Style of Jimmy Smith

Style of Jimmy Smith for Pianists

Tritones & Phat Chords

Lesson Run Time: 106 minutes / Release Date: 07/21/2009

Learn how to effectively use tritones to add spice to your arrangements. I’ll also teach you how to create fuller, richer chords with Upper Structure Triads and Quartal voicings.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
What is a tritone?
What is a substitution?
Chords that use tritone subs
Tritones and the bass
V7 to I example bII7 to I
ii – V7 – I example ii – bII7 – I
Dominant vs. Tritone resolution
Available tensions on Dom 7
Voicings with quartals
Inverting quartals
Tensions that work well together
Voicings with U.S.T.
Using the U.S.T chart
Using the quartals chart
Applying to Abide With Me

This Little Light Of Mine

Lesson Run Time: 85 minutes / Release Date: 09/01/2009

This “classic” song covers how to re-harmonize the song and improvise over it. I’ll also teach the arrangement note-for-note. Some of the concepts we will cover is more re-harm techniques like dominant motion, related ii’s and tri-tone substitutions.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
The melody
Apply chords to the melody
Measure 5
Walk up
Finishing the reharm
Arrangement introduction
Arrangement Part 1
Arrangement Part 2
Arrangement Part 3
Lick 1
Lick 2
Lick 3
Lick 4
Lick 5
Lick 6

Modulation Techniques

Lesson Run Time: 89 minutes / Release Date: 10/01/2009

In this lesson I cover several different modulation techniques that you can use to move between keys. I use the songs Amazing Grace and What A Friend We Have in Jesus as examples. You’ll learn about pivot chords, diminished sequences and other common and not-so-common modulation tricks!

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Modulations introduction
What is a modulation?
Key centers vs. modulation
Dominant motion for modulation
Diminished to dominant sequences
Diminished to dominant C to Bb
Diminished to dominant to relative min.
Dominant chord modulation
Pivot chord modulation – introduction
Common keys and finding pivot chords
Amazing Grace – F to C
Amazing Grace – F to Bb
Borrowed minor key chords
Amazing Grace – F to Ab (borrowed)
Amazing Grace – F to Db (sus4)
Amazing Grace – F to Eb
Diminished to ii-V sequence
Amazing Grace – F to Ab (create pivot)
Amazing Grace – F to Ab (diminished)

O Lamb Of God

Jazz Kids Book 4

Jazz Kids Book 3

Jazz Kids Book 2

Jazz Kids Book 1

More Have You Met Miss Jones Improvisation Tips

In this series, 10 tips, I will give use a song to demonstrate and teach improvisation and reharmonization techniques. This first lesson, we will use the classic “Have You Met Miss Jones” to discuss different approaches to improvisation.

In My Life – The Beatles

Lesson Run Time: 47 minutes / Release Date: 04/26/2014

In part 1 of this lesson you will learn how to play The Beatles – In My Life. Not only will you learn the basic melody and harmony but you will learn their relationship to each other. You will be able to take the basic information and put in the rest of the notes to fill out the voicing. He will show you how to sprinkle in some jazz influence and 2-5-1 progressions.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Intro, Measures 1-4
Measures 5-7
Measures 8-10
Measures 11-14

Advanced Jazz & Blues 2A

Lesson Run Time: 64 minutes / Release Date: 09/17/2011

In this 2 disc set, we will cover a more advanced 12-Bar blues. We start in this DVD by learning two choruses of an original blues called Blowin’ On The Blues. This song is a great way to explain your voicings and learn new techniques to make your blues playing sound more sophisticated. Next, in disc 2 we will cover improvisation over the song.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Part 1 (m1)
Part 2 (m6)
Part 3 (m9)
Part 4 (m13)
Part 5 (m18)
Target Notes
Part 6 (m21)
Scales for improvisation
Sprints – Getting faster

Advanced Jazz & Blues 2B

Lesson Run Time: 101 minutes / Release Date: 10/02/2011

In this lesson we focus on improvisation. I will cover some common questions like “What notes do I choose for my solo?” I will also teach you exercises that will help your improvisation become more fluid.



Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

How do the MIDI files work?
Blues voicings
pt 1-Choosing notes for improv
pt 2-Target notes
pt 3-Play anything exercise
Chromatic exercise pt 1
Chromatic exercise pt 2
Octave linking
Bb minor pentatic exercise
Bb blues scale

Style of Jerry Lee Lewis

Lesson Run Time: 80 minutes / Release Date: 11/12/2011

Get ready for some rocking piano! This lesson will show you how to create the exciting piano style of Jerry Lee Lewis. We will use the progression of Great Balls of Fire to create a blues arrangement with many of Jerry’s classic licks. I’ll also show you some of Jerry’s keyboard “stunts” and teach you how to not hurt yourself while rocking heavy on the piano. Grab your cup of coffee for this lesson…it’s intense!

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Song introdution
Arrangement Left Hand
Adding the Right Hand
B Section
B Section pt 2
Glissando pt 1
Glissando pt 2
Glissando in the Song
Other Licks pt 1
Other Licks pt 2
Jerry Lee Technique pt 1
Jerry Lee Technique pt 2