NewJazz
Lessons in Modern Jazz Improvisation
| by Oliver Prehn |
Description:
By using a simple HAND GRIP (like a gibbon) we'll play the thrilling MAJOR, LOCRIAN, LYDIAN and PHRYGIAN mode to IMPROVISE JAZZ over the MAJOR 7th chords.
The HAND GRIP technique feels very easy, immediate and natural - like a GIBBON - jumping from one tree to the next, gripping the branches without thinking too much about it. IMPROVISING JAZZ is all about letting our powerful SUBCONSCIOUS MIND do the work…
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
- PDF with all scales presented in this lesson (the Scales of Harmonies)
- Cardboard tool to look up scales, made by subscriber and patron "nupfe"
- Cardboard tool in a smaller layout
- Manual to assemble the cardboard tool
- A subscriber Jeffrey Kunka made this great free of charge Interactive Mode Wheel for both Windows and Mac computers
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:
Wouldn't it be great to be able to just sit down by the piano and improvise great jazzy sounds???
Also, if you're a beginner!!!
The best way to learn Music is by playing Music.
So we'll dig right into it and create a simple but yet very thrilling freestyle 'playground' in which we can easily unfold our creativity.
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
- 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
-
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 - This playlist is a collection of NewJazz lessons that all show different approaches on how to play and improvise over the very same chord progression as used in the lesson above (a standard sequence of fifths in Emi).
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...
Extra:
Description:
Introducing a great triad based HAND GRIP to do thrilling PIANO IMPROVISATION over all the 7 MODES.
By using a hand grip we make the Modes much more thrilling and gripping instead of just playing the Modes stepwise up and down. Furthermore, it becomes much simpler and easier to do a jazz improvisation. I’ll show you how.
By the end of this lesson we'll improvise POLY MODAL - blending several modes which makes our sound much more colorful and organic.
Extra:
- In this playlist we can learn more about playing Poly Modal.
- In the video I refer to this playlist containing all my YouTube Music Videos.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
AVOID NOTES? What're those? Well, don’t be afraid, because these apparently forbidden notes are not dangerous at all - on the contrary.
In this NewJazz Lesson we’ll walk through some of the most commonly declared AVOID NOTES - and one by one I’ll show you how they are all COLORFUL, THRILLING and UNAVOIDABLE. Avoid notes give contrast and characteristics to jazz music.
We’ll also play forbidden JAZZ CHORD PROGRESSIONS. And by the very end of this lesson I’ll show you a fascinating thrilling SUPER JAZZ CHORD that contains lots of avoid notes. This Jazz lesson will be an exciting and fun musical journey for sure…
Extra:
- Short Wikipedia article and overview of the avoid note concept - with references.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll learn what scales to use on what chords when playing the ii-V-i progression in MINOR.
And by the end we will have created a very useful and complete SCALE CHART for jazz improvisation.
Extra:
- The SCALE CHART as PDF
- Playlist with more lessons about musical scales
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll learn what scales to use on what chords when playing the ii-V-I progression in MAJOR.
And by the end we will have created a very useful and complete SCALE CHART for jazz improvisation.
Our SCALE CHART is complete and enclosed - and we'll find out that we can combine any of our scales to make an awesome result. At the conclusion of this jazz lesson I'll demonstrate that, by rolling dice and playing lots of random thrilling scale progressions, all extracted from our chart.
Extra:
- The SCALE CHART as PDF
- Playlist with more lessons about musical scales
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
In this lesson we'll learn 5 Easy and Practical Beginner Tips on how to Improvise over Common Jazz 7th Chords.
Later on we’ll add some Additional and more Advanced Jazz Chord Flavors as well...
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
- Subscriber and follower, Odis Rich, has transcribed some of the lesson to sheet music. I play rubato through the entire lesson, so the rhythm and note durations should not be taken literally. Thank you so much Odis for your hard work :)
Description:
A Funky, Modal, Jazz Fusion Jam in D minor by "The NewJazz Fusion Trio".
THE SCALES in use ARE WRITTEN above the piano AND MARKED on the keys.
Fabricio Pereira; Bass
Red-E (Erik Frandsen); Drums
Oliver Prehn; Piano
The musical scales in use;
Natural Minor, Aeolian Dominant (Hindu), Locrian, Altered Dominant bb7, Lydian Augmented, Mixolydian (no6), Lydian, Minor Blues (add b6).
In the video timeline you can see the specific time signature in use (11/8, 5/8 and 4/4).
Description:
We’ll create a thrilling MEGA jazz chord.
