Blue Monk: Journey Through The Real Book #38 (Jazz Piano Lesson)

Combine bebop, blues and stride piano on this Thelonious Monk blues.
Learn the 5 Essential Left Hand Techniques with my free ebook:
Jazz Piano Left Hand Techniques:
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Thanks for joining me on this musical adventure, and please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this video with your musical friends.
If you'd like to start my full video course, you'll find it here:
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For Zoom and Skype lessons, please email me at [e-mail].
Enjoy the journey, and "let the music flow!"
Ron

[@christophersimpson5243]

❤ wonderful

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Chris!

[@abbbee8918]

Apart from the over use of tremolo (particularly at the beginning), I loved it.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Interesting topic. Those tremolos helped me get away from my usual way of playing the tune. They tilled the soil for what came after.

[@bills48321]

I love the stride playing on that.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks! Check out Marcus Roberts' version, where he plays stride too.

[@marklaser6293]

Another gem! Love the E vs. F and the straight 8ths commentary. Top view rules!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks, Mark! It's funny how we can hear a tune like this with fresh ears after playing it for years.

[@singforukraineandjustice]

You make me wanna take up the piano again. And I don't have one. But I still enjoy listening to your analyses and demos. 💥

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks, and I'm glad these videos are helping you keep your musical flame going until you get a piano again!

[@singforukraineandjustice]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 I have a guitar, a darbuka, and my voice for now. Thanks!

[@ryankcmusic5570]

Loved the little flurry at 6:07

[@rondrotos5285]

Thanks, Ryan! It's based on the diminished scale, and sort of outlines a G major triad over the Bb7 harmony.

[@Angel-jv5zv]

Love your Monk videos man, that's what I was looking for 👍

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks!!! Glad you like these, and I hope you're playing some Monk yourself!

[@Angel-jv5zv]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 I like how you break down Monk's songs.
Actually not, I'm about to begin to play, Monk's music has inspired me to begin.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

@@Angel-jv5zv Excellent! Good luck and also learn simpler tunes, like Autumn Leaves and Take The A Train.

[@lounote1]

Wow. Wonderful.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Louis!!!

[@billygewin1154]

Dang that sounds good man. Thanks for this video.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Billy!!!

[@abbbee8918]

Loved the blues scale @8:00

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks!

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Loved the improvisation and early on you hit a great circular phrase before going in deep. 🙌🏼

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Luis! It's one of those tunes that invites us to go deep, maybe because of how Monk himself played.

[@zuzuvalle]

Que espetáculo !!!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thank you, Tania!

[@ryankcmusic5570]

What you did at 6:08 to 6:15 sounded way cool.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks, Ryan. That's something I like to do sometimes. It uses the diminished scale.

[@juancarlosbravosandoval2515]

Aún no me meto de lleno a la teoría musical, pero estos vídeos son una joya!!!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thank you Juan :)

[@Hudson510]

Thanks! F sounds “right.” But E sounds Monk. Of course I play out of an old RB.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Well said! I go both ways with it when I play the tune.

[@cosmicwav]

Sometimes I don't finish your videos because I need to run to my keyboard and play the tune :)

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Yes - go for it!

[@danielgabrielli3411]

thanks for doin it

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

My pleasure!

[@diegootero4234]

3:18 7:23 excelent!! Great job!!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Diego!

[@andyquinn1125]

That E natural - Monk might have been thinking an A major sliding into the Bb. Try it.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Yes - possibly. It's a great sound, and very classic!

[@Toracube]

Great channel !

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks very much!

[@odjobnibblelob3650]

I enjoyed the upbeat vibe. Some versions are a bit maudlin

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks! Monk played this at a "medium peppy" tempo.

[@emmanuelmartinez9953]

keep it up these are helping me a ton!!!!

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks Emmanuel! Keep practicing :)

[@robertosozio3425]

+KeyboardImprov nice lession

[@odjobnibblelob3650]

Got better as you got into it IMO

[@composerdoh]

That E that you say you thought was wrong basically functions as a chromatic lower neighbor tone to the F in an inner voice, but it sort of sounds like an "incomplete lower neighbor." However, if you listen to the whole thing at full tempo and the overarching harmony, he uses a lot of complete chords which really function as chromatic neighbor and passing chords between the harmonies- those chromatic chords giving him his distinctive style. But your ear probably heard it as resolving to the F so it felt "wrong" when you read it on the page.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Could be. That makes a lot of sense.

[@composerdoh]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 You're welcome! I like your videos! I've been teaching this song to my classes and your commentary was interesting and helpful.

[@composerdoh]

@@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453 PS- I wish I had your piano chops. Or the time to practice enough to get them. :-(
PPS- what kind of piano are you playing in this? It looks like a grand or baby grand, but the view of the fallboard in the "overhead" shot reminds me a lot of my ex-wife's piano.

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

@@composerdoh It's a 1906 Mason and Hamlin grand, which I had restored.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Monk "A little different" Yes mate, I'd say....lol

[@peteypablo2081]

Wow! Very cool! How long until I can play like that following your lessons? ;) haha working on them everyday and enjoying them :)

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks!!! Yes - just keep on playing and having fun :)

[@ignatiusjackson235]

Needs more ELBOW.

[@jackjonesdrums42]

Burning

[@rondrotoskeyboardimprov9453]

Thanks!