Learn Jazz Piano: I. Begin with the Blues

Syllabus

• Week 1

  Getting Started

  • Introduction and Background Information

    The Introduction is important and you should read it before starting on the course proper in step 1.5. The Introduction is followed by three optional videos.

  • The course proper starts with Ray playing "Things Ain't What They Used To Be"

    Ray d'Inverno plays the blues "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" as a solo to provide motivation for where we shall be heading.

  • The nature of jazz and the blues

    We outline the three key characteristics of jazz : improvisation, the blues and swing. We then introduce the skeletal blues sequence in C and look at improvising using the American blues scale and jazz quavers.

  • Playing and improvising on "Things Ain't What They Used To Be"

    We illustrate the first Exercise by playing "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" (playing sevenths in the left hand four to the bar) and improvising on it using the American blues scale and predominantly jazz quavers.

  • Exercise, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening

    All weeks end with the Exercises, the Leaning Outcomes and the Viewing and Listening for the week.

• Week 2

  Introducing The Blues

  • The 3 principal chords and scales of classical music and jazz

    We review the three principal chords and scales of classical music and compare and contrast it with the 3 principal chords and scales of jazz.

  • Playing the left hand in root position: open sevenths

    We introduce the idea of playing open sevenths in root position in the left hand and using the thumb to indicate the pulse and playing our blues "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" over the top.

  • Improvising using sevenths, fifth-tenths and seventh-tenths

    We discuss improvising over the left hand in root position, first playing open sevenths, then using fifth-tenths and finally using seventh-tenths and sometimes using some of the left hand fingers to indicate the pulse.

  • Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz

    Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz for Week 2

• Week 3

  More On The Blues

  • The blues "Now's The Time", jazz lead sheets and voiced sevenths

    We introduce the F blues "Now's The Time", discuss the use and limitations of jazz lead sheets and introduce voiced sevenths in preparation for playing with playalongs.

  • Interlude : Downloading Aebersold playalong tracks from iTunes and using Audacity

    We include an interlude for those who need it on downloading Aebersold playalong tracks from iTunes. We then download and use the system Audacity to play and manipulate tracks and consider how you can upload your own recordings.

  • Playing "Now's The Time" using an F blues playalong track

    We now illustrate how to play the tune of "Now's The Time" in voiced position using an F blues playalong track.

  • Improvising using the F American blues scale, seventh scales and full blues scales

    We consider how to improvise on "Now's The Time" with a playalong using the F American blues scale, seventh scales and full blues scales.

  • Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening

    Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening for Week 3

• Week 4

  The Four Routes To Improvising

  • Chordal improvisation and introduction to the diminished chord and scale

    We look at chordal improvisation and introduce the diminished chord and scale in preparation for the B flat blues "Blue Monk".

  • The blues "Blue Monk" and motivic improvisation

    We look at the structure of the blues "Blue Monk" and consider the role of motivic improvisation.

  • The 4 routes to improvisation: scalic, chordal, motivic and special devices

    We start our understanding of the key topic of improvisation by outlining my 4 routes to improvisation: scalic, chordal, motivic and special devices.

  • Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz

    Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz for Week 4

• Week 5

  Major and Minor Chords

  • The major seventh, the Ionian scale and basic voicings

    We consider the major seventh, the Ionian scale and basic voicings as a prelude to using it on a simple tune.

  • The tune "Inch Worm"

    Playing and improvising on the simple tune "Inch Worm".

  • The minor seventh and its role in a turnaround

    We look at the minor seventh and discuss it related Dorian scale and basic third-based voicings before applying it to the important turnaround.

  • Week 5 Exercises

    We look at the Week 5 exercises. Playalongs are available at the bottom of the next step.

  • Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening

    Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening for Week 5.

• Week 6

  The jazz standard "Blue Room"

  • The Jazz Standard "Blue Room"

    We introduce the tune of the jazz standard "Blue Room" and show how to play it with a playalong using lower and upper voicings.

  • Improvising on "Blue Room"

    We illustrate how to improvise on "Blue Room" using first just the one scale F major and after analysing the chords using 5 major scales.

  • Week 6 Exercises

    We look at Week 6 Exercises.

  • Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz, Video and Recordings List

    Exercises, Learning Outcomes, Viewing and Listening, Quiz in Week 6, list of videos in the course and list of my recordings relating to the whole course

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