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Vanilla chords for Jazz students

3/24/2023

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So many beautiful pieces to learn and so many chords to master. It's a real problem for beginning jazz students. Lester Young, the legendary sax player of the 1940's, is known to have requested or demanded that the pianist play the "vanilla chords." "Forgot the fancy reharmonizations, just give me the vanilla chords; I'll decorate the harmony." Or something to that effect. It was a story told to me many decades ago. So, here are the vanilla chords for hundreds of jazz standards. Let it be your guide to taking the harmony back to a more manageable level. ​
vanilla chords
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Me: What was Lester Young referring to when he said play the vanilla chords?

ChatGPT: Lester Young was known for his distinctive and influential saxophone playing style in jazz music. There are a few different stories and interpretations of what he meant when he referred to "vanilla chords."
One interpretation is that Young was encouraging his fellow musicians to stick to the basic, fundamental chords in a song, rather than adding too many complicated or unusual harmonies. In this sense, "vanilla chords" could be understood as simple and straightforward chords that provide a solid harmonic foundation for improvisation and soloing.
Another interpretation is that Young was referring to the use of the basic major and minor chords in a blues progression. In this context, "vanilla" could be seen as a metaphor for the basic, essential ingredients of a blues song, and Young was emphasizing the importance of staying true to that traditional form.
However, it's worth noting that the exact phrase "vanilla chords" does not appear in any known recordings or transcripts of Young's performances or interviews. So the meaning of the phrase remains somewhat elusive and subject to interpretation.
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How to recognise jazz chords by ear

2/25/2023

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Sing them!

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FYI: Page two contains the diminished 7th chord.
Free download of the image above
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FInding New Chords for Jazz Standards

1/30/2023

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Jazz students are often looking for new chords for the standards they are playing. This blog offers you some suggestions if you are unable to transcribe.

1. The iReal Pro app is a useful source. It doesn't always have the most exciting chords, but it does help you move on from the fakebook.
2. YouTube transcriptions, though not always reliable, will help you explore new harmonic ideas.
3. The Real jazz Solos Book by Hal Leonard is a reliable book to consult.

Have fun. 

David
 

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My Funny Valentine PDF
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December 15th, 2022

12/15/2022

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​Learning Blue Bossa in 6 Keys

Materials required:
  1. Fake book
  2. Recording from YouTube
  3. Piano 😊
Knowledge required:
  1. Strong knowledge of musical rudiments. This lesson was written for a student who has his Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 8 piano and advanced rudiments.
  2. Knowledge of at least one jazz chording system.  Rick used these chords in his left hand.
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Lesson to play in 6 keys:
  1. Learn and memorize the original melody and chords in C minor as written in the fakebook. Being able to play from memory is imperative. Here are some tips to help you.
  • Note the melody is in C natural minor and that the third phrase modulates up ½ step into the major key of Db.
  • Note that the first phrase starts in the fifth note of the minor scale, jumps an octave and walks down. Then the melody jumps up a 7th and down a 2nd to complete the first phrase.
  • The second phrase starts on the last note of the previous phrase and repeats the same shape in this new starting position. This is called a diatonic transposition.
  • The third phrase starts on the last note of the previous phrase and plays down the major scale a half step above the original minor key, in this case C minor. This is called modulation.
  • The last phrase is back on the original key of C minor.
     2. The harmony: The harmony is notated using Roman numerals. This facilitates the transpositions to come. Minor chords are marked lower case and major chords in upper case.
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​
    3. Play the melody in the following keys: Cm, Am, Em, Dm, and Gm. Follow the instructions in step 1 after you review the natural minor scales and the major scales ½ step above these minor scales. 
    4. Now add the chords. To transpose the chords, you must do the following steps. Write out the c natural minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C. Directly below these letters write the scale of the new key, say f minor: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F. Be sure the letters line up. C is directly above F and so on. Then, C minor chord becomes F minor chord, F minor chord becomes Bb minor and so on. Write out the scale of Db: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db and then the scale ½ step above f minor, in this case Gb: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb. The chord qualities, of course, remain the same. 
    5. What do we learn?
  • We reviewed our intervals, key signatures, relative minor, transposition.
  • We are transposing by combining ear, skill, and knowledge.
  • Most importantly, we are learning visual pathways on the keyboard of chords and melodies, which will help us to transpose and visualize our jazz “licks.”
Call me, I can help.
 
David
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Chorale Harmony: First Steps

11/7/2022

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The Music
Harmonizing chords using the strict rules of chorale writing (SATB) is a time-honored way to get started with harmony. I'd be happy to help you, just call me. 

Rules 

1. Spacing between SA and AT cannot exceed an octave
2. Range of SATB should be reviewed before starting.
3. Double the root, but never in consecutive voices. 
4. No voice crossing within a measure.
5. All chords must have a 3rd.
6. Common tones repeat, most of the time. 

