Jazz Piano
For a classical player who can read music. Work through each stage in order. Finish the songs before moving on.
0%
Books
Plan
Daily practice
Rules
Play with a backing track every day
Timing is the hardest part for classical players. Use the Aebersold tracks or iReal Pro.
Learn every chord drill in all 12 keys
Go around the cycle of fifths. Slow is fine.
Listen before you play
Hear two or three recordings of each song before you learn it.
Check every week
Do the same check each week on the Check page. Numbers, not feelings, decide when you move on.
Play from lead sheets
Melody and chord names only. You make up the rest.
Words
- Swing
- Eighth notes played long-short. Accent beats 2 and 4.
- Lead sheet
- A page with just the melody and chord names.
- ii–V–I
- The most common chord sequence in jazz. In C: Dm7, G7, Cmaj7.
- Voicing
- Which notes of a chord you play, and in what order.
- Shell
- Root plus 3rd or 7th. The simplest jazz chord.
- Left-hand voicing
- A four-note chord without the root. The bass player covers the root.
- Comping
- Playing chords behind a melody or a solo.
- Modal tune
- A song that stays on one scale for many bars.