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Tag: Articles for learn jazz piano online
Jazz basics 4: the altered scale
Here in jazz basics 4 the altered scale derives from the melodic minor scale a half step above the root note of the dominant 7. All will be explained! We are now going to explore the altered scale. This scale has all four altered notes and can be used over a dominant 7 chord to… Read more »
Jazz basics 3: the dominant 7 chord in jazz
Why is the dominant 7 chord in jazz so important? To answer this question I will first separate this chord into two categories: moving and static. Moving This applies generally to any classical harmony but when this dominant 7 chord in jazz is moving towards its resolution it can be thought of as a tension… Read more »
Jazz Basics, part 2
More about the most important chord in jazz: the dominant 7. When discussing jazz basics there is nothing more basic than your understanding of the dominant 7 chord and its functions. Let’s begin by taking a look at the row of the seven 7th chords constructed over one major scale. Here is an example of… Read more »
Jazz Practice
Why practise jazz? The obvious answer has to be that we practise in order to improve. But why does the very word cause many of us to go running for the TV remote? Is it just possible that the thought of jazz practice conjures up the brain numbing activity of running up and down scales… Read more »
Stop playing jazzy. Start playing jazz!
Are you playing jazz or just playing jazzy? Here is the third in my series of articles for the website ‘All About Jazz’ I concluded my last article in this series about playing jazz with a piece of advice handed to me by one of my old jazz piano teachers: ‘Don’t try to play jazzy.’… Read more »
Stop trying to swing in jazz
What do we mean by the word swing in jazz? Referring to swing in jazz Dave Brubeck tells the story that Miles Davis approached him at the end of a gig and murmured in his ear “You’re the only person in this group that swings.” Had Brubeck replied: “What, exactly, do you mean by swing?”… Read more »
Playing without the dots
Why you should memorise tunes Sheet music is just information, it’s not the music itself. The more you read what’s in front of you the less head room you’ll have for creativity. Playing without the dots opens up your ears! Which tunes should I learn? This, of course, is very much up to you.… Read more »
Learning to play jazz
Play jazz: practice and theory Have you ever been asked the question “What do you do?” When I used to reply “I’m a singing coach” the usual annoying response was “Do you know anyone famous?” Now that I teach jazz piano, an equally infuriating reaction is “Learning to play jazz? How can you teach improvisation?… Read more »
Learn Jazz Piano by Listening
Learn Jazz Piano by Listening – part 2 Yes, you can learn jazz piano by listening, even if you don’t fully understand what is being played. This is part 2 of my list of essential recordings that I think you should be listening to. You can find the complete list in chapter 10 of Learn… Read more »
Learn Bebop scales part 2
Here is Learn Bebop scales part 2. This is an extract from my book ‘How To Solo.’. It is the 4th in the series of my eBooks Learn Jazz Piano. You can purchase all books by clicking here. In my previous blog I illustrated the Bebop Dominant scale in C. Take another look before continuing. Fig… Read more »