This course is designed primarily for those who already play to an intermediate or advanced popular style or are classical pianists who would like to access the world of Jazz repertoire in order to play solo, or accompany a singer.
IĀ include PDF info sheets for those who like to see their music written down; however this is a paperless course, so you can learn jazz even if you do not read music very well. As a keyboardist or pianist following this course, IĀ encourage you to work out the suggested melodies by ear and play them back so that you gradually remove your dependence on written, fixed music.
There are nine lessons, which cover:
-
Jazz harmony – the basic additional notes and important intervals
-
Jazz scales – the ‘magic’ scales that create the different sounds
-
The many variations of dominant sevenths
-
Basic chord progressions and ‘turnarounds’
-
Simple Jazz impro techniques to ‘fill out space’
-
Quartal Harmony
-
Step-by-step examples in each lesson: how to play jazz standards by ear
-
Guide to being a lounge pianist/accompanist
The course requires:
-
Unhindered access to a keyboard – even a small five octave one – or a piano, every day
-
Daily practice at working out tunes and learning chords and their inversions
-
A keen interest in Jazz (you do not need to know any jazz tunes!)
IĀ am on hand to answer any questions and am happy to upload extra PDFs as required. I’ll also be adding various ‘bolt-on’ videos soon in order to boost your knowledge.
Upper structure, Quartal Harmony, Style
Lesson 8: Improvisation patterns
-
5Lesson 5: Upper Structure Chords
This lesson teaches you about upper structure chords, which are simply the result of adding two triads together to make new, subtler harmonies; some work well, others not so well! A later lesson picks up this concept again with West Coast Chords.
-
6Lesson 6: Quartal Harmony
This lesson introduces you to the concept of chords organised according to stacks of fourths: either adapted to fit a scale, where some become lydian 4ths, perfect 4ths stacks, or with the bottom or top interval a major third, making a 'So What' (or a 'Cyril Scott'). This lesson also introduces the top-down thinking of fourth chords and gives an idea of how and when to use them.
-
7Lesson 7: Style Part 1: Licks, Tips and Tricks
This lesson is split into two parts, as it's a biggie. We've covered the harmony, so this lesson is all about the tips, tricks and 'jazz licks' that make things sound a bit more jazzy. IĀ also give a selection of vamping techniques to fill in time under melodies. I also outline the added 6ths/diminished 7ths scale that allows you to harmonise every note of a scale in a lush, jazzy manner and lastly I cover melody doubling with no bass which gives a very cinematic 1930s feel.
-
8Lesson 7 Part 2: Style
This lesson continues to look at further tips and useful ideas for completing your jazz style.