Most Popular Lessons

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 2: Syncopated Comping and Forward Motion

Part 2 builds on the foundation from Part 1 by introducing syncopated rhythms and offbeat chord placements. These variations are designed to create a natural sense of forward motion while keeping the 3/4 pulse grounded. The goal is to develop balance—maintaining a steady groove while adding rhythmic interest and contrast.

In this lesson you’ll:

Wildflower Study Pt. 4 

https://youtu.be/Jb4fpTZNhAM?si=NVpREMYzSG670rEV

https://youtu.be/fdzG2r9N3go?si=KsIHrPh7Puntfols

Minor Vamps Pt. 2 by Behn Gillece

Minor Vamps Pt. 3 by Behn Gillece

Rhythm Changes Harmonic Vocabulary – Part 3: Exploring Further Harmonic Detail

In this third installment of our rhythm changes harmonic vocabulary series, we continue to deepen our approach to both harmony and rhythm within the first A section. This lesson blends familiar elements with new twists, helping you refine your sense of phrasing while introducing a few sophisticated harmonic choices.

Rhythmic Overview

Check out the attached PDF!

Here's another dampening etude. We change keys here, Bb, another very common blues key. Some of these lines actually work great not just as bass lines, but solo lines! You can hear players like Hank Mobley occasionally playing these bass type lines.

🎵 Play A Great Rhythm Changes In 3 Months – Week 10

Over the past five weeks, we've gradually expanded our rhythm changes vocabulary.

We've explored:

• Guide-tone lines
• Embellished 3rds and 7ths
• Chromatic approaches
• Diminished and bebop scale language
• Chord-tone based improvisation

This week, we begin bringing many of those ideas together.

👉 Chord outlinings, scale motion, and substitute chord changes.

1. See attached file
2. You learn it. Better if you memorize it. Know each chord you are playing. I.E. if in the 3rd bar of the tune you see Eb G Bb and D, that is NOT and Ebmaj7 chord. It's a Cmin9 chord. Get it? Look at the changes if you need to.
3. You play it on the piano, using your left hand to play the bass notes for each chord. If the chords are in an open position and you can't play them with your right hand, then try taking the bottom note up an octave and if that doesn't work, try taking the top note down an octave. 
4. Write in all the chords.