Beginning Jazz & Blues Improv Session 4

Student Questions Answered

Lesson Run Time: 65 minutes / Release Date: 07/16/2011

In this lesson Willie answers students’ questions and talks about how to Approach Target Chords.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Question 1 part 1 (Outside ii-V-I)
Question 1 part 2 (Outside ii-V-I)
Question 2 (Turnaround Rule)
Question 3 (Arpeggio Fingering)
Question 4 part 1 (Approaching Target Chords)
Question 4 part 2 (Approaching Target Chords)
Question 5 part 1 (More Approaching Target Chords)
Question 5 part 2 (More Approaching Target Chords)

Gospel Grooves

Lesson Run Time: 60 minutes / Release Date: 05/14/2011

In this lesson, I will show you how to break down some of those more complicated groove sections that sound so cool. I will show you different exercises and patterns that you can follow to create some really fat grooves. I’ll also show you a couple of grooves to get you started.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
A mixolydian scale chords
16th-note 2-hand exercises
Groupings of 3
Creating your own alterations
D mixolydian scale chords
IV mixolydian over the root
I to IV walk up
Minor 9th – Rise Up groove

B3 Techniques

Lesson Run Time: 67 minutes / Release Date: 10/22/2011

In this lesson I am going to show you some organ techniques that I have learnt over the years. I’ll show you how I use the drawbars. We will discuss sustaining notes, creating pads and I’ll teach you a cool progression, some chords to go with it and improvisation!

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

The Drawbars
Introduction
Dealing with No Sustain
Role of the Organ & Pad pt 1
Role of the Organ & Pad pt 2
Bass Line Tips
Progression Chords
Solo Concepts pt 1
Solo Concepts pt 2

Autumn Leaves

Lesson Run Time: 130 minutes / Release Date: 04/07/2008

On this DVD, I’ll teach you how to improvise over the standard Autumn Leaves. I’ll also show you different practicing tricks to make it easier to learn the song and the improvsation. Many students ask me “What do I start with and where do I go from there?” I’m going to lay this out so you have a “plan of attack” to make it easier to learn these important concepts.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

The Solo (at tempo)
Analysis Pt. 1
Analysis Pt. 1-2
Analysis Pt. 1-3
Analysis Pt. 2-1
Analysis Pt. 2-2
Analysis Pt. 2-3
Analysis Pt. 3-1
Analysis Pt. 3-2
Analysis Pt. 4-1
Analysis Pt. 4-2
Analysis Pt. 4-3
Analysis Pt. 5-1
Analysis Pt. 5-2
Analysis Pt. 5-3
Analysis Pt. 6-1
Analysis Bass Pt. 1
Analysis Bass Pt. 2
Analysis Bass Pt. 3
Analysis Bass Pt. 4
Analysis Bass Pt. 5
Analysis Bass Pt. 6
Chords pt. 1
Chords pt. 2
Chords pt. 3
Chords pt. 4
Chords pt. 5
Comping pt. 1
Comping pt. 2
Comping pt. 3
Practice Tips pt. 1
Practice Tips pt. 2
Practice Tips pt. 3

Melodic Minor Harmony 1

Lesson Run Time: 80 minutes / Release Date: 01/28/2012

In this first lesson on Melodic Minor Harmony, we will go through each mode of the scale. I will give you examples from some jazz standards, but also show you how I like to use these chords in my playing. You will find a lot of interesting sounds in this lesson and it is great to learn this scale no matter what style of music you play. In Part 2 we cover more of the minor ii-V-i, parallelism and how to use these chords for reharmonization.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
What are modes?
Mode 1 – minor Major 7
Mode 2 – sus4 flat 9
Melodic minor Improv Tips
Mode 3 – Lydian Augmented
Mode 4 – Lydian flat 7
Mode 5 – slash chord
Mode 6 – Locrian Natural 9
Mode 7 – Altered scale

Melodic Minor Harmony 2

Lesson Run Time: 68 minutes / Release Date: 02/15/2012

In this second part we will cover in detail the minor 2-5-1 progression and you will learn some really cool improv licks. We will also cover how to create chords using the Melodic Minor scale and apply the scale to real songs. Song snippet “A Foggy Day” will be used as an example.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Scales of Minor ii-V
Minor voicings
ii-V to minor
ii-V to Major
Sequences and Parallelism
Creating a sequence pt 1
Creating a sequence pt 2
Chords of Melodic minor
Applying melodic minor to song

