Tutorial on Assigning Target Tones in Jazz Solo Improvisation
Forward Motion Application on Jazz Bebop Au Privave Solo Improvisation, with video and analysis. Check out this video of my solo improvisation over popular jazz bebop tune “Au Privave” [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXgd3hh76oQ] This is the solo line at 00m16s of the video Improvising a string of eight notes connected over a few bars, would be a difficult…
Cool Jazz Tricks #1
Superimposition with Diminished 7th chord in Jazz Improvisation, with video and thorough analysis. Check out this video of me improvising over the changes of popular jazz bebop tune “Au Privave” [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXgd3hh76oQ] Observe 1m21s of the video, what I was doing there is this: THE TRICK – Superimpose a Diminished 7th chord half step above the…
Acquiring Speed in a Slow Way
According to Hal Galper and his book, Forward Motion, one of the secrets of all those great jazz masters when improvising over fast bebop chord changes, is to count in half time. Here’s an example of the first few bars of popular jazz bebop tune Donna Lee, notated in its usual form. Here’s another example…
Bach playing Jazz
Many are aware of the problem in our classical music education system nowadays. We have many music students graduating with relatively high grades, but unable to play a simple tune without the help of a written score. The great jazz pianist Bill Evans addressed this issue in a most profound way, in his interview themed…
Free Music Transcriptions / Sheet Music by Pianologist
Pianologist has been around for more than a year, frequently posting free transcription / sheet music, with theoretical discussions or live videos. What’s special about the transcriptions / sheet music on Pianologist is: Transcriptions / sheet music are presented in the form of a blog posts, coupled with video or audio clips, and theoretical analysis to…
Applying Target Note in Mastering Jazz Solo Improvisation
An Article on Inner Target Note/Guide Tone Application in Jazz Solo Improvisation “If you can’t, you must. If you must, you can. ” A quote from the great motivation guru, Anthony Robbins. Here’s another paragraph from the true story of how Ear Training Guru, David Lucas Burge, first acquire his perfect pitch ability, “Once I…
Shakatak Nightbird with Forward Motion
Nightbird, a very catchy tune from the Brit Jazz scene. With a very melodious piano solo, that’s just begging for a transcription. Check out this video of Shakatak playing their Nightbird [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upkpZjnckAc&feature=related] Here’s the transcription of the piano solo on Nightbird: Shakatak-Nightbird-piano-solo-transcription Again, we see the application of Forward Motion theory in this solo transcription.…
Tension and Release Beat
Much has been discussed on Pianologist about the tension and release beat of a bar. This knowledge is crucial when it comes to applying Forward Motion Concept in jazz improvisation. Most music students have been taught to differentiate the strong and weak beat of a bar, but just to make sure no one is left out,…
Forward Motion:The Secret Formula to Jazz Bebop Solo Improvisation
“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??!!” One of the most asked questions among any jazz students, seeing how jazz masters effortlessly improvise beautiful jazzy solo lines even through complicated chord changes. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDfdIf7Yi8M] Notice how Bud Powell’s lines melodically weave through the chord changes of Anthropology with ease. You can even hear the changes listening to the solo…