Improvisation Archives - Page 2 of 2 | FreeJazzLessons.com