Slow Minor Blues 2

Lesson Run Time: 105 minutes / Release Date: 06/04/2011

In this lesson, we are continuing in the key of G minor but this time using a new groove. This lesson will focus more on improvisation. We will cover neighbor chords, trills, crushed notes, double-stops and more to create some cool sounding improvisation.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Bassline and chords
Adding tensions to the chords
Scales for Improvisation
16th-note improvisation
Scale chords
Blues notes
Crushed notes & double-stops
Trills and trilling
Turns
Rhythmic cell improvisation
Rhythmic cell comping
Rhythmic cell exercises

Filling Out Chord Progressions

Lesson Run Time: 54 minutes / Release Date: 10/08/2015

In this hangout you’ll learn how to fill in chord progressions that span for a measure or more. Have you ever wondered how to fill in between chords in your piano arrangements? Well, this hangout session will give you new techniques to try right away.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Filling Out Chord Progressions

The Peanut Vendor

Lesson Run Time: 67 minutes / Release Date: 12/03/2011

This fun song has been played by many musicians and is a very popular and famous cuban song. In this lesson I will teach you several different left-hand accompaniment patterns and how to create an arrangement. I broke this song into modules, making it easier to create your own arrangement. You will enjoy moving between modules, creating your own improvisation (which we discuss) and “jamming” on this groove.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Intro Groove in G
Intro Groove (part A)
Filler Groove (part B)
Melody pt 1 (part C)
Melody pt 2 (part D)
Improv lick 1 (part E)
Improv lick 2 (part F)
Improv lick 3 (part G)
Advanced chords pt 1
Advanced chords pt 2

Slow Minor Blues 1

Lesson Run Time: 77 minutes / Release Date: 01/15/2011

In this lesson we will cover 5 different minor chord progressions in the key of G minor. We will also move into the 6/8 time signature and talk about how to combine progressions to create your own progression. Less time will be focused on improvisation because our focus will be gaining more freedom with our left hand through bass patterns.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Minor Blues Chords and Analysis
Basic minor chord groove
Progression 1 bassline
Progression 1 chords
Progression 2
Progression Combinations
Progression 3 pt 1
Progression 3 pt 2
6/8 Basic blues pt 1
6/8 Basic blues pt 2
6/8 Extended blues pt 1
6/8 Extended blues pt 2

Figuring out Gospel Songs By Ear

Lesson Run Time: 74 minutes / Release Date: 01/01/2010

This “in the style of” lesson shows you how to play the chords for New Breed’s “Every Prayer”. We will also analyze the structure of the song and discuss improvisation.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Figuring out the song Part 1
Figuring out the song Part 2
Figuring out the song Part 3
Figuring out the song Part 4
The Song Part 1
The Song Part 2
The Song Part 3
The Song Part 4
Improvisation Part 1
Improvisation Part 2

Will It Go Round In Circles – Billy Preston

Lesson Run Time: 55 minutes / Release Date: 02/01/2010

In this lesson I show you some really cool Dr. John licks. You’ll also learn more about New Orleans bass patterns and how to break apart these licks to create your own.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Sections of the song
Scale chords
Billy Preston Lick #1
Billy Preston Lick #2
Billy Preston Lick #3
Billy Preston Lick #4
Billy Preston Lick #5
Billy Preston Lick #6

Essential Scale Tricks – Chord Scale Theory

Lesson Run Time: 55 minutes / Release Date: 08/11/2012

A quick story, years ago when I was first learning improvisation, I was always confused and frustrated with those chord/scale charts. You know the ones that tell you which scale you should play with which chord. It seemed impossible to learn all those scales and so limiting. In this lesson, I’m going to show you a technique that I use in my improvisation everyday to quickly improvise over chords without “over thinking” the scale that I am playing. Using this technique, it is easy to improvise over chords even if you don’t know which scale to use!

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

Introduction
Major chord scales pt 1
Major chord scales pt 2
Minor chord scales
Dominant chord scales
Creating your own scales
Lydian flat 7

Rhythm Changes 2

Lesson Run Time: 48 minutes / Release Date: 04/23/2011

In this lesson we are going to continue where we left off in Rhythm Changes Vol 1. We will cover new ways of expanding rhythm changes, outside changes, back-cycling, tri-tone substitutions and more.

Other Chapters in this Piano Lesson:

The B Section
B section tri-tone substitutions
Chords and comping techniques pt 1
Chords and comping techniques pt 2
Guide-tone voicings pt 1
Guide-tone voicings pt 2
B section neighbor chords pt 1
B section neighbor chords pt 2