here’s How This Ben Folds Piano Lick…
Read MoreBeginner Jazz Piano – The Ultimate Getting Started Guide
Are you a beginner jazz piano player who needs advice on where to start? You’re in the right place. In this lesson today, we’re going to teach you the basics of what every aspiring jazz pianist must know to sound great playing jazz. You’re going to explore 2 great songs to start your beginner jazz…
Read MoreFrosty The Snowman Piano Lesson
Tired of the uninspiring music during the holidays? Want to learn a fresh-sounding Frosty The Snowman piano arrangement? Let’s get you inspired. Take a look at how Lewis learned a tasty and jazzy Frosty The Snowman piano arrangement below. Frosty The Snowman Piano Demonstration Before you start exploring Frosty The Snowman piano reworks, listen to…
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