First we'll build up the chord.
Then we’ll do music theory and analyze what we hear.
Finally we'll learn simple and easy practical tips about how we can use the MEGA chord when improvising Jazz…
Extra:
- I refer to this other NewJazz Lesson about scales and their systematics.
- About 6 years ago I presented the idea about the mega chord (then named "super" chord) by the end of an over one hour long and quite comprehensive NewJazz Lesson.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We’ll create a simple, outstanding and consistently systematic overview of musical scales.
First we’ll define our field of study. Then we’ll do a methodical scale walkthrough and draw our simple overview scale chart. And finally, if you're interested, we'll discuss some geeky music theory stuff about the methods in use and the preconditions of our simple scale overview chart.
In many ways, this new more simple way of systemizing scales is quite revolutionary. We’ll cut off the nonsense, so to speak, and we’ll understand musical scales in a more free, liberating way more suited for the analysis of modern NewJazz Music.
Extra:
- Scale Overview Chart on PDF
- Another similar jazz tutorial about musical scales. The lesson is not as systematic and geeky as this one. It’s more practical. For example we use the scales to improvise on 2-5-1 chord progressions.
- Jazz lesson about the Family 1 scales in particular. We learn to recognize the musical scales by how they actually sound.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll learn a simple and thrilling method to approach Lydian -
in that way we'll create an Exciting and Fun Lydian Playground suited for Modern Jazz improvisation.
We can use the Lydian Playground both when playing with or without a band.
First we'll learn to play Lydian by using a simple Major Triad Add2 structure. Then we'll do thrilling Lydian Progressions. Then we'll play gripping Contrary and Oblique Motions. And finally we'll exercise thrilling Lydian Motifs and Phrases.
Extra:
- In this Lydian Jam and Vamp called Lydian Jamp I play with my Trio and I use the exact same piano techniques as explained in the lesson above.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
Lydian improvisation with graphics on top of the piano showing the hand grip positions in use.
On the bass we have the passionate and spirited Fabricio Pereira (the Earth Man).
On the drums we have the impulsive and dynamic Erik Frandsen (Red-E).
And finally, on the piano; your funny teacher Oliver Prehn (the Alien).
Extra:
- About Fabricio Pereira
- This playlist contains all Music with Oliver Prehn.
- Backing Track without piano (MP3 format).
- In this NewJazz Lesson we learn about the piano techniques in use.
Description:
This lesson is an alternative and quite silly approach to Jazz.
But we really don't care, because our silly exercises of rhythm are also very applicable and useful.
And Music is all about being a little silly sometimes - having fun. So you may want to try this out.
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll learn to really SpiceUp the Dorian Mode when improvising a jazz solo.
First we'll learn some basic stuff about how to play Dorian by using a pentatonic HAND GRIP.
Then we'll add some thrilling BLUE NOTES.
Then I'll show you THE GOLDEN JAZZY TRICK (how to blend in the Locrian Mode).
Finally I'll present some EXTRA MATERIAL (how we can easily transpose our thrilling techniques to any tonality).
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
This lesson ended up pretty advanced - but only in theory!!!
In practice we use only ONE simple hand grip!!!
But we do not just play a single mode - we play POLY MODAL;
we freely alter our sound and we blend different thrilling colors and flavors making our jazz improvisation organic and alive.
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
The great advantages of using HAND GRIPS - a simple tool for free jazz improvisation.
First we'll learn how we can quite easily improvise in any key. Then we'll learn to blend different musical scales; we'll play POLY MODAL and make our jazz improvisation both colorful and exciting - we'll gain a fantastic tonal freedom and tell a musical story! By the end we'll go further in depth about the IDEA and CONCEPT of the hand grip.
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
19 exercises with bluesy jazz lines for the right hand over the ii-V-I chord progression in C
- first in normal speed, then in slow motion so that you can play along and really investigate what's going on in detail - nice and easy.
In the left hand we play a simple walking bass. Above the keys we have the sheet music. We'll start out easy with exercise 1 and then the exercises get more advanced as we move along. We'll use simple 3 finger hand grips. Simple Music is often the best Music!
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different applications when improvising Jazz. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
- Sheet Music (PDF)
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll use only 3 fingers to do thrilling blues & jazz improvisation over the standard ii-V-I chord progression.
We'll start out simple - then we'll gradually add more and more stuff - finally we'll add the pinkie to the party ;)
With the 3 finger motor system we take advantage of the physiology of the hand so that we can play really fast, firm and steady. Furthermore we have a simple and safe home base that we can always visit whenever needed. When knowing the 3 finger motor system it’s also quite straightforward to add the 4th and 5th finger.
