Best way to start jazz piano - complete jazz blues lesson
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- Starting to learn jazz piano can be very overwhelming.
🎹 As a classically trained pianist I started out by buying a bunch of books. This was the wrong approach to learn jazz vocabulary and improvising.
I believe the best way to start is to learn the 12 bar blues. You can start out very simple and add more and more as you get comfortable.
👉 Free PDF download "Blues Piano Guide" frazierpianostudio.com/blues
00:00 Introduction
01:52 Root position chords over the blues
03:33 Root in LH, Shell in RH
04:57 Better rhythm
06:35 Walking bass
08:06 Shell extensions in the RH
09:38 Shell only in the LH
10:56 Building a solo with blues scale
13:30 Major blues scale
16:05 Shell in LH improvise with RH
17:10 Open 5ths/4ths chord solo
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My ideal beginner diet would be as follows. Major blues (for reasons you state), minor blues (to get into the significant differences), Autumn Leaves (for simple relative major and minor II-V-Is), Rhythm changes (just the changes, no head and definitely not the original or Oleo, for the classic alternative cadence, I-V-I on the A, chains of Vs or II-Vs on the B and practice at keeping fomr), So What (for experience with static harmony) and Giant Steps (because it's never too early to lose your fear of just three II-V-Is just not laid out as you'd expect). For jazz waltz Alice in Wonderland. What Is This Thing Called Love (for Cole Porter's much copied approach to minor-major ambiguity). Add your favourite ballad (all that matters is that it's your favourite and I have to give you some choice, haven't I?)
For bossa don't start with Ipanema (the bridge is unintuitive and contentious even for better players), do Blue Bossa instead, but please listen to the original and play in a light springy way rather than slogging. For samba proper (well, baion at least) Samba de Orfeu. On the Cuban side, go with Mambo Inn (for mambo/son) and Oye Como Va (for chacha). For gospel, Amazing Grace and Mercy Mercy. For township Abdullah Ibrahim's Maraba Blue and remember it's about space and understatement. For funk, Chameleon and remember without tight time and groove you've got nothing, with them you have everything.
Amazing. A whole curriculum in one comment.
An addition because it's very fusiony, often called and a blast of fun for players and audiences alike. Pat Metheny's Song for Bilbao, but the Tales from the Hudson version. The changes are
A: ||: C7sus.... F#Lyd/C C7sus :||
B: (doubled up triple time and pretty much just triads) || F Bb Eb F Db Eb F G7 ||
rpt A.
Try playing this without thinking of a joyous raucous horn ensemble blazing away to a vibrant crowd under a crisp blue sky. Incredible Brecker led band on the recording too, including a guest turn from McCoy Tyner. I don't think Joey C minded giving up the stool at all...
Literally exactly what I needed to find. Been having so much trouble figuring out where to start as a long time player by ear and self taught. All the gaps making it so hard to know how to structure. This, is amazing.
@@Turtlpwr Glad it helped. I keep adding to this, but here we go again. If you're really into the traditional Cuban mambo sound, the album that ripped it open for me was Charlie Palmieri's Montuno Sessions. He was at the time a radio host with a music studio en suite and a lot of brilliant friends who'd "drop by". If you come from the ear, you'll really get the sense of groove that's magically entrancing, inevitable. The harmony and patterns are pretty easy to get and when a rhythm section is that locked behind you, you can genuinely "play"...
@@Pooter-it4ygthat is amazing. Im a classical player who has fallen in love with jazz piano and especially Vince Guaraldi, which led me to love all the latin style piano jazz. I love it so much but cannot understand the progressions much less the rhythms ( learning some simple salsa dance steps which is fun, I can hear the rhythms but could not create those slightly off syncopated beats) I thought I was super jazzy in my classical lessons when I played a 5/4 rhythm 😅haha.
Well, with this channel then someday Ill be to the point where I can understand and learn what you are suggesting here.
This is solid! I was heavily classically trained and I have the technique. BUT it's overwhelming. Now the way you explained I can do it little by little 🎶👌🏽
Enjoy the process. It can be overwhelming.
As classical pianist who switched to jazz 15 years ago, people, THIS IS THE BEST ADVICE and exactly where you want to start.
🤜
Yes! My teacher started me here age it really opened my eyes to soloing! Great video!
Yes. The blues is always a good place to practice soloing, even if you have been doing it a while.
