I got this question from a student:
“I am struggling to comp rhythmically & unpredictably while improvising or playing from a lead sheet. I can comp chords in my left hand to a pattern (i.e., 4 to the floor or on the 1 & 3, etc) but I struggle to mix up the comping especially when [...]
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Learning harmony using the Circle of Fifths
Using the circle of fifths, it is easy to learn diatonic harmony. Looking at the example below, you’ll notice a yellow rectangle around F-C-G and a red circle around the C.
The red circle is marking the key. In this example, the key is C Major. The yellow rectangle shows [...]
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The circle of fifths is a fantastic practice tool. It can help you practice scales more effecively, learn key signatures and even learn basic and advanced harmonization techniques.
In this article, I am going to show you some circle of fifths “tricks” that will help you maximize your practice.
What is the Circle of Fifths?
The circle of [...]
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You can connect with Willie through facebook at his new PianoWithWillie.com facebook fan page.
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This lick is from the upcoming DVD lesson on Summertime, written by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess
The left hand uses rootless chord voicings. I cover these voicings on the Piano Chords Part 3 DVD.
Listen to the lick
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Let’s break apart the lick so you know [...]
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In this article, I am going to show you two different Blues piano shuffle licks & riffs that are fun and easy to play. Make sure you click on each sound file to hear the lick played.
Do you like the sound of the Blues? So do I. That’s why I created the new Play Blues [...]
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Tritones definitely add spice to your playing. But, many people are confused when it comes to using them. In this article, I am going to explain:
The Tritone
What is Resolution?
Dominant Motion (Resolution)
ii-V-I’s
Using Tritones in ii-V-I’s
The Tritone
The tritone is an interval. An interval is a distance between two points. We measure distance on the piano in intervals. [...]
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I recently came across some very nice jazz profiles at NPR that I wanted to share with you. You can see them all at NPR’s Website.
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I have had a couple of people ask me why I did not play the melody on the Autumn Leaves disc. Well, it’s because the song is protected by copyright and there is a lengthy and costly process to secure permission. Therefore, I did not include the melody. However, there is a legal project online [...]
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A student of mine asked about “jazzing” up the Wedding March by Mendelssohn, so I am taking this opportunity to explain how to create an arrangement from scratch using the Wedding March as a springboard.
In this two-part article, I am only going to cover the first four measures of the song. Why? Because I want [...]
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Understanding Jazz Piano Chords
Jazz piano chords can sometimes be confusing at first glance. In this article, I am going to explain how jazz players usually interpret chords and pick tensions to create lush chords. Bear in mind, every musician has their own “tricks” that they use to form their chords. However, there are some basic [...]
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Where do I start?
This is a question that I am often asked from new and potential students. I suppose if I only have two DVDs available, it would be easier to pick a place to start. However, I have dozens of DVDs available on many different topics. So, I completely understand why many of you [...]
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Using Quartals To Make Richer Chord Voicings
I love the sound of those big, fat jazz chords. Don’t you? Those tensions and ‘extra’ notes really make the song go from dull to dazzling. Creating these rich chord voicings becomes much easier when we use quartals.
A quartal is two stacked intervals. It is two perfect fourths stacked [...]
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As an improvising pianist, we are constantly working to create interesting solos and improvisations. This involves a process of learning many tips and tricks over the years that we incorporate into our playing.
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JazzKids makes learning the piano and improvisation fun!
JazzKids®, created by Berklee College of Music graduate Willie Myette, creates method books that show beginning improvisers how to improvise at the piano. Our books are designed to be used in conjunction with other reading curriculum like Alfred’s Piano Course.
Even if you have never improvised before, JazzKids makes [...]
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There are several ways that you can form chords:
1. Number the scale and choose the appropriate scale degrees
2. Use intervals to “stack” notes
3. Use your ear to “hunt and peck” at the notes
Let’s work backwards.
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