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different applications when improvising Jazz. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
Description:
On top of a basic 3 finger engine we add lots of awesome blues tricks.
And by the end of the tutorial I'll show you how to really jazz up our blues...
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different jazz applications. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We play chromatic notes and we use our first 3 and strongest fingers as a motor for our improvisation.
We mix in a blues scale and chord arpeggios - and we learn to play a thrilling jazz solo over the ii-V-I chord progression.
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different jazz applications. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll learn to improvise thrilling Blues by mixing both the Major and minor blues scale.
And we'll use an easy technique; the '3 Finger Motor System'.
The system is simple and fundamental when improvising Jazz.
By using only our first 3 and strongest fingers we can play really fast and steady and we build up a musical understanding quite easily without too many obstacles.
Later on we can always add the 2 last fingers (if ever needed).
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different jazz applications. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We'll create thrilling Jazz Piano Improvisation by ZAPPING in & out of the main tonality.
We'll use only the first 3 and strongest fingers. In that way we make our musical playground more simple and easy. Simple Music is often the best Music!!!
Extra:
- The 3 finger motor system can be used for so many different jazz applications. I'll gather all lessons about the motor in this playlist.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
Normally we don't have to look at my funny face;
we just listen to the piano sound while the fingers take a walk on the keys.
But at rare occasions I actually get up from the piano chair - so let's take a walk in the forest and have a little talk about Music.
It's 5 o'clock in the morning and we have the morning choir of the singing birds as a thrilling musical background...
Extra:
- By the end of this lesson a fraction of a NewJazz song appears in the sky. If you are interested you can listen to the entire song here.
Description:
A Modal Lyric Romanza interrupted by Brutal Viking Blues.
The modes and scales in use are written above the keyboard and small dots show the scales on the keys.
In the B-section we play brutal Viking Blues.
Well, I'm a Scandinavian, so the 'real' original blues is not in my veins I suppose.
But instead I can play the Viking Blues.
Fabricio Pereira: Bass
Erik Frandsen: Drums
Oliver Prehn: Piano & Composition
Extra:
- About Fabricio Pereira
- In the A-section I use the pentatonic hand grip to play all the 7 Modes. In this lesson I explain the technique in use.
- This playlist contains all Music with Oliver Prehn.
Description:
Take on a Thrilling Journey from the very Beginner Exercises to the more Advanced Exercises.
After only a few Simple Exercises we can already Improvise Great Music – by using only ‘2’ Fingers!!!
Then we gradually add the other Fingers and we Advance our Technique.
We create Thrilling Tension between Rhythm and Melody and we learn to Improvise in a New Modern Jazz Style.
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the pentatonic hand grip.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
- PDF with the 'Row of Modes'
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
We use a simple PENTATONIC HAND GRIP to extract all the 7 modes. We mix MINOR & MAJOR. We play POLY MODAL. And by the end of this lesson we just go totally CRAZY.
Some parts of this Jazz lesson are old stuff that we need to brush up on - other parts are brand new...
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the pentatonic hand grip.
Description:
We'll write down 3 short memos and try them out in practice.
But first we'll learn a simple improvisation technique for the purpose; arpeggio and chromaticism.
Then we'll find out that Music is so much more than just technique...
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.
Extra:
- PDF - cut out the tool
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
-
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 - PDF with all the sheet music used in this video
- This playlist is a collection of NewJazz lessons that all show different approaches on how to play and improvise over the very same chord progression as used in the lesson above (a standard sequence of fifths in Emi).
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:
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.
References:
Description:
Lots of Modal Interchange Examples on the G Tonality.
Follow the Scales and Modes in use on the Graphic Overlay added to the Keys.
This song I've named MODAL TRAIN JAM because I think it sounds a little like a running train – maybe it’s just me haha.
In the middle section of the jam we have a WATER STOP (you may wonder what that sounds like) and then we get back on track…
Fabricio Pereira: Bass - creator of the initial idea & form
Erik Frandsen: Drums - creator of the rhythmic skeleton
Oliver Prehn: Piano - creator of the modal sound progress
Extra:
- About Fabricio Pereira
- Bass&Drums backing track - play along
- This playlist contains all Music with Oliver Prehn.
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.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- Backing track used in this lesson - play along (MP3)
- The circular harmonic minor tool (PDF)
- A subscriber Jeffrey Kunka made this great free of charge Interactive Mode Wheel for both Windows and Mac computers
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:
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.