This video is amazing, to watch and re watch, thank you so much for sharing! Best wishes from Argentina
I'm glad it is helpful.
This was really an eye-opener for me. Thanks so much for posting!!!
Glad it was helpful!
excellent tutorial . thank you so much
This is awesome thank you!!
Very good lesson!
I cannot thank you enough for this lesson! 🙌🏼
Glad to help.
Am looking around for inspiration to 'get back to the piano and learn'. Years ago I had a piano teacher and I was on the way to grades in UK, but just got fed up with it (didn't get very far - grade 2 ABRSM), because I play by ear, and wanted to write my own stuff. Since then, I have actually composed a fair amount, but always with shaky piano (thankfully I have half-speed playing, quantization etc). It's an input tool rather than instrument. I want to go back and play a bit - not regimented, but in a way that compliments my need to create. Videos like this give me good ideas.
I could play fairly difficult classical pieces at 13 and was a good sight-reader but couldn't play the simplest tunes by ear or improvise. Determined to play by ear at 16, I focused on figuring out the notes of "Land of a Thousand Dances" and playing those 5 notes over and over and over again and eventually making different melodies using those 5 notes. I didn't know until later that I had figured out by myself the basic minor blues scale that you teach in this video.
Yeah once you figure it out you can't unsee (unhear) it. The pentatonic scale is everywhere.
So you can I be a good classical player and a sight reader
Absolutely. Sight reading and playing by ear are just skills to develop like anything else.
This is really an eye-opener. Thanks Frazier
Glad it helped.
Kudos to you Sir! I was lucky (and this video has confirmed it once again) to grow up in a Classical/Jazz household. Mother played classical violin and Father played classical and jazz trombone. They met in an orchestra and I was their first born. I started playing piano at the age of 5 always guided by both since the piano was in their bedroom and because I was the oldest, I got to play for 30mins each day starting at 5:00am. You don't have to start early in life to play Jazz and if you had a Classical background, there is a point where you have to unlearn sight reading and move to playing by ear? I can remember tips in my youth such as 1. You have to start on the Piano as your first instrument. Why? You see and play in two staves (Treble and Bass) laid out clearly in front of you. 2. Play (your trombone...yes you can play my old trombone) in the bathroom without the light on. Why? Because you don't have any visual cues and on a fretless instrument like a trombone, you are going to rely solely by ear. The interval between piano and trombone was for me about 10 years. This is not prescriptive, just my journey. YMMV. 3. Start with scales to get the intonation happening and ONLY start playing a melody IFF you can hear it in your head then sing it. Why? When you improvise around a melody, you need to be able to hear the melody in your head so that you don't get lost improvising. 4. When you feel confident playing by yourself (I'm thinking of that Hooper line from Jaws), do what David Byrne did in the musical documentary Talking Heads and play with a backing track. 5. Following in the steps of David B invite other musicians to join you until your parents just can't take it anymore and like the Beach Boys you are asked to play in the garage. 6. Then, in the words of a famous actor/musician/composer, "...Caterpillar into chrysalis or pupa, and, from thence, into beauty.”. Quid pro quo!
Interesante testimonio, sobre todo eso de “ escuchar la melodía en tu cabeza” . Gracias por tu tiempo Craig
Wow, this is a great video. I am starting to learn piano, two months in, and am interested in jazz. I have watched many, many beginner piano youtube videos, and probably bits and pieces of all that are related to beginner jazz piano. Yours is the best I have found so far. Sure, many other videos are a slicker, but your approach to using stripped down versions of jazz/blues chord voicings, pentatonic no wrong note scales, systematically adding complexity each time around is very sound. Thanks for putting up this very well thought out instructional video.
So glad this was helpful.
Buen video peladito . Gracias por la paciencia y generosidad ❤
De nada
Just tuned into your channel…would love to see more with blues and jazz…in particular slow blues with left hand chords with right hand licks and runs etc…thanks Grant🎹
Thanks for the suggestions
Nice lesson, Thx
You are welcome!
Awesome!
Thanks!
You have the kind of sophisticated sound I like. Your visuals on the keyboard are not easy to follow. I learn from you by listening over and over until I have internalized what you are doing. Takes along time but it works. Thanks for all you do for us.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad this is helpful to you.
This probably would be hard to follow for an absolute beginner on keys, but it's great for someone who essentially knows their way around the keyboard and at least rudimentary theory, and wants to truly crack into jazz.
