improvise mixolydian
How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 2
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano over major chords with a bluesy sounding scale – the Mixolydian mode! We’ll start with learning the notes of the scale along with the common chord progressions you can use when soloing. Then we’ll learn 5 left hand accompaniments, including stock rock, latin, comping, 10th … Continue reading “How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 2”
How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 2
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano over major chords with the Mixolydian scale. We’ll cover 4 advanced soloing techniques, 5 left hand accompaniments, 7 common chords, and we’ll learn how to solo over multiple chords.
How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 1
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano over major chords with a bluesy sounding scale – the Mixolydian mode! We’ll start with learning the notes of the scale along with 3 common chord progressions you can use when soloing. Then we’ll learn 5 left hand accompaniments, including chording, rock, latin, flowing, and … Continue reading “How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 1”
How to Improvise a Solo With the Mixolydian Mode 1
In this workshop, you will learn how to improvise piano with the Mixolydian scale. We’ll cover the notes of the scale, essential soloing techniques, left hand accompaniments, common chord progressions and rhythms, and we’ll learn how to solo over multiple chords.
5 Scales to Improvise on Major Chords
Have you ever felt stuck when improvising over major chords? Of course, you can draw on the major scale, but that often sounds a bit bland and repetitive. Well, in today’s Quick Tip, Jonny demonstrates 5 alternate scales to improvise on major chords that sound amazing! These 5 scales are game changers for piano students … Continue reading “5 Scales to Improvise on Major Chords”
How to Improvise Jazz Piano with Triad Pairs
Do you need fresh inspiration for your jazz piano improv? If you often feel stuck just running scales when you are soloing, this lesson is for you! In today’s Quick Tip, you’ll learn how to use triad pairs to create jazz piano solos that sound hip and exciting. We’ll cover: What are Triad Pairs? Practicing … Continue reading “How to Improvise Jazz Piano with Triad Pairs”
How to Play Beautiful, Flowing Piano
Think of how rewarding it would be to be able to sit at the piano and improvise beautiful, flowing soundscapes. In today’s Quick Tip, Jonny May shares a fascinating arranging technique that piano students can use to create sublime, cinematic style background music. You’ll learn: Introduction What is interval rocking on piano? Beautiful Flowing Piano … Continue reading “How to Play Beautiful, Flowing Piano”
15 Essential Blues Piano Left Hand Patterns
It is sometimes said that “playing the blues is easy.” In reality, the truth is more like “playing the blues poorly is easy.” However, playing the blues well takes skill and sensitivity. To that end, piano students who want to make significant progress toward an authentic blues sound have much to gain by focusing on … Continue reading “15 Essential Blues Piano Left Hand Patterns”
Play Miles Davis’ “All Blues” on Piano
Miles’ Davis’ “All Blues,” from his iconic 1959 album Kind of Blue, presents an fresh and fashionable take on the traditional blues form. In today’s Quick Tip, Play Miles Davis’ “All Blues” on Piano, John Proulx helps piano students learn to play this sublime jazz-blues standard. Intro to “All Blues” Miles Davis’ “All Blues” Song … Continue reading “Play Miles Davis’ “All Blues” on Piano”
Unlocking the Backdoor 2-5-1 Progression
Do you ever get the sense that professional composers, songwriters and performers have learned some harmonic secrets that they’re keeping from you? Perhaps you’ve heard a song with intriguing harmonic movement that sounds nothing like the diatonic chord progressions that you’ve been taught. Well, in today’s Quick Tip, Unlocking the Backdoor 2-5-1 Progression, John Proulx … Continue reading “Unlocking the Backdoor 2-5-1 Progression”
Dominant 7th Chords for Piano – Ultimate Guide
Sometimes piano students get intimidated or stumped by certain chord symbols. But if there’s one 4-note chord quality that you must know on piano, it’s dominant 7th chords. In fact, it’s hard to identify a musical genre that doesn’t use dominant 7th chords. These 4-note chords are found in classical, blues, jazz, Latin, R&B, gospel, … Continue reading “Dominant 7th Chords for Piano – Ultimate Guide”
