Q. I play alto in my school's Jazz Band, and I wanted to replace the senior piano player at my school. I've played classical piano on and off since I was 6, but never was to serious with it. My teacher is clueless about jazz, but i have previous chord knowledge from improving on sax. What could I do to help improve my transition into the jazz piano world, reading more complicated jazz rhythms, and comping chords?
A. PRACTICE! is the short answer. As with anything musical, and especially improvisatory and spontaneous music like jazz, developing to the point of sounding competent will take time and dedication and perseverance.
Transcription and listening is important. That's something you should be doing already for the saxophone. Pay attention to pianists on your favorite records, particularly how they comp behind others, since that will be your biggest job in a large jazz ensemble. Transcribe comping rhythms that are attractive to you as well as ones you hear often; even if you don't transcribe the exact voicing, you can still practice using the same rhythms over the changes to standards.
Practice comping in time with a metronome. If you can consistently and accurately play on a steady pulse, you can decidedly play around it. Set the metronome slower and slower while increasing the beats; for example, start with 120 bpm and play one chord every two metronome beats, then decrease it to around 85 and play on every beat, then set it around 50 bpm and treat each pulse as a full bar, playing four even notes between beats. Practice playing in this way to get your time rock solid.
If you are able to get together and play with the rest of the rhythm section from the band, I'd recommend doing so. Get together and play through standards. Work together on building a communication while playing behind (supporting) a horn soloist. Aebersold play alongs are also good for practicing comping "with a band" at home.
Another vital thing for jazz pianists is effective chord voicings. Check out Dan Haerle's book on voicings and work through his exercises. Phil DeGreg also has a really nice progressive (step-by-step) book that's great for getting good-sounding voicings under your fingers. I've studied both.
The only way to get better at reading rhythms is to do it. Sight-read through a hymnal, old songbook, whatever. If you can find piano charts for big band that only have rhythmic notation with chord symbols, those are great for practicing reading rhythm and chord progressions. Start slow and methodical; remember you are striving for accuracy, not speed. Eventually, you'll recognize rhythms from having read them so many times before, and it will come easier to you.
Above all, technique is king. If you don't know how to touch the instrument and can't get around it, all the internal theory and knowledge and tasty licks won't do you much good on the bandstand. Classical lessons aren't necessary, but they challenged me in ways that I wasn't challenged in jazz lessons. Consider taking lessons regularly (either classical or jazz or both, if you have the time).
Good luck!
Is playing the electric guitar harder than playing the piano?
Q. Please tell why.
Thanks!
A. It's easier to learn a few chords and then strum along with a guitar than it is to bang out a simple chord progression on the piano. However the guitar gets pretty complicated after that.
One of the nice things about piano is that any idiot and press a key and sound a note. Another nice thing is that there's one place to play each note. This makes it a lot easier to read piano music.
All in all, I'd say that piano is an easier instrument.
i'd like to write a song with the piano, in what key and chord progression should i use?
Q. i was planning to write a song for a girl. probably a sad and emotional song to portray how i would never get her, how perfect she is and stuff like that. i know that a minor key would be appropriate but im not sure what key and progression to use. probably something easy to play and emotional at the same time.haha thanks alot for helping.:D
A. Hi. It's nice to hear you want to write a song for a girl. I've written few for my girlfriends actually (and of course one at a time... =p).
Good advice is to have mixed major and minor keys and a lot of 7th chord - I like 7th chord because it gives calm nice feeling. I can show you one of my patterns if you want:
if you start at C (easiest) for example, you can progress like this:
C , Fm , C , Am, Dm7, G, C7.. F , G , Em7, Am, Dm7, G
I've been composing for the last three years and you can listen to them on my website. But don't show it because it is not from your own heart haha =x
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Title : How do I get better at Jazz Piano?
Description : Q. I play alto in my school's Jazz Band, and I wanted to replace the senior piano player at my school. I've played classical piano ...