Yeah. It's hard to know at what level to teach in these videos. I usually have a specific student in mind when I make these so it won't work for everyone.
love you much
Thank you sir
👍
Amzing...thank you 😅
Glad it helped
very helpful Thanks ALOT!!!!!!
Glad it helped!
thanks 🌷
👍
Great
nice thanks!
You bet!
You are 100 percent correct.
I purchased many those exact books from my local music store here in Memphis.
I couldn't really understand how to apply the knowledge and I am still a beginner after many years. Back then there were not a lot of online resources for learning jazz piano.
Now I am thinking about trying again.
Thank a lot!!!
Glad this helped. Good luck on learning jazz.
Thank you for this video and your advice. I read some of the comments in this thread and many other jazz related videos. What strikes me is certain type of elitism and almost the sense of superiority of those who believe in playing by ear. One has to remember that some people need structure in their learning! If the lack of spontaneity precludes playing jazz, it means that there is no hope for someone like me and my attempts to learn anything resembling jazz (including signing up for a jazz piano college course) will end up in failure (at least in the eye of “real” jazz musicians). Will I ever play jazz if I do not change my attitude towards learning methods. Thank you.
Ps I learned foreign language by studying grammar and basics of the language before speaking much. My son first learned to read English before he talked much (he was using the computer before talking fluently).
I'm sorry if you sensed any elitism. I grew up not playing by ear and getting a university degree in classical music and still couldn't pick out stuff by ear well. Some of what you hear about playing by ear is born out of experience. I too tried to learn jazz by the book and failed. Only when I was really honest about my skills by ear did I make much progress.
As for language learning there are a lot of similarities to learning music. I can speak Mandarin Chinese fluently and read at about a 3rd grade level having worked in Taiwan for 2 years. What I can say is that speaking to actual native speakers and using the language is way different than learning it from a book in a classroom.
@@FrazierPianoStudio Thank you. I really admire your ability to, in a sense, start again with new approach to learning (having all your experience and education). By the way, I did not mean that you were projecting the image of an elitist. I am probably still bothered by what I heard some time ago: “Those who only participate in classical piano competitions are not real musicians”. You have to admit that many who play jazz have this attitude of superiority.
@@mfurman yes tribalism unfortunately can arise between these groups. Both types of music are challenging in their own way.
Great video! I was classically trained too and found trying to shift to learn theory and jazz improv at the same time way too frustrating. I just couldn’t take a step far enough back to learn simply. With the classical technique but barely knowing what a dominant chord was it felt like having a sports car with no steering wheel i clicked on your video because i literally own both those books you showed. Now that i know more, the Levine book is great. But i ended up reaching the same conclusion and found learning the blues to be the best balance of learning theory while having fun.
I was talking to someone else about this the other day. Learning Jazz doesn't mean you need to learn a whole stack of jazz standards. You could get a long ways by really mastering the blues. And then you could really get down 2 other tunes like Autumn Leaves and Rhythm Changes. If you play these in a variety of keys then you would be well on your way.
@@FrazierPianoStudio completely agree. There is enough overlap with blues and jazz, and to me it feels like jazz is more like an increasingly complex version of the blues. That’s a massive oversimplification, but i feel like trying to add more color and chord progressions to blues ends up in jazz territory. Not sure if that makes sense, but it’s how my journey has felt. Btw, i dot a copy if the DeGreg book and really like how it’s structured. Very methodical and repetitive so you eventually get it all under your fingers. Sort of a “no stone left unturned” approach.
@@rickrocketts183 yes the DeGreg book is very thorough. I spent a good 6 months obsessively practicing that whole book in all 12 keys. It was my daily routine for a while.
@@FrazierPianoStudio That’s about where I’m at. I figure 15-20 min/day of doing that until I feel i don’t have to think about them too much. Did that ultimately work out well for you? Like can you pretty easily find a voicing for any given melody note on the fly? That’s what I’m hoping to achieve
@@rickrocketts183 I got a lot more comfortable for sure. However the voicings really need to be put in context of real tunes to be useful. So I think a better practice strategy than just going through the book would be to take the voicings from a section of that book and apply it to the 3 tunes I mentioned. The blues, Autumn Leaves, and Rhythm changes.
honestly, for improv, the only scale you really need is the chromatic scale... xD tho I suppose some/a lot of people would disagree xD but every note on the chromatic scale either moves away from or leads to a good sounding note really. if you wanna learn to get rythm for improv down, try to do a one note or two note improv. takes away the hassle of thinking about which note to play, only thinking about when and for how long.
