Me… A Beginner? Playing Jazzy Piano? Yes, you read that right. You might refer to yourself as a beginner when it comes to playing piano. However, the word “beginner” is relative. If you’re playing piano at all at this point, that means you have at least some technical ability going for you. That’s all it …
Cocktail Piano Lesson #1: Use What You Know Home hobbyists to well-trained classical pianists have shown an interest in cocktail piano lessons. It’s no wonder why a pianist of any skill level and background would want to acquire cocktail piano skills. You never know when the opportunity may arise. A local restaurant may have the …
Enhance Your Style With Chord Voicings I felt inspired to write this because there are a good number of cocktail pianists who enjoy success utilizing just basic triads and 7th chord structures. There’s a lot to be said for a performer who can be creative using simplicity. That said, the use of chord voicings can …
Cocktail Piano Intros: In A Pinch? Creating cocktail piano intros is an art in itself. The more you have in your “bag of tricks” the better. Sure, it pays to practice and know, at least to a point, how your arrangement will go. However, sometimes you might find yourself in a spot where you get …
Previously, we acknowledged that playing less really can be more by simply playing the root, 3, and 7. Using the same example shown in that video excerpt of ProProach, harmonizing the first note of Erroll Garner’s Misty could look like this: In this case, the melody note is D. That D also happens to be …
Splashing More Color Into A Simple Chord Voicing Read More »
You want to transpose the chords and voicings you learn to other keys. The more command you have over those keys, the more confidence you ultimately have. Want a sure-fire way to gain that command? Make transposing those chords and voicings you’re learning to other keys something you love to do. The act of transposing …
