Comping (accompanying) is an essential skill for us jazz pianists, but it can be a bit hard and overwhelming to tackle. In this week's video, I show you some classic-sounding voicings on their own, then in the context of the jazz classic "Solar." You can sound great by keeping things simple and c...
Learn how to play major-key turnarounds with these practical, step-by-step exercises. I'll show you the I–VI–II–V and III–VI–II–V chord progressions, how to add secondary dominants, the difference between short and long turnarounds, and some exercises to help you navigate these chord changes with...
Your jazz harmony doesn't have to be boring! These 8 ideas will help you find new ways to deepen your understanding of Minor II V I chord changes and help you gain more confidence in navigating chord voicings and harmony.
Playing in 3/4 time can feel awkward at first. I’m going to show you a simple way to make comping in 3/4 feel natural using a few essential rhythmic ideas. You'll learn 3 simple patterns to help you internalize swing feel in a jazz waltz.
I’ll demonstrate these rhythm patterns using the standard...
A lot of jazz students spend time learning what chords to play—but not always how to make them move. If harmony ever feels static in your playing, it’s usually not because you don’t know enough chords. It’s because the chords aren’t interacting with each other in a meaningful way.
In this week’s...
This week, I use the blues as a framework to explore five-note jazz piano voicings that sound great and actually make sense under your fingers.
Instead of memorizing isolated shapes, we build everything from the ground up—starting with 3rds and 7ths, then stacking extensions, altered tones, uppe...
In this video, I’ll break down Drop 2 voicings in a clear, simple way. You’ll learn the 4-Way Close foundation, how to build Drop 2 voicings on all the basic chord qualities, and get exercises to make them stick. Plus, I'll show you a couple movement exercises inspired by Barry Harris and Bill Ev...
Want to unlock the full sound of the major modes? It's not just about memorizing scales. It's about hearing them, feeling them, and making them a natural part of your playing.
In this video, I'll guide you through each mode, helping you internalize their unique colors and characteristics.
🎹 **W...
