Lesson Run Time: 65 minutes / Release Date: 04/30/2011
In this second part we will cover some usage of the diminished chord for improvisation. We will also apply diminished replacement techniques to song snippets I Could Write A Book and Have You Met Miss Jones?. We will end by covering the Barry Harris diminished approach technique and apply it to a snippet of The Days Of Wine And Roses.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Replace diminished chord with V7
Example: I Could Write A Book
Example: Have You Met Miss Jones?
Diminished Chord improv
Diminished Chord…chords!
How diminished chords work
vii diminished to I
Diminished Approach in Major
Diminished Approach in minor
Example: Days of Wine And Roses
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Lesson Run Time: 66 minutes / Release Date: 11/26/2011
In this lesson we are going to work through an arrangement for Auld Lang Syne in 8 steps. In each step we will add a new technique that we can use for reharmonization of this song and countless others. If you are interested in reharmonization, want to create your own arrangements or need more help with concepts like Dominant motion, related ii’s, tri-tone substitution then this lesson is for you! Even beginners can benefit from this lesson…just remember to go slow and re-watch the chapters!
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Step 1 – basic I-IV-V
Step 2 – precede Dom 7
Step 2 – precede Dom 7 pt2
Secondary dominants
Step 3 – replacing chords
Step 4 – add dominant motion
Step 5 – tritone substitution
Step 6 – chord shifting
Step 7 – alternate bass notes
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Lesson Run Time: 70 minutes / Release Date: 03/01/2010
In this lesson, I will show you how to arrange the classic standard Stella By Starlight in a Ballad style. We will also focus on how to comp and accompany. This is great if you work with a singer, accompany yourself or need to comp behind a soloist.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction to Stella By Starlight
Stella discovery phase
Stella arrangement pt. 1
Stella arrangement pt. 2
Stella arrangement pt. 3
Stella – comping chords
Stella – chord voicings for comping
Stella – elements of comping
Stella – backing up a singer
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Lesson Run Time: 69 minutes / Release Date: 08/24/2013
After our Unforgettable Part 1 lesson, students were asking for more ways to fill out the accompaniment with improvisation, fills and runs. In this lesson we will cover different ways of creating fills and runs over a small section of the song. If you want to know how to fill the “dead air” between chords, this lesson will show you how to create your own fills and runs in both the right and left hands.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Fills and Runs
Fills and Runs 1
Fills and Runs 2
Fills and Runs 3
Fills and Runs 4
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Lesson Run Time: 46 minutes / Release Date: 04/27/2013
“Ain’t Misbehavin” – Vol. 2: We are covering the B section and the final A section. The B section holds some very nice runs that are quite a challenge! I will also show you how using these runs under different chords will give you runs like Oscar Peterson! “Ain’t Misbehavin” – Vol. 1
This lesson is real fun if you like this stride piano sound then this lesson is definitely for you because you can take these techniques and apply them to other songs in your repertoire.
This lesson on: “Ain’t Misbehavin” – Vol. 2 includes sheet music, the audio version as a mp3, and midi files.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Measure 23
Measure 25
Measure 27
Measure 31
Ending
Fun'dational, Song, Advanced, Jazz
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Lesson Run Time: 61 minutes / Release Date: 07/19/2010
Learn this classic bossa nova arrangement. We will cover arranging techniques like harmonizing diminished chords and incorporating some montunos at the end.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Part 1
Part 2 (m. 5)
Part 3 (m. 8)
Part 4 (m. 12)
Part 5 (2nd ending)
Part 6 (m. 20)
Part 7 (m. 23)
Part 8 (m. 29)
Part 9 (endings continued)
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Lesson Run Time: 54 minutes / Release Date: 06/01/2012
In this song lesson, we will use our step-by-step standards technique (similar to My Romance) to create an arrangement. In three steps (plus analysis) we will go from melody to complete arrangement along with some advanced tips to help you apply these techniques to other standards.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Analysis pt 1
Analysis pt 2
Step 1-Roots
Step 2-RH chords pt 1
Step 2-RH chords pt 2
Step3-Arrangement pt 2
Step3-Arrangement pt 1
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Lesson Run Time: 78 minutes / Release Date: 11/01/2010
Learn my full arrangement of the beautiful standard When I Fall in Love. I’ll teach you the melody, chords and re-harmonizations note-for-note.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
The arrangement
Introduction to When I Fall in Love
The Song Part 1
The Song Part 2
The Song Part 3
The Song Part 4
The Song Part 5
The Song Part 6
Reharm Part 1
Reharm Part 2
Reharm Part 3
Reharm Part 4
Reharm Part 5
Reharm Part 6
Improv Part 1
Improv Part 2
Improv Part 3
Final Improv/Conclusion
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Lesson Run Time: 31 minutes / Release Date: 12/22/2013
In this arrangement, the song What a Wonderful World is played three times. The first time the arrangement from Wonderful World part 1 is played. The second time through the song I play a solo and the third time, I play my own personal arrangement using chords and voicings that come naturally to me. The key to this lesson is that we’ve included chapters SLOWED DOWN by 50% to make it easier for you to see the notes that I am playing!