Computer realization of the exercises. 

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Drop 2 Voicings for Jazz piano: Class notes from Berklee, 1977

11/4/2022

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Look what I found tucked away. You can hear examples in the Bill Evans YouTube video below. 
Photo download
Drop 2 voicings with Chromatic 13ths
Drop 2 voicings with chromatic 9ths
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Wynton Kelly Lick on ii7 V7 and how to use it when you solo

9/15/2022

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I've used a simplified "lick" from a Wynton Kelly recording of Autumn Leaves. You may recognize it. Here is a method to integrate this, or any other "jazz lick" into your playing.  First, play the lick as written, then write out the lick in the keys of C, Eb, F, G, Gb using the following steps.

Materials needed:
  1. manuscript paper
  2. sharp pencil
  3. big eraser

Prerequisite knowledge required:
  1. key signatures
  2. major scales
  3. ii-7-V7 chord progressions in major keys

Steps:
  1. draw the treble clef
  2. add the correct key signature for the ii-7 V7 chord progression
  3. add 2 bar lines
  4. mark in ii-7 V7 beneath the measures as shown
  5. add the chord symbols above the staff
  6. add quarter rest in measure 1
  7. starting on the 5th of the ii-7 chord, draw three quarter notes ascending in steps or 2nds.
  8. measure 2 starts with a quarter note, with a 1/2 step grace note, on the root of the V7 chord and descends a step to the 7th of the chord. This 7th will require an accidental (natural or flat sign) to lower it because of the grace note, which was raised.
  9. Bada boom, you're done.

​Have fun. 

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Sightreading Tips for Pianists

5/24/2022

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Sight-reading tips
  1. Title. The title will often give you clues as to how to play the piece.
  2. Who is the Composer? Bach is played differently than Zappa.
  3. When was the piece written? Baroque music is played differently than Rock.
  4. Time signature?
  5. Key signature?
  6. Tempo: fast or slow?
  7. Dynamics: loud or soft? When playing with others this is especially important. 
  8. Look for funny business like clefs changes, hand over hand crossovers, 8vas, tempo changes. Don't get caught!
  9. Find the repeat signs, del signo sign, and Coda sign.
  10. Search for similar phrases/measures.
  11. Look for rhythmic difficulties. If necessary, clap and count aloud. 
  12. Find the starting hand position. 
  13. Using the metronome will help prevent you from stopping and correcting.

Short story

As a teenager I had the worst practicing habits. I had no focus or commitment to any task except s
ightreading, which was fun and easy. I loved spending hours reading my mother's piano books, so it is no coincidence that I've spent the last 45 years making a living as a sight-reader. First as a professional pianist and later as a teacher. Eventually though, I did get my practice habits straightened out and the rest is history. 

David

Revised August 2022
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Should you print the note names in your score?

5/13/2022

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     Many poor readers erroneously believe that printing the note names on their music will help them to read the music easier. This is a misunderstanding of how you will read music. Music moves too quickly in time to identify all the notes as you play. Instead of seeing single notes, you need to see patterns of notes. One important source of this pattern knowledge comes from understanding musical rudiments, such as intervals (steps, skips, and repeats between notes), key signatures, harmony (chord recognition), melodic direction (does the melody go up or down?), dynamics (loud or soft), and rhythm. When you print out all the notes, you may skip these important ideas especially rhythm and note direction. This leads to poor results. To read music fluidly you will need to address these knowledge deficiencies.

If you would like some help in this area, call me. 
​
David

Revised August 2022
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Hash tags

5/6/2022

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Sightreading quick tips

1/13/2022

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Sight-readings skills make all aspects of piano study and performance easier.
  • Capable sight-readers take less time to learn new pieces.
  • Capable sight-readers play music for fun with other musicians with more ease.


I offered the following regimen to a student this week.
​
  • I suggested that she does daily work with the Four-Star sight reading and ear test books. The book is organized, five days to a piano week. She must read the questions carefully, before starting each exercise, as they combine sightreading and theory with basic piano skills.
  • When clapping rhythm, she needs to count aloud. Counting in her head is not as effective as she thinks it is. (My drum teacher has me do this frequently, yet I’m a professional musician. Why is this? It really helps.)
  • Practice the scales applicable to the exercise beforehand. I suggested she spends more time on technique. She needs to work on her outlook regarding technique. Playing the scales, chords, arpeggios with joy and diligence is possible. Think of this work as an act of devotion.
  • She needs to dig in on theory. Skilled sight-readers recognize the scale and chord patterns at sight. In the beginning, she could mark those patterns in the score before playing. The Four-Star books contain questions that will guide her with this.
  • Slow and steady should be her first goal when sight-reading. She needs to imagine playing in an ensemble: No stopping, no correcting. The band will continue without her. If things fall apart, she should just keep counting and come back later in the piece. This will take practice to do. A metronome can help here.
 
