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Instructor
Jonny May
Course
Intermediate
04:07:32

In this course, Jonny will walk you through the piano lead sheets of 8 different chord progressions and show you how to utilize various piano techniques to create a richer and more interesting sound. You’ll learn how to implement piano chord shells, guide tones, and right hand filler harmony in the top 3 jazz styles: jazz swing, bossa nova, and jazz ballad.

By the end of the course, you will be confident in adding your own personal style to a lead sheet.

Course Objectives
  • Discover the top 8 chord progressions used in fake books
  • Color the root position chords with shells and guide tones
  • Create rich chords with right hand filler harmony
  • Explore the top 3 jazz styles: jazz swing, bossa nova, and jazz ballad
Learning Focus
  • Analysis
  • Chords
  • Lead Sheets

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Left hand workout!!
The backing tracks and the increasingly difficult left hand patterns made me really have to know the chord shells and guide tones from the previous course. It has also given me a better ear for chord progressions. 3s and 7s! Eager to start the extensions course and really level up my left hand. Thanks Jonny.
So Many Useful Ideas for Sounding Professional!
I have been going through the "Play Piano Lead Sheets" series, and each course has so much to offer! The structure of the courses is very similar, and that repetition helps me to remember the various strategies and techniques that Jonny introduces for playing with lead sheets and/or soloing. I will be coming back to this series again soon. I have been trying to use a broad approach and I think it's helping.
Love it!
I actually see progress. I wasn't exactly sceptical, but I did occasionally feel hopeless, even comical, while desperately trying to hit all the shell cords, fingers cramping, sweat beading, while listening to Jonny swing it away telling us to have fun. But eventually something loosened. There's still a lot of work left, but on this last one, I actually did have some fun. Maybe because they were the easies' keys 😄
So well explained!
Jazz is so new for me, I feel I’m making a good start with this course.
Fun
Loved this course! Made me also want to learn the blues.
Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Left hand workout!!
The backing tracks and the increasingly difficult left hand patterns made me really have to know the chord shells and guide tones from the previous course. It has also given me a better ear for chord progressions. 3s and 7s! Eager to start the extensions course and really level up my left hand. Thanks Jonny.
So Many Useful Ideas for Sounding Professional!
I have been going through the "Play Piano Lead Sheets" series, and each course has so much to offer! The structure of the courses is very similar, and that repetition helps me to remember the various strategies and techniques that Jonny introduces for playing with lead sheets and/or soloing. I will be coming back to this series again soon. I have been trying to use a broad approach and I think it's helping.
Love it!
I actually see progress. I wasn't exactly sceptical, but I did occasionally feel hopeless, even comical, while desperately trying to hit all the shell cords, fingers cramping, sweat beading, while listening to Jonny swing it away telling us to have fun. But eventually something loosened. There's still a lot of work left, but on this last one, I actually did have some fun. Maybe because they were the easies' keys 😄
So well explained!
Jazz is so new for me, I feel I’m making a good start with this course.
Fun
Loved this course! Made me also want to learn the blues.
Related Courses

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In this lesson for all playing levels, you'll transform the lead sheet Autumn Trees into a fun swing tune using the essential techniques of swing.  Fills, walking bass lines, and rootless voicings are all covered.

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