NewJazz
Jazz Piano Improvisation Lessons
| Engineering & Support: | Jonathan Prehn |
| Producer, Teacher & Keys: | Oliver Prehn |
Description:
Listen to the birds... how can we improvise Music like the birds???
Take a walk with me in the forest in the early springtime. We will talk about improvised music, music life and what the NewJazz channel should be all about.
This video also contains some philosophy on "Music Improvisation". Walking in Nature, getting away from our music instrument, makes us think differently and we may look at Music in a larger perspective.
Enjoy this little untraditional video and introduction to the NewJazz project and watch all NewJazz Music Lessons below...
The best and warm regards
Oliver Prehn
Description:
A SHORTCUT to learn to play FAST on the piano.
If we cannot sit 8 hours a day at our piano, rehearsing, how do we learn to play fast and steady?
Well, we just have to acquire ourselves a bad and annoying tapping habit...
I'll show you how to tap the right and most beneficial way and how to transfer the tapping exercises to the piano - playing Music.
By the end I'll try to play as fast as I can and we'll see how that goes...
Description:
Simple method to organize ALL MUSICAL SCALES of harmonies.
We use a simple method based on families and circular interval patterns to organize all scales that are well suited for building up harmonies: "THE SCALES OF HARMONIES".
We explore and systematize the Major Modes, Melodic minor Modes, Harmonic minor Modes, Harmonic Major Modes, Diminished Modes, Whole tone Mode and Augmented Modes.
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Description:
From HARD WORK doing useful exercises to FUN WORK creating and improvising jazz.
First we do some simple and basic ARPEGGIO EXERCISES.
Then we loosen up and with the exercises as a foundation we learn how to improvise an EASY JAZZ SOLO.
Along the road we also learn to play a simple, allround and thrilling WALKING BASS to make the grounding for our exercises and improvisation.
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Description:
We use an arpeggio technique as basis. Then we add some easy but yet very thrilling tricks to Jazz Up our solo.
We use Leading tones, chromatic tones, some blues, diminished chords and a tritone substitute chord. Enjoy!
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MP3 Drum & Bass backing track with the chord progression in Emi (as in the video), Dmi and Gmi
The backing track also comes as a YouTube Video
Description:
A NON-theoretical approach!!! We use a simple TRIAD hand grip to IMPROVISE over the STANDARD JAZZ CHORDS. Enjoy :)
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MP3 Drum & Bass backing track with the chord progression in Emi (as in the video), Dmi and Gmi
The backing track also comes as a YouTube Video
Description:
We make a very useful rhythmic exercise for jazz improvisation.
The exercise functions as a kind of ever going 'motor'.
The motor is based on some very simple ideas:
we invent a piano "finger sequence" and we use a pentatonic "hand grip" and we make rhythm and phrases into a thrilling musical counterpoint!!!
Our exercise is fundamental in many ways, if we want to be free to express ourselves when improvising Music.
In particular the exercise will make us strong when combining rhythm and phrases in a free manner.
Later on in the lesson we add the left hand chords to the exercise.
The chords also make a thrilling counterpoint to the rhythm!!!
With the "motor" exercise we automatically learn to put in the left hand chords on all the different sub beats just by following the patterns of the right hand phrases.
Then we make different tonal flavors by moving our pentatonic hand grip to different positions on the keys.
By the end of the lesson I inspire you to create and exercise your own favorite phrases and to add these to the 'motor' - the opportunities to form your own Music are endless...
Description:
This is a very simple and yet very powerful jazz improvisation lesson for the right hand.
We walk through 10 easy steps. We do exercises and I give you some practical jazz tips on the road.
A good lesson for beginners but I'm sure experts can be inspired as well...
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Description:
We'll learn a method to improvise Jazz by using the Pentatonic scale.
We start with the left hand chords and with that basis we add the right hand Jazz solo.
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Description:
Simple Hands-on Improvisation Methods. We'll learn how to improvise a thrilling Jazz & Blues piano solo in Dmi.
We'll explore the techniques in a stepwise approach from easy to more advanced.
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Description:
An Ultimate Collection of my Favorite Jazz & Blues Licks in Dmi by using Hand Grips. With useful Key Graphics and Sheet Music.
Every lick is first played in normal tempo and then in slow motion.
The licks are ordered chronologically from easy to more advanced, starting out with the easiest ones.
Tempo 112bpm (56bpm in slow tempo). Alla Breve 4/4. Swing feeling.
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Description:
We learn how to IMPROVISE MUSIC by making a simple "PLAYGROUND" in which we can unfold our creative musical performance.
The best way to learn music and music improvisation is to just immerse ourselves into the game, playing around, having fun - like we do on a playground!!!