Yes while you technically can play any note. Those kind of directions are too vague for a beginner. It's better to clearly restrict the possibilities. One note is great. Then expand to pentatonic scales.
(Edit: fix typo)
@@FrazierPianoStudio Yes, agreed!
i am clasically trained. but i love Jazz and Gospel piano more. I don't know any theory. but i just play what sounds best. but I want to know what I'm playing lol
edit: tbh its so hard to start learning the basics cause i wanna play the advance stuff (since ik the advance stuff in classical music), but obv u gotta start over with a new genre. but learning will be faster.
Lol. You got me. Nice.
12 bar Blues!!!!!!!!!!!!
You bet.
Hola primero que nada gracias por esta valiosa información, despues de esto debería ver el libro de mark?
The Mark Levine book is good but pretty dense. It's a good reference but you might have a hard time building fundamentals. Like I say in the video, I would listen to the blues and get the form down and transcribe a couple solos.
From there I would find Jazz artists you like and copy what you can from them. Listen a lot. Reading a jazz book should be no more than 5% of your practice.
Any advice for how to go about learning additional voicings, etc. after going through the steps in this video?
I have a couple videos of voicings. It's one of those things that the more you do it the better you get.
- ruclips.net/video/eXprpi9Kjuk/видео.html
- ruclips.net/video/5SB_t0bDLxY/видео.html
- ruclips.net/video/r_GOF8HSN-M/видео.html
I should probably do a video on how to develop voicings from first principles. The most fundamental part is the shell (3rd and 7th). From there you can add alterations. And then nice voicings also has to do with the "voice leading" or how the voices move from one chord to the next.
Thank you, good advice for sure. Unfortunately it doesn't sound jazzy to my ears. Good luck 👍
Hi Sir. May I know what is a "shell" ie the 3rd and 7th note of the root?
Not sure I understand the question. The shell is the 3rd and 7th of the chord. So for dm7 it would be f and c. G7 it would be b and f. And Cmaj7 it would be e and b.
Very helpful! Thank you! Do you have instagram page with tutorials?
I had an instagram page for a while. I didn't have time to do both RUclips and instagram so I closed the account.
Thanks for this. What metronome are you using?
TimeGuru on my android phone
How do you have your wireless headphones setup? No delay?
They're not wireless. The cord is running behind my shoulder.
please make more tutorial about bebop jazz improvisation. Thanks
That's a good suggestion. Thanks.
i don't have any experience in playing piano in general. can i start learning jazz piano right away? can u suggest me some sources or ways to practice please? thank u
Like I say in the video start simple. My most beginner students can learn to play a simple blues with 2 or 3 lessons. Start there. As you get more comfortable add more things. The key is to keep it interesting and simple so you will keep making progress. If you get too stuck in doing it the "right way" or following some tedious method you'll probably give up.
As for things to practice, get the blues down. Go listen to some jazz artists you like and copy what they do. A lot of blues stuff is not really that hard once you get the core concepts down.
If you have a blues in C down. Play it in G, F, D, Bb. Hope this helps.
This is NOT the best way to start jazz piano. I have gone through lots of books and RUclips videos, but I finally found the one book that is the ultimate introduction for beginners: Oscar Peterson's "Jazz Exercises For Piano". You can't go wrong with it. It was written by the greatest jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson. Oscar talks about the problems for beginners and students in the introduction to his book, which is why he wrote it. If you sit down and work hard at this book, you will really learn the fundamentals. Oscar knew what he was talking about, end of story.
That is a great book. I have a copy. It's hard to find in print. Nothing beats listening to Oscar play though.
For my courses and lessons check out frazierpianostudio.com
! 🎹👑🌟
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I’m a beginner who has a basic understanding of jazz and blues and that lesson is digestible. I would contend however that this lesson is suitable for someone who has played a good period of time (several years) because of the hand development and physicality required. If I was an absolute of super beginner, this would be too much to expect. Maybe someone will prove me wrong. What do I know.
Yes. That's probably true. I'm assuming some kind of comfort getting around the keyboard.
This lesson assumes you're a beginner at jazz not a complete beginner at the piano.
The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine is one of the best resources for learning jazz regardless of your instrument.
I agree. It's like a good reference manual. I don't think it is the best place for a beginner to start though.