If I can help you, call me.
 
David
Revised August 2022
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Three activities for better results in piano study.

12/28/2021

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  1. Theory
  2. History
  3. Ear training

These three are the most neglected aspects of music study.

Theory
Skilled musicians see harmonic, rythmic, and structural patterns in the music, beginners see a string of notes. The purpose of theory study is to help us to see and understand these patterns and their significance, which over time, leads to artistry. As a former teacher put it, "understanding what you are seeing makes everything easier."  
How you think about the drum set, what you have heard, and what you understand about the musical past of the instrument determine how you play the instrument musically. Ed Soph, master teacher
​History
Different eras of music sound different. When you understand the broad outline of music history, you will have informed knowledge on the interpretation of the piece. 

Ear Training
Ear training is a wide set of skills:
  • interval recognition
  • chord recognition
  • melodic playback and jazz licks
  • chord progressions
  • rhythmic clapback
  • Instrument identification
  • counting measures
  • sight singing
  • scoring what we hear

​Some folks have it easier here than others, but I can confidently say that as a kid I started with a tin-ear, but over time, with practice I developed a high degree of skill. 

I can help you too. 

Call me. 


David
Revised August 2022
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Rhythm first, theory second. A jazz teacher speaks about practicing.

10/31/2021

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Jazz is primarily about rhythm and articulations, those tricky bits that are impossible to notate. Harmony is like math, fun for many and much easier to get your head around for most than rhythm and articulation. Or so beginners believe. But when the moment of truth arrives at a jam session theory goes mostly out the window and instinct kicks in. Adam Maness explores this theme in his video "Why do I still suck". 

Jorge Mabarak, on Facebook, puts it well, theory is a tool. I propose that rhythm is the key. And ear training is the secret.

Here is a practice time breakdown that may work for you:
  • Fifty percent of your time is spent improving your instrumental skills. Find a teacher. Put in the work. To paraphrase Wynton, "learn to play your d#%$@# instrument".
  • Twenty-five percent of your time is working on ear training, which is transcriptions and memorizing tunes. How many tunes can you play from memory? Ten tunes would be a good start and realistic goal for most jazz beginners. Can you sing the melodies of the tunes you are trying to memorize? Can you sing the chord roots, in time and in pitch, of these tunes? Can you sing the arpeggiated 7th chords found in these tunes?
  • Twenty percent of your time is spent jamming with at least one other musician. This is a key component of learning jazz. Jazz is a team sport. For instance, if you are a pianist, call a jazz guitar teacher, they have students who need to jam with others too. Set up a session. Don't be shy. As Adam Maness emphasizes "time for jazz swagger".
  • Five percent jazz theory
 
If I can help, please call me. 

David
Revised September 2022

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Vienna Fugue

4/23/2021

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I'd forgotten how interesting and satisfying writing a fugue can be. (The fugue's subject was inspired by Billy Joel.) This performance is a computer rendition. To be playable with two hands I'd need to transpose the left hand starting at mm. 8.  If you would like some help with music theory call me. 

Best, 

David
Revised October 2022
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Ear Training for Adults

1/20/2021

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Working through the Four Star Books is recommended. An effective book, but, hardly that exciting. 

So...

Sometimes we work out by ear famous Rock era "licks" or motifs from well know melodies. 

The famous opening melody uses B, C#, and D. Have a listen and give it a go. 
Classical motives are fun too. Opening motif is in C minor, starting on G. Da da da DAAA, da da da DAA

Have fun. 

​David
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Score Study for Classical and Jazz Students

11/25/2020

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Bach - The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Arthur Grumiaux

Classical students 

1. Phrasing: Notice how the performer tapers each 2 note slur
2. Chords: Notice how the performer "strums" the chord from the bottom to top note
3. Dynamics: When the music goes up in pitch so does the intensity and vice versa. This is a very common effect in classical music performance. 
4. Dynamics part 2: Phrases which rise start softer and crescendo.

Jazz Students

1. Broken chords that ascend on a 7th chord and resolve in the opposite direction. Measure 4, beat 3
2. Enclosures in measure 2, beat 1 around the note C. Measure 5, beat 3. 
3. The use of chromatic approach notes to chord tones in a broken chord in measure 3. Mozart likes these types of figures as well. See Fantasia in D minor measure 10.

Have fun. 

David
Bach - The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Arthur Grumiaux
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    You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.
    Charlie Parker

    Author

    I'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. 

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  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #Eleven March 5, 2023
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Children's Winter Concert 2023
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute
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