Extra:
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons that have a sound of Blues.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the Major Triad hand grip.
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.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons that have a sound of Blues.
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!!!
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the Major Triad hand grip.
Description:
Easy Exercises, Simple Tools & Nerdy Reflections - How to play a modal freestyle modern Jazz Solo without thinking! Free your mind and play Music!
Normally a scale is framed by an octave. But we create a "several octave mode".
We mix the colors and paint a thrilling sound landscape. We do all this with simple and easy tools.
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.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- 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 :) :) :)
-
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 - This playlist is a collection of NewJazz lessons that all show different approaches on how to play and improvise over the very same chord progression as used in the lesson above (a standard sequence of fifths in Emi).
- Thank you so much to Nicolas de Zorzi, a NewJazz follower, for making this transcription of the first introduction solo, right hand.
Description:
A thrilling but easy method to play all the melodic minor modes right away.
We'll start playing without thinking!!!
Later on we'll talk music theory and we'll expand our horizon a bit.
This lesson starts up easy and ends up more advanced...
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the Major Triad hand grip.
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.
Extra:
Description:
We do NOT just play ONE MODE while improvising jazz. We play POLY MODAL.
We constantly shape our sound into nice progressions and intertwined flavors by using the MELODIC MINOR MODES.
The technique in use has a classical analogy and is inspired by pianist BÉLA BARTÓK and the term "POLYMODAL CHROMATICISM".
Thank you so much to NIKOLAI NOREVIK MYKLEBUST from Norway for his great help making a modal drum&bass backing track in F.
We use the backing track throughout the entire video to play along.
And by the end of the video the backing track is running solo so you can try out the techniques without me interfering...
Nikolai has the talent to create an open organic jazz sound - perfectly suited for us to live out our poly modal playground.
Extra:
- Check out Nikolais YT channel
- This playlist contains all lessons about the Major Triad hand grip.
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
Description:
A NON-theoretical approach!!! We use a simple TRIAD hand grip to IMPROVISE over the STANDARD JAZZ CHORDS. Enjoy :)
Extra:
-
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 - This playlist is a collection of NewJazz lessons that all show different approaches on how to play and improvise over the very same chord progression as used in the lesson above (a standard sequence of fifths in Emi).
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!
Extra:
-
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 - This playlist is a collection of NewJazz lessons that all show different approaches on how to play and improvise over the very same chord progression as used in the lesson above (a standard sequence of fifths in Emi).
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.
Extra:
- Drum & Bass Backing track used in this lesson - play along - 80BPM/160BPM (MP3)
- This playlist contains all lessons about the pentatonic hand grip.
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:
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).
Extra:
- The licks on sheet music (PDF)
- The above PDF document in French translated by subscriber Pierre Marzin - thanks a lot for your great work Pierre!!!
- This playlist contains all lessons that have a sound of Blues.
Description:
A "Random" Crazy Fusion Jazz Song written mainly by throwing a Dice!!! - with a short silly "natural" introduction...
Fabricio Pereira: Bass
Erik Frandsen: Drums
Oliver Prehn: Piano & Composition
Extra:
- About Fabricio Pereira
- This playlist contains all Music with Oliver Prehn.
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.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- Video with 101 licks/phrases using the very same hand grips and techniques.
Description:
We use only ONE single LEFT HAND GRIP to play the ENTIRE 2-5-1 (II-V-I) chord progression in minor.
Extra:
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.
Extra:
- Translations of the English subtitles to Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French by Edgardo Solano from Colombia. Thank you so much Edgardo!!! You can turn on the subtitles and choose a language in the video settings.
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.
Extra:
- This playlist contains all lessons about the Major Triad hand grip.
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 :)
Extra:
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!!!
Extra:
- Circle of Major Modes (PDF - print and cut out)
- Circle of Mel. mi. Modes (PDF - print and cut out)
- Circle of Harm. mi. Modes (PDF - print and cut out)
- Circle of Harm. Ma. Modes (PDF - print and cut out)
- 2mm book screws to connect the two discs (used in video)
- Simple online version of the 4 tools made by subscriber Evan. Just drag the discs around. Thank you som much Evan!!!
- Another simple online version of the 4 tools made by subscriber Tobias Strobel. Thank you so much Tobias!!!
- And subscriber Jeffrey Kunka made this great and more advanced Mode Wheel Application for both Windows and Mac computers
Description:
YouTube PLAYLIST containing all Music with Oliver Prehn; Jazz, blues, fusion and some crazy stuff from another planet.