Most Popular Lessons

Practicing today on sound possibilities in executing a line over C-7 F7 Bb Maj7. Focusing on variations with pedaling, dampening, deadstrokes, ghost notes, accents and stickings. The first example is fairly dry with no pedal. There are a lot of possibilities in executing a simple line like this. I'll sometimes take even a smaller phrase and work with it trying to get as many nuances and phrasing possibilities out of it. Note selection is important for sure, but sound is also very important and needs to be constantly looked at.

Here's an exercise I used to do. Play it fast, hard and loud. That's the key. Sounds a little like a Steve Reich piece. Build up speed, play each pattern longer, etc. etc. etc. Stamina.

Ticotism

In this etude I really move the chords around. Lots of passing stuff. I suspend the 1 chord a bit.

Also there's a surprise at the end. I change the harmony. Can you hear it? Do you know what it is? Who's the first to post what happens.