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Home » piano chord map » How do I improve my piano skills and become better at jazz?

How do I improve my piano skills and become better at jazz?

Q. I've taken 5 or 6 years of lessons in middle school and high school. I'm now 20 and play regularly but I feel like I haven't really been getting better. My fingering isn't the greatest and I hate practicing scales. Is that really the only way I'm going to improve?

A. If you have taken "5 or 6 years of lessons" you should have NO TROUBLE with fingering. I completely disagree with the answer that told you "the fingering isn't as important as the spontaneity"! Without proper fingering you will not be able to play well enough to be spontaneous!

Proper fingering doesn't mean you have to map out every phrase, but it means you have to know the order which will let you play that phrase with the smallest amount of effort. I, like you, do not like practicing scales, but until you are perfectly comfortable with playing scales in all 12 keys WITH PROPER FINGERING, you will not improve on your jazz playing!

What is meant by "proper fingering" is that you have to learn not to play a "black key" (sharps and flats in the key of "C") with your thumb. This allows you for freer use of the other 8 fingers. It takes a certain amount of practicing, including playing scales, to get the mechanics down right. Rather than playing "scales", I have developed my own practice routine with the "chromatic scale". (I do this with both hands, sometimes in the same direction, sometimes in opposite directions.) I pick a rhythmic figure such as four 16th-notes ending on a quarter-note (or half- note depending on the tempo I want to work on). You can use any figures of varying lengths you want. I frequently use drum rudiments or a passage from a song (such as "Phantom of the Opera"). But pick a figure then run it up and down the chromatic scale--play every note on the keyboard, but never play a "black key" with your thumb. It is challenging and fun and I usually have to stop myself from practicing too long.

Another exercise I do to keep from practicing scales is one which completely violates the "black key" rule--which is fine once you learn the correct way to do it. When playing jazz, you have to "go where the music takes you". That is what is meant by spontaneity. So sometimes you may have to sound a "black key" note with a thumb. But avoid it whenever you can.

I do this also with both hands, sometimes in the same direction, sometimes in opposite directions. I usually use a minor-7+11 chord, but you can choose any 5-finger chord of which you like the sound. Then run arpeggios up and down the keyboard using the chord in all 12 keys. Do quarter-note runs to start, then go through eight-note and 16th-note runs. Also do 8th-note and 16th-note triplets. I also do groupings of 5 and 7 to break things up. Be careful to make strong accents on the starting note in each sequence to clarify the groupings. Note: This will sometimes require you to play an accent on a "black key" note with your thumb, but this is not a fingering exercise. It is to familiarize you with all scales (when you use different chords) in all 12 keys and to get a fluid movement of your fingers as you play. I usually pick a set tempo for all the runs and then accent them in groupings of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. This is another exercise that I have to stop myself from playing too long.

So, there is practice and there is practice. And more practice. Don't worry, you will never become "perfect". But you will get better. Remember how to get to Carnegie hall!

Original Question

Question about learning to play the piano?
Q. I want to be able to sooo bad! I play some guitar and My dad is a music and so im very exposed to music and Im wondering if you think itd be easy for me to pick up? Im 14 and like I said I have some experience with music. Do you think it would be easy for someone who put enough time and passion into it?

A. Yes of course you can learn! 14 is actually an awesome age to pick up an instrument in my opinion. Especially the piano, vs. other instruments this one is like pressing buttons- you don't have to deal with any tuning issues. Piano is a great instrument to start with because if you want to learn other instruments knowing piano is a great tool. It maps out all the notes for you and makes it easier to visualize chords as well.

Original Question

Where can I find notes to this song?
Q. "Love song" by Sara Bareilles. I need notes to play it on the piano. It would also be nice if someone could help me find a map type thing that shows the notes for the piano and which ones are which. :] Please and thank you!

A. http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0064335&testby=walter&mnuid=DUK29NKRW6Z6N9Y9FCSJ3D9K8PY9J1571JG2K157

here's the sheet music. it's only the first page, but you can print it out, and the chords basically repeat throughout the whole song.

also, watch this video...it helps once you learn the chords from the sheet music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6amqIDbsMs

best answer please?

Original Question




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Posted by KickAnswers on - Rating: 4.5
Title : How do I improve my piano skills and become better at jazz?
Description : Q. I've taken 5 or 6 years of lessons in middle school and high school. I'm now 20 and play regularly but I feel like I haven't...

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