New to jazz...any advise helpful

[marksaysay]

To give you a little background to help you all help me, I've been playing piano for roughly 25 yrs (I'm 37). I've played primarily gospel and r&b. I was a music major in college, so I have a great knowledge of theory, although there seemed to be a disconnect between my theory knowledge and my piano playing, until about 4 yrs ago.

I don't read music well, but I do read. I can play from a lead sheet. I play mostly by ear, having a good understanding of progressions and movements. I'm learning, after deciding to tackle jazz, that my theory is quite rusty (I recently revisited chord substitutions using secondary dominants). It IS starting to quickly come back, though.

Okay enough about my background. My goal is to 1) Simply be a better pianist/keyboardist. 2)Be a better pianist/keyboardist.

Recently I've starting working on basic blues and stride. I've started trying to learn different scales to help with improvisation (blues, modal scales, diminished, etc.). I've started learning different chord progressions as well as working on some of the old standards. I know I'm probably doing too much right now, but I really do think I'm learning. I try to work on something old AND new everyday.

Does anyone have any input that might aid my jazz education or speed up the process (I'm not discounting practice time).

[guitarjazz]

Originally Posted by marksaysay

To give you a little background to help you all help me, I've been playing piano for roughly 25 yrs (I'm 37). I've played primarily gospel and r&b. I was a music major in college, so I have a great knowledge of theory, although there seemed to be a disconnect between my theory knowledge and my piano playing, until about 4 yrs ago.

I don't read music well, but I do read. I can play from a lead sheet. I play mostly by ear, having a good understanding of progressions and movements. I'm learning, after deciding to tackle jazz, that my theory is quite rusty (I recently revisited chord substitutions using secondary dominants). It IS starting to quickly come back, though.

Okay enough about my background. My goal is to 1) Simply be a better pianist/keyboardist. 2)Be a better pianist/keyboardist.

Recently I've starting working on basic blues and stride. I've started trying to learn different scales to help with improvisation (blues, modal scales, diminished, etc.). I've started learning different chord progressions as well as working on some of the old standards. I know I'm probably doing too much right now, but I really do think I'm learning. I try to work on something old AND new everyday.

Does anyone have any input that might aid my jazz education or speed up the process (I'm not discounting practice time).

Pick a small number of tunes, around 10, and memorize them. Study recordings of people playing them. "Take off' and licks or ideas you find appealing. Do you hear any chords that are different from the version you initially learned?

[marksaysay]

Originally Posted by guitarjazz

Pick a small number of tunes, around 10, and memorize them. Study recordings of people playing them. "Take off' and licks or ideas you find appealing. Do you hear any chords that are different from the version you initially learned?

Thanks. I had actually started doing something like this. I've got a list of standards I plan on working through. I just started analyzing "Alone Together" to get a good grasp of the chord structure and progressions. It's interesting how the progressions move. I think that will help me tremendously!

The idea about listening to different versions was a good one as well and something I had also already started doing.

Maybe I'm off to a good start...

[engelbach]

Welcome, Mark.

Learn by playing tunes. I agree with guitarjazz on this.

Don't try to reinvent things. Learn standard shell voicings. Then later, rootless voicings.

You don't need modes. The major scale; the natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales; and the diminished scale give all you'll need to build a foundation.

Listen to what people are playing. Look at transcriptions of their work.

The theory gives you the body of knowledge that's been adopted up to now by jazz musicians. Your ears tell you what sounds right.

Buena suerte.

Cheers,
Jer

[Tatsu]

Another idea is the Jamie Aebersold series of instructional materials.

[marksaysay]

I just wanted to thank those of you who gave me input. It has been very helpful in pointing me in the right direction. I know there is gonna be a lot to try to tackle but, as they say, Rome was built in a day!

I am very excited about the ensuing journey into the world of jazz....

[marksaysay]

Since my first post, I believe I've learned a lot. The suggestions received here were great. I, also, have found several other resources to help. So exactly where am I?

I've developed a list of some of the easier jazz standards to work through. I am currently working through my 4th piece (Body & Soul) having Georgia on My Mind, Satin Doll, and Misty under my belt.

I am playing all of these song, I'm quite sure at an intermediate level at best but the process of learning these songs consists of a progression of exercises that begins with playing the root to each chord, 1st and 2nd tone of the chord scales, 1, 2, & 3, 1 - 5, etc. After going through that process, only then do I work on the melody, etc. It has helped greatly!

I also try to take some time playing some old songs, looking for ways to use any new knowledge gained. I dont spend much time doing this though, but I do it. I also spend a few minutes daily working on my improv by playing a simple 16 bar blues progression and soloing.

I seem to be improving pretty quickly with a long ways still to go but I'm loving the journey so far....

[marksaysay]

Since my first post, I believe I've learned a lot. The suggestions received here were great. I, also, have found several other resources to help. So exactly where am I?

I've developed a list of some of the easier jazz standards to work through. I am currently working through my 4th piece (Body & Soul) having Georgia on My Mind, Satin Doll, and Misty under my belt.

I am playing all of these song, I'm quite sure at an intermediate level at best but the process of learning these songs consists of a progression of exercises that begins with playing the root to each chord, 1st and 2nd tone of the chord scales, 1, 2, & 3, 1 - 5, etc. After going through that process, only then do I work on the melody, etc. It has helped greatly!

I also try to take some time playing some old songs, looking for ways to use any new knowledge gained. I dont spend much time doing this though, but I do it. I also spend a few minutes daily working on my improv by playing a simple 16 bar blues progression and soloing.

I'm on getting better pretty quickly with a long ways still to go but I'm loving the trip...

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by marksaysay

Since my first post, I believe I've learned a lot. The suggestions received here were great. I, also, have found several other resources to help. So exactly where am I?

I've developed a list of some of the easier jazz standards to work through. I am currently working through my 4th piece (Body & Soul) having Georgia on My Mind, Satin Doll, and Misty under my belt.

I am playing all of these song, I'm quite sure at an intermediate level at best but the process of learning these songs consists of a progression of exercises that begins with playing the root to each chord, 1st and 2nd tone of the chord scales, 1, 2, & 3, 1 - 5, etc. After going through that process, only then do I work on the melody, etc. It has helped greatly!

I also try to take some time playing some old songs, looking for ways to use any new knowledge gained. I dont spend much time doing this though, but I do it. I also spend a few minutes daily working on my improv by playing a simple 16 bar blues progression and soloing.

I'm on getting better pretty quickly with a long ways still to go but I'm loving the trip...

Good luck!

[RevWrona]

Along with what every else has said, I would suggest find a couple of other musicians to play with. Practicing does a lot but playing with other musicians really helps as well.