Description:
Learn how to play an easy JAZZ PIANO IMPROVISATION and how to handle the SUSTAIN PEDAL to enrich and spice up your sound.
Description:
Fundamental, simple and very powerful right hand modal jazz piano exercises.
Taking advantages of the physiology of the hand using primarily the 3 first fingers making a strong, simple and 'fast moving' foundation to be used when playing a jazz piano solo.
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Description:
With a simple musical PHRASE (lick) as basis material we learn to improvise a COMPLETE JAZZ SOLO.
We'll do a lot of useful JAZZ EXERCISES and by the end of this music lesson you can play along to a BACKING TRACK (made for the occasion)
and try out the techniques together with drums, bass and Rhodes piano voicing.
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Description:
With only 3 little motifs we improvise a thrilling Blues solo with Soul & Jazz inspiration.
The idea is that we just transpose our 3 small motifs to different keys and we can improvise over for example an entire 12 bar blues chord progression.
This lesson is a follow-up on the lesson above (Learn ONE PHRASE to play a THRILLING JAZZ SOLO) - but this lesson can be seen individually anyway.
Description:
Lots of jazzy blues licks for the right hand.
First we play the licks together with a dr&bs backing track,
then we play the licks in SLOW MOTION so you can really investigate all the details.
The tonality is "G Blues" (both Major and minor and lots of added blue notes).
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Description:
Learn to IMPROVISE JAZZ by exercising 51 cool jazz licks.
The jazz phrases come with SHEET MUSIC and useful GRAPHICS on the keys.
Everything is played in SLOW MOTION so you can easily study and learn the jazz melodies.
Downloads:
- PDF with all the jazz licks on sheet music
- PDF above in French. Translated by subscriber Pierre Marzin - thanks a lot for your great work Pierre!!!
- PDF above in Italian. Translated by subscriber Renato Bartolini - thanks a lot for your great work Renato!!!
- The jazz licks as MIDI files
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MP3 Drum & Bass backing track with the chord progression in Emi (as in the video), Dmi and Gmi
The backing track also comes as a YouTube Video
Description:
We will learn a simple practical method to improvise Jazz over the 2-5-1 chord progression in Major.
We will also talk some nerdy jazz theory in between.
But when we perform, we use simple tools that automatically unfolds the music!
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Description:
We use a simple technique to PLAY JAZZ - RIGHT AWAY! Without thinking music theory! The theory we add later on...
We explore a SIMPLE TECHNIQUE to connect the left hand chord pattern with the right hand upper structure. By using the very same technique we can play many different kinds of thrilling and HUGE JAZZ CHORDS and we can make smooth chord progressions.
Description:
We exercise only 2 small LICKS contained by a single triad upper structure HAND GRIP to improvise great jazz solos over the 7 melodic minor modes.
The theory behind this may be a little hard, but the practice is very easy.
Description:
We learn how to improvise over the 12 bar blues in C using a single hand grip. An easy approach to advanced blues solo playing.
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Description:
We'll play Music RIGHT AWAY even if this is your very first piano lesson!
In this tutorial we'll get right into the essence of Music and express our emotions and feelings. And we'll have a lot of FUN :)
We make the benefit of a VERY simple tool: We may only hit the black keys. It happens that we can make beautiful Music with the black keys only: simple Music is often the best Music!!! This is a beginner lesson but experts can for sure also be inspired.
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Description:
We make great jazzy sound with the MELODIC MINOR MODES.
We locate and order all the 7 modes in a SIMPLE CIRCULAR SYSTEM.
We use the scales to IMPROVISE JAZZ over the II-V-I chord progression.
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Description:
We use only ONE single LEFT HAND GRIP to play the ENTIRE 2-5-1 (II-V-I) chord progression in minor.
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Description:
We use a triad based hand grip (upper structure) to improvise over the 2-5-1 (II-V-I) chord progression in minor.
By using a specific "hand grip" the Jazz scales reveal themselves automatically and our Jazz improvisation becomes more simple and easy!
We do not think music theory while playing the piano!!!
Description:
YouTube PLAYLIST containing all Music with Oliver Prehn; Jazz, blues, fusion and some crazy stuff from another planet.
Description:
In this lesson we'll have a lot of fun learning and playing the 7 Modes - also named "Church" Modes or "Major" Modes.
First I'll introduce you to the Modes and I'll show you an easy method to learn the Modes based on how they actually sound.
In that way you'll learn the Modes by ear rather than by theory.
Then we just go crazy and we combine several modes and play "Multi Mode".
Then we completely break the boundaries of the Modes and we play Non-Diatonic...
Finally I'll provide you with inspiration to continue the work on your own hand, exploring the Modes, creating "New Jazz" sounds.
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Description:
Learn jazz piano improvisation using only the pentatonic scale.