The 10 Most Important Jazz Scales
The topic of improvisation can be quite overwhelming for jazz students when they consider all the various chords and scales that exist in jazz music. Fortunately, in today’s Quick Tip, The 10 Most Important Jazz Scales, Jonny May helps students get ahead by sharing the “go to” scales that he relies on most often when … Continue reading “The 10 Most Important Jazz Scales”
The Ultimate Guide to Music Theory Terms & Jazz Definitions
The jazz piano student’s indispensable online dictionary of music theory terms, concepts, definitions and vocabulary words! How to Use this Dictionary of Music Theory Terms & Jazz Concepts Like any high-level discipline, professional jazz musicians use a host of specialized terms to define music theory concepts and techniques. Therefore, we’ve compiled this free online dictionary … Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Music Theory Terms & Jazz Definitions”
Blues Piano Masterclass: 5 Levels from Beginner to Pro
Introduction Learning to play blues piano is a fun and exciting journey. However, sometimes it can be difficult for students to find the right point-of-entry for studying the blues. In today’s Quick Tip, Blues Piano Masterclass: 5 Levels from Beginner to Pro, Jonny May helps piano students identify exactly which blues piano skills to practice for … Continue reading “Blues Piano Masterclass: 5 Levels from Beginner to Pro”
How to Solo with Multiple Scales
In your journey to learn how to improvise on piano, you’re likely to come across multiple types of musical scales that you can use to solo over any given chord symbol. This raises some logical questions, such as: Which scale type is the “best option” for a particular chord? Can I mix different types of … Continue reading “How to Solo with Multiple Scales”
The 11 Most Important Piano Chord Progressions
Whether you’re just curious about chord progressions as a beginner or if you’re looking to expand your harmonic palette as a songwriter, today’s Quick Tip on The 11 Most Important Piano Chord Progressions has you covered! In this piano tutorial, you’ll discover: Intro to Chord Progressions for Piano What is a chord progression? Understanding the Raw … Continue reading “The 11 Most Important Piano Chord Progressions”
The Ultimate Scale Exercise
Many piano students find themselves frustrated and confused when practicing scales, especially when it comes to understanding piano scale fingerings. In today’s Quick Tip, The Ultimate Scale Exercise, Jonny May helps piano students understand how scale fingerings for various different piano scales are actually related. You’ll learn: Intro to the Ultimate Scale Exercise Why are piano … Continue reading “The Ultimate Scale Exercise”
The Top 10 Blues Piano Licks
Imagine that you just got the call to fill-in on keys for a major band at the House of Blues! Can you see yourself standing on stage behind the keyboard facing thousands of blues fans? In today’s Quick Tip, The Top 10 Blues Piano Licks, Jonny May shares his favorite high-octane blues piano licks that will … Continue reading “The Top 10 Blues Piano Licks”
The Ultimate Guide to Bebop Scales
If you want to become a proficient jazz soloist, then you have to develop an understanding of the grammar and syntax of the jazz language. In today’s Quick Tip, The Ultimate Guide to Bebop Scales, Jonny May shares the unique scales that shaped the improvisational approach of bebop giants like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and … Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Bebop Scales”
Play Georgia On My Mind on Piano
The classic tune “Georgia On My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell is widely associated with vocalist and pianist Ray Charles, who made the tune his signature song. In today’s Quick Tip, Play Georgia On My Mind on Piano, John Proulx helps you get beyond the lead sheet when performing this beloved standard. You’ll … Continue reading “Play Georgia On My Mind on Piano”
Blues Chords for Piano: The Complete Guide
Do you want to learn how to play authentic blues piano chords but don’t know where to start? Well, in today’s Quick Tip, Blues Chords for Piano: The Complete Guide, Jonny May provides an in-depth and easy-to-follow roadmap for how to quickly achieve that coveted blues piano sound. You’ll learn: Intro to Blues Piano Chords … Continue reading “Blues Chords for Piano: The Complete Guide”
