Steve Nixon
With a career spanning global tours and collaborations with legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, Steve Nixon is more than just a Berklee-trained pianist. He’s a bridge-builder for the next generation of musicians. As the founder of Freejazzlessons.com, Steve turns his performance experience into accessible education, reaching over 70,000 students each month. He’s on a mission to keep the soul of jazz and blues alive in a world where music budgets are shrinking. Read Steve's full bio here.
Jazz Theory Cheat Sheet: The ii V I In All 12 Keys
As you continue to develop your jazz theory skills you’re going to want to make it a goal of being able to instantly play a ii-V-I chord progression in all 12 keys. Since you’ll hear the ii V I chord progression in so many great jazz tunes it’s vitally important that you learn how to play it quickly. It’s…
Jazz Theory Basics: The Secrets Behind The ii-V-I
Do you want to learn more about jazz theory? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s video lesson you’re going to learn how to build your jazz theory skills and you’re also going to learn about the #1 jazz chord progression. This lesson will open many doors for your music. Lets get started! Learn Jazz…
Learn Piano From Grammy Nominated Piano Player Matt Slocum
One of the best ways to learn jazz piano is to sit down and talk with master jazz musicians. Over the years, I’ve made some great friends while touring and met some incredible talent. I’ve learned so much from these musicians through late night jamming, hanging out, and just getting a chance to pick their…
Piano Rhythm – 3 Strategies To Improve Your Rhythm Today
Want to improve your piano rhythm? Well, one of the cool things about learning jazz piano is there are so many different things you can practice that will help you improve your piano rhythm skills. Jazz is a very deep art form and there’s always something new and fun to explore. For example, you can spend time learning…
The Christmas Jazz Piano Super System Is HERE!!
Hey jazz piano and christmas piano fans! The Christmas Jazz Piano Super System is now LIVE and available today! You can get access to the course right here. https://www.freejazzlessons.com/christmas As a reminder, I am including some very special and limited bonuses exclusive to launch week. Plus, I’m also including FREE shipping to anywhere in the world for…
How To Play Christmas Songs On The Piano Using Jazz Arrangements
We have finally opened the doors again on the “Christmas Jazz Piano Super System“. To celebrate the relaunch of the 2 DVD set, I wanted to share an exclusive sample video right from the actual course (below). I’ve also gotten a TON of emails about the course so I’m also going to answer some of the most…
Free Christmas Piano Tutorial: The First Noel
Do you love playing Christmas piano music? Then, you’ve come to the right place! I’m excited to announce that we’ve finally opening the doors again on “The Christmas Jazz Piano Super System!” In honor of this special occasion, I want to share a free Christmas piano tutorial today. In this video lesson I’m going to teach…
Major Chords – How To Play Sweeter Sounding Chords
Want to learn some beautiful ways of playing major chords? You’ve come to the right place. As many fans of this site already know I’ll be releasing my brand new “Christmas Jazz Piano Super System” 2 DVD set on Monday November 3rd. Since I made the announcement, I’ve received a TON of emails asking questions…
Learn 5 Amazing Jazz Piano Voicings Using 1 Simple Shape
Are you looking for some new jazz piano voicings? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s free jazz piano tutorial I’m going to show you 1 simple voicing shape that you can use over 5 different chord types. It’s an extremely powerful voicing You’ll be able to use the voicing over 99% of jazz…
What’s The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned Studying Jazz?