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Arrangement full speed
Arrangement-50percent
Solo-50percent
Myarrangement-50percent
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Lesson Run Time: 113 minutes / Release Date: 02/15/2009
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
F blues progression 1
F blues progression 1 – playalong
F blues progression 2
F blues progression 2 – playalong
F blues progression 3
F blues progression 3 – playalong
F blues progression 4
F blues progression 4 – playalong
A/B forms of rootless chords
The song – Swingin Blues (F Blues)
Approaches into Guide Tones
Advanced Scales for Improvisation
Advanced Scales for Improvisation pt. 2
Advanced Comping Techniques
Creating a Bassline (F Blues)
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Lesson Run Time: 74 minutes / Release Date: 09/14/2013
In this lesson we will cover four important uses of diminished harmony: 1) Diminished chord reharmonization, 2) Harmonizing melodies using diminished chords, 3) Using diminished scales for improvisation and 4) Diminished and Slash Chords. These four techniques are practical because they are most often used in live situations and are important for any gigging musician to know.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Diminished chord reharmonization
Spotting wrong chord symbols
Harmonizing lines
Drop 2 diminished approach example
Half Whole Diminished Scale
Diminshed Chords
Transform Diminished Chords
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Lesson Run Time: 58 minutes / Release Date: 04/28/2010
Learn how to create a bossa version of this Maria Greaver song. In this lesson, we will create a full arrangement that you will learn note-for-note. We will also cover an easy 3-note approach to improvisation which is perfect for beginners.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
What A Difference A Day Made – Intro
The Melody
Discovery phase pt. 1
Discovery phase pt. 2 (m. 17)
Arrangement Part 1
Arrangement Part 2 (m.9)
Arrangement Part 3 (m.24)
Chords you can take out for improv
Three note improvisation pt. 1
Three note improvisation pt. 2
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Lesson Run Time: 69 minutes / Release Date: 12/04/2010
A question I get asked a lot is “How do you create an arrangement for a song?” Or, “How do I ‘modernize’ this song and give it new life?” In this lesson I am going to share with you some of the techniques that I use to create arrangements and “contemporize” a song. Some of these techniques are common, yet some are ones that I have come across over the years and developed my own personal style.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
Change Dom7 to sus4
Upper Structure Triads pt 1
Upper Structure Triads pt 2
Precede Dom 7 chords pt 1
Precede Dom 7 chords pt 2
Tritone Substitution
Chord Tensions Inversions & Voicings
Voicings pt 2
Arrangement
Harmonizing ANY melody note!
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Lesson Run Time: 24 minutes / Release Date: 03/18/2011
In this lesson I will show you exactly what a secondary and extended dominant is and how they are used. These chords are a great way to help your re-harmonization of standards and can also be used to expand on your composition of your own songs as well.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Secondary & Ext. Dominants pt 1
Secondary & Ext. Dominants pt 2
Secondary & Ext. Dominants pt 3
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Lesson Run Time: 69 minutes / Release Date: 12/17/2011
In this lesson we break apart sections of Miles Davis’s song “All Blues.” We will learn the groove section and I’ll also show you how the melody lines up with the groove. However, our main focus will be on improvisation and some advanced concepts like maintaining flow while improvising over the baseline. We will also cover Four “over” Six rhythms and how to incorporate them into the song.
Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:
Introduction
The Groove
V7 Chords pt 1
V7 Chords pt 2
Improv Fluidity Exercise pt 1
Improv Fluidity Exercise pt 2
Create Improv Lines
Willie Improv pt 1
Willie Improv pt 2
Advanced Ideas pt 1
Advanced Ideas pt 2
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