Instructor
Jonny May
Quick Tip
Intermediate
14:54

Learning Focus
  • Chords & Voicings
  • Improvisation
Music Style
  • Jazz Ballads
  • Jazz Swing
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Ever hear someone play a simple chord progression and think…

“How do they make that sound so good?”

A lot of the time, it’s not the progression itself.

It’s what they’re doing with the chords.

In this lesson, I’m breaking down how to take a really simple turnaround progression and turn it into those big, lush cocktail piano chords.

We’ll start with the basic chords, then add a few of those crunchy notes that give jazz chords their color.

Then I’ll show you how to spread everything between your hands so you get that nice, full sound without having to play a million notes.

But my favorite part is probably the end…

I’ll show you how to add passing chords between the main chords.

That’s where things start getting really fun.

Once you hear what a simple turnaround can sound like with these ideas, you’ll start hearing opportunities to use them everywhere.


Writer
Jonny May

Jonathan May is a pianist from Southern California who specializes in many styles of piano. At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland. Each week he entertained thousands of guests with his arrangements of American classics and Disney songs. Jonny has also performed with the Youtube...

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