Learning blues piano

[Roel]

Where do I start? I want to play the moody dark slower drunk stuff. Think tom waits.

I understand all chord symbols, and can play a progression, just need to get that bluesy feel in I guess. I could start just fooling around on my own, but I'm too lazy for that. Most of my books on improvisation etc are jazz, so whatever I do is too jazzy and doesn't have the moody thing. So?

 

[Wide Awake]

A lot of jazz creeps into my blues piano too, but if I was thinking "dark and moody" I would automatically think minor 7th chords. Really simple chords, lot's of 5th's and octaves. Concentrate on the syncopation of both hands and let your rhythms be both sophisticated and dynamic to make up for the lack of complicated chords.

There are a few videos or DVDs on playing blues piano but what I learned was from a teacher many years ago. I never practice piano anymore and my keyboard skills are awful these days. I've decided to just concentrate on guitars, bass, and synth orchestration. Piano is very demanding and if you aren't good it really shows up in recordings. Synths are much more forgiving.

You could try drinking a big bottle of whisky before you play.

 

[Roel]

jup I know that trick...

The piano has been drinking.... not me...

 

[Wil Davis]

Well...

"Roel dun woke up dis mornin'...
..an' he had these ol' "How The Hell Do I Play Blues Piano" blues...mmm, yeah...
...yeah poor, ol' Roel was a frettin' an' a cussin'..."

Hang on...(rewind...)

Roel, this is what you really need:

Edley Paints the Ivories Blue

- brilliant book, fabulous concept, great guy! He also does a theory book (see web site)

Good Luck!

- Wil

 

[VOXVENDOR]

Roel.

Remembr that cool Jazz book you bought when you were here.... well I like the same logic for the blues thingy....

Buy a book!.... There must be one out there, that teaches blues piano riff's... You might even get one of them cheesy example cd's with it

Joe

 

[Roel]

I dunno... Seems alot like a beginners book to me.

I don't know if that's what I really need... I'm playing classical piano since I was 8 (I can play chopins first ballade 3/4 way thru, if you're curious about my level. It does hurt however. ) and I've got alot of theory (Jazz and classical) to back me up, I guess more than I'd ever need to play blues... I think that would be the kindof book that would have me browsing all the licks, playing the examples a few time and end up in my closet. I'm really looking for kindof the blues-equivalent of The Jazz Piano Book by Levine.... Is there such a thing?

Or do you really think this book would help me?

 

[Roel]

Remembr that cool Jazz book you bought when you were here.... well I like the same logic for the blues thingy....

Ah... The famous Jamey Aebersold series... The blues equivalent to that would be wonderfull too... They got some blues-editions, but they will surely have it sounding as jazzy as it gets. That's the problem, I want it to sound basic. I know how to make it sound jazzy, that's easy. I wanna learn how to NOT make it sound jazzy...



(I'll get enough jazz lessons next year. Well, I hope... If the jazzpiano teacher still has some time to teach this classical dude in between..... I sure hope so...)

 

[64Firebird]

I don't play keysboards, but maybe I can help. A big part of blues is the sound of going from Major to miner. Try playing the Maj 3rd over the I7 chord and the miner 3rd over the IV7. On the V7, you can use eather one.

So, in the first bar, play a lick that ends on the the Major 3rd of you I7 chord. In the next bar (over the IV7) play the same lick, but end it on the miner 3rd of the I7 chord.

That's the way I do it on the guitar anyway.

 

[Wil Davis]

I dunno... Seems alot like a beginners book to me.

I don't know if that's what I really need... I'm playing classical piano since I was 8 (I can play chopins first ballade 3/4 way thru, if you're curious about my level. It does hurt however. ) and I've got alot of theory (Jazz and classical) to back me up, I guess more than I'd ever need to play blues... I think that would be the kindof book that would have me browsing all the licks, playing the examples a few time and end up in my closet. I'm really looking for kindof the blues-equivalent of The Jazz Piano Book by Levine.... Is there such a thing?

Or do you really think this book would help me?

Honestly, Roel - I wasn't sending you up, or trying to put you down, but really, Edley's books are pretty damned good, and his approach is quite unique. Take a look at his site, and check out some of the reviews (there are also some page examples on his site). I have both of his books, and have even bought copies for my friends. As one of my friends' kids said - Edley makes learning piano FUN - when was the last time you heard an 8-year old kid say that?

- Wil

PS: I think Edley's books would help ANYONE - as I said before, it's his unique approach...

 

[erichenryus]

(I can play chopins first ballade 3/4 way thru, if you're curious about my level. It does hurt however. )

Or do you really think this book would help me?

If it hurts, you're doing it wrong

If you have a real good grip on theory and technique maybe you could just spend some time listening and transcribing the stuff that you are trying to emulate?

 

[drstawl]

Get Some Jimmy Smith CDs.

You'll find them under, "The Incredible Jimmy Smith"

Sure- it's Hammond, not piano, but the feel is right there.

 

[Roel]

If it hurts, you're doing it wrong

I know. Wrong, and too much. But I can't leave it. I hope they'll teach me how to do it right at conservatory. I think I have an idea what is wrong. Mainly my right hand, but once I get up to speed (which is quite necessary to play that ballade, I'm pretty proud of it, gotta mention that as much as I can.) I forget all about my posture...

If you have a real good grip on theory and technique maybe you could just spend some time listening and transcribing the stuff that you are trying to emulate?

Did I already tell you guys I'm lazy? Hmmm. Maybe this should go in the confessions thread... (To be honest, I'm playing along with Tom Waits discs alot... )

Jimmy Smith. Got him already. Hehe. You gotta love Kenny Burrell on those discs too... Kenny's one of my favourites.

So, gotta try those minormajor 3rds. And gonna look into that book again. After I'm done with it, I can teach some girl, and take out my sax. That will show her.

 

[64Firebird]

Bdgr Is a rocking good blues keyboard player, but his internet connection is down right now. He'll be along in a day or so and help you out with this.

 

[Roel]

Yeah, I was hoping to get some comments from him...

 

[Sennheiser]

Hi Roel. You don't say whether or not you know the Pentatonic Blues Scales so if not, here ya go.

Pentatonic Blues Scales

I don't write blues and play very little blues, but when I write I sometimes refer to this if I get stuck.

 

[Roel]

Yeah, got them covered. Learned them on guitar way back when I still played.

Nice link! But what's with their Aeolian scales??? That ain't right, right??

 

[VOXVENDOR]

Get Some Jimmy Smith CDs.

Wasn't he on L.A. LAW...????

 

[Sennheiser]

I'm not sure. I didn't look at them. I know the blues scale is correct though.

I usually use the chord chart for odd changes within a key if I'm looking to do something different.

 

[Roel]

How do you do that? The chords aren't all that nice either. They display the notes that are supposed to be in the chord, but I don't think any pianist would voice em like that...

 

[Sennheiser]

That's what I use it for. Just to find out what notes are in the cord.

I use my own voicing.