We start up very easy and then we put on more and more stuff as we go along. In the end we go crazy building SUPER CHORDS flying into space!
This is a very comprehensive lesson that contains stuff for both the beginner and the trained pianist.
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Description:
In this music lesson we'll use only a few minutes to learn to play a modal funky rock & jazz solo on the piano.
Then we'll hear the music performed in practice with Erik Frandsen on the Drums and "Tao" on the bass.
I hope you will enjoy :)
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Description:
We discover the Mixolydian characteristics.
Then we create an expanded left hand chord and we improvise a solo with the right hand.
Then we discuss the so called "avoid" note and we find out that the "avoid" note is not so dangerous after all.
Finally we make another thrilling jazz scale that is almost like the Mixolydian...
Description:
We use only 3 GRIPS to manage all the most common expanded left hand JAZZ CHORDS.
With some simple EXERCISES we'll learn to play the jazz chords in every key.
We also use the chords in PRACTICE and play along to a drum & bass BACKING TRACK over a very standard JAZZ CHORD PROGRESSION.
Downloads:
- PDF that contains additional exercises and useful overviews of the 3 left hand grips
- Same PDF as above but translated to French by Pierre Marzin - Thank you so much Pierre :) :) :)
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MP3 Drum & Bass backing track with the chord progression in Emi (as in the video), Dmi and Gmi
The backing track also comes as a YouTube Video
Description:
We will learn a very useful grip to play left hand jazz chords.
First we exercise the minor 7 chord.
Then we use the very same grip to exercise suspended (sus) chords.
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Description:
We will learn a very useful grip to play left hand jazz chords.
We exercise "7" chords and II-V (2-5) progressions and we mix in the "minor 7", "suspended" (sus) and "altered" chord.
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Description:
We will learn a very useful grip to play left hand jazz chords. First we exercise tonic chords, then we exercise II-V-I (2-5-1) chord progressions.
We play "minor 7", "7", altered, suspended and tonic chords.
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HOW TO BUILD THE TOOLS:
- Print and cut out the two discs (link to PDF below)
- Place the smaller disc upon the larger disc
- Connect the two discs by the center. Use for example a clothing snap or a book screw (link below)
- Choose a scale on the lower disc
- Choose a keynote on the upper disc
- Point the keynote and the scale together by rotating the discs
- Now all the scale-notes are pointed out
Many thanks to subscriber and Patron 'nupfe' from Germany who has redesigned the discs and made them really smart and handy. His work is characterized by extreme thoroughness and everything he does is extravagant and perfect. Thank you very much "nupfe", you have been VERY VERY helpful with this lesson!!!
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Description:
We use a super cool cardboard tool to look up all the "Major" Modes, "Melodic minor" Modes, "Harmonic minor" Modes and "Harmonic Major" Modes.
We play 2-5-1 chord progression in Major and we look up different scales and we listen to the jazzy and thrilling sounds we can make.
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Description:
We compare the 7 harmonic minor modes with the nearby scales to learn the characteristics
and we find out when to use the modes; on what chords we can play the specific modes.
Then I introduce a smart tool to look up all harmonic minor modes in any key!!!
By the end of the lesson we learn some easy practical techniques to improvise over the scales.
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Description:
Advanced Jazzy Blues Improvisation using 2 Simple Hand Grips
a NonScale Approach!
Song Title:
Stupid Blues!
Tempo:
60 BPM
Sound Progression:
||: Fm :||
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Description:
Mess Up the Dorian Mode making Non-Diatonic Sound taking Advantage of the Consonant & Symmetric Features from Dorian Mode.
Song Title:
Epic Escape
Tempo:
76 BPM
Sound Progression:
||: Eb-Dorian/e || D-Dorian/eb :||
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Description:
Explaining the CIRCLE OF CHURCH MODES - a very useful illustration to locate, describe and arrange all seven modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.
Exploring the universal interval pattern of the church modes and developing nice sounding improvisation tricks that can be used and reused, no matter what church mode we are playing!
Playing all seven jazz modes using the minor pentatonic scale pattern.
Song Title:
Do the Church Mode
Tempo:
80 BPM
Score:
||: Dorian | Ionian | Locrian | Aeolian | Dorian | Phrygian | Lydian | Mixolydian :||
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Description:
We bring order to the chromatic chaos using Pentatonic hand grips ordered in a straight sequence that fits the octave.
This video gives you a structured sound of a NON-diatonic world.
Song Title:
Chromatic Detox
Improvisation material:
Keynote G: Constantly switching between Gm pentatonic, Bm pentatonic & Ebm pentatonic.
Keynote C: Constantly switching between Cm pentatonic, Em pentatonic & Abm pentatonic.
Tempo:
85 BPM
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