One of my favorite parts of studying jazz at Berklee was that there were lots of great musicians around me to learn from and share ideas with. The sense of community was very helpful! We had so many like minded people working together on a common goal to become better jazz musicians! This created an incredible environment…
Learn Summertime: Easy Jazz Piano Tutorial
If you want to learn how to play jazz piano well it’s incredibly important that you invest some time into learning jazz standards. To help you get started building your repertoire I’m going to teach you how to play one of the most requested jazz standards of all time…George Gershwin’s Summertime. If you love the sound of George Gershwin’s…
Learn These Great Jazz Piano Voicings (Free Sheet Music And Video)
In today’s tutorial we’re going to explore some great sounding dominant jazz piano voicings. Many beginner jazz piano players will play the same chord voicing every time they see a dominant chord in a lead sheet or a fake book. This isn’t horrible per say but if you keep playing the same voicing over and over your playing…
Block Chords Video- How To Play Over A Real Jazz Standard
Do you want to learn how to play block chords over a real jazz tune? Then, this lesson is for you! Block chords are a really cool chord voicing technique that you can use to harmonize your songs. They’re very fun to play, sound great, and pretty easy to learn too. The true value of learning…
Free Block Chord Piano Lesson
Do you want to learn more about block chords? Are you looking for an easy jazz piano lesson on the locked hand chord style? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s lesson we’re going to take a look at a style of block chords made famous by George Shearing and Ahmad Jamal (video tutorial,…
Straight No Chaser Jazz Piano Tutorial (Thelonious Monk Lesson)
If you love the sound of Thelonious Monk’s music than you’ll have a tun of fun with this sample jazz piano tutorial. In today’s lesson we’re going to learn the famous Monk tune Straight No Chaser. Straight No Chaser is a jazz blues tune written in the year 1951. It’s become one of the most famous jazz…
Jacob Collier: How This Youtube Jazz Sensation Creates Music
Want to learn from Jacob Collier? You’ve come to the right place. As many of the regular readers of this site already know, I love jazz arranging! As jazz pianists, it’s important that you learn how to take a basic lead sheet of a song (just jazz piano chords and melody) and bring it to life. It’s literally…
Top 10 Piano Practice Tools That I Use That I Can’t Live Without
A lot of people ask me what pieces of gear and tools I use to help me practice piano. I’m very much a 21st century jazz pianist. So, I use a lot of technology to help me improve as a musician. Mixing in technology with my regular mix of self discipline, commitment, and the psychology…
Jazz Piano Chord Substitutions Lesson
In this jazz piano tutorial we’re going to learn a cool technique that you can use to decorate chords that are held for long periods of time. If you’re just getting started learning check out this guide: How To Play Jazz Piano – The Ultimate 5 Step Beginners Guide. This technique will work particularly well…
2 Ear Training Exercises – Hear Chord Progressions More Easily
This lesson is the first in a series which presents a method for learning tunes while also developing your ear. The tune “Autumn Leaves” is used as an example. I first learned this ear training method in a masterclass taught by the great alto saxophonist, Phil Woods. Phil sat down at the piano and played…
Jazz Piano Practice Strategy Guide Part 1
If you’re reading this lesson there’s no question that you have a love, a passion, and a commitment to learning jazz piano. You and I have a lot in common in that way! Part of my job, as an online jazz piano teacher, is to help keep you motivated and focused on your musical goals. Now, I…
Jazz Patterns – John Coltrane Style 101
Are you having problems playing jazz patterns, scales, or longer lines at fast tempos? Is your improvisation grinding to a screeching halt when you play over complex chord progressions? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Today I’m going to try and fix that for you. I’m going to teach you how to play some very effective and…
Premium Jazz Lessons Reviews And Testimonials
The reviews are in for The Premium Jazz Lessons Elite Membership Course. I am completely humbled and incredibly honored that so many people wrote to me and shared their thoughts and feelings on the course. The cool part is these are just a small sample of the reviews! There are hundreds more of them when…
Steely Dan Chords Tutorial: Learn How To Play The Intro To Peg
Have you ever felt bored while listening to a 3 chord pop song? Do you find the chord change bland or repetitive? If you answered yes to any of these questions you’re not alone. Many educated and studied musicians have trouble relating to pop songs because of their lack of harmonic and melodic sophistication. Lets…
Jazz Piano Voicings Video Tutorial – 4 Extremely Useful Chords
If you want to learn jazz piano voicings this will be a great starter lesson for you. By increasing your understanding of jazz piano harmony, chord progressions, jazz piano voicings, and chord voicings as an overall whole you’ll open up an incredible world of self expression. Creative Jazz Piano Is Like Creative Cooking Sometimes I…
Herbie Hancock Chords – Free Video Tutorial
Would you like to learn some Herbie Hancock chords? Do you love the incredible artistry and soul of Herbie Hancock’s music? Well, to celebrate the launch of my new Premium Membership course I created a special free Herbie Hancock lesson for you. I am truly humbled by the love and support I’ve received and continue to…