His analysis of Giant Steps alone was worth it to me.
What’s a good beginners piano or keyboard to buy?
The best keyboard to start with is the one you have or the one you can afford.
That said, I notice when my students can get an actual accoustic piano they get better faster. I've been able to get nice upright pianos for a couple hundred dollars. Watch estate sales or local thrift stores. I got a spinnet for 300-400 from a lady down the street whose mom died so she had 2 pianos. She was happy to get rid of it and know someobe would use it. I love that piano. I have a grand piano but I sometimes practice on the spinnet because it sounds and feels different.
@@FrazierPianoStudio thanks! I just checked Facebook marketplace and half of the pianos are free! Plenty of acoustic ones too 🙏🏻
GREAT tutorial, many thanks. I too have been struggling - from an intermediate classical background - with Mark Levine's book. You're approach is MUCH more geared to where I'm at.
PS You'll probably kill me for asking :-) but would you recommend a book?
I made a video on which Jazz books I recommend. ruclips.net/video/Nvspceu2KGA/видео.html
I have seen that - is there a book you'd recommend that complements the approach to learning in this video?
@@agerray Not really that I know of. I would suggest finding simple recordings of blues that you like and try to imitate what they are doing. It will be hard at first and you'll probably feel like you aren't making any progress, but this has helped me a lot. Try something like Red Garland's "C Jam Blues", or Wynton Kelly on "No Blues". Blues are nice to learn from because you already know the chords.
@@FrazierPianoStudio OK, many thanks.
not understanding the changing rhythm part. What’s exactly is the variation?
Instead of playing the shells with quarter notes play different comping rhythms. Sorry I wasn't very precise with that step. To vary your rhythm you might need to go listen to jazz players like Oscar Peterson or Red Garland and see how they accompany the blues. You can play half notes, on the beat, on the off beat,...
Cm7 / Cm7 / Cm7 / C7 /
Fm7 / Fm7 / Cm7 / Cm7 /
Ab7 / G7 / Cm7 / Cm7 /
👍 minor blues
I do firmly subscribe to the premise that if you want to get started learning jazz piano, start with the blues. The blues is the foundation of jazz. Besides, the blues is oh, so very fun to play. Don't forget to pick up some gospel chops along the way to your ultimate destination.
Absolutely
Yea 😂
🙂 Classically trained must have 12 jazz books and still have not put it together.
I know the feeling.
Started interesting, but I already lost the plot at the walking bassline. That is, what notes to hit. PDF would be useful.
See video description for link to PDF.
@@FrazierPianoStudioYeah. Just noticed. Thanks.
I believe that the best way to start jazz is learn theory first.
That's like telling a kid you need to learn to read before you can talk. I find heavy theory in the beginning really confuses students and they lose interest. Show them something cool they can play right now and they do better. The theory can come later.
@@FrazierPianoStudio Well, it depends. Sometimes it might be easier to play something and then try to understand the theory behind it. The other way round works also: Learn about a cool voicing, a nice progression etc. - and every chunk of theory you've just digested should immediately be applied to any song it might fit in to get it under your fingers.
@@AlexanderNagel yes it definitely goes both ways. There's a balance between theory and application.
You are assuming the new student knows a lot of things already, if you're aiming it at beginners.
I know it's hard to know at what level to hit students with a single video. You are right I did assume they know the notes on the keyboard and generally what a dominant chord is.
I just made an even more simpler video for beginners ruclips.net/video/KUZXotiL_0A/видео.html&feature=shares
Ouch! There ain’t no #4 in da Blues; it’s the flat FIVE
🤣 potato potaato, tomato tomaato
I appreciate your input, but I felt it was out of time on several passages and not in a good way.
I'm always trying to improve. Thanks for the feedback.
Falling asleep. You don't explain why things are important to learn and what the end goal is
Learn the blues. Don't start with the fake book.
Too quick
I agree. This is a bit much for a beginner. I made another video that is much simpler. ruclips.net/video/KUZXotiL_0A/видео.html
You keep talking about how important it is to play right on time but you didn’t once do it
The metronome doesn't lie. I played with a metronome in all the examples. Objectively I did play in time.
Bro what are u talking about
I’m sure he can play in time but it does sound like he’s veering in and off here and there. Maybe it’s the recording
I think there’s some latency. He’s clearly on time but the click is being recorded late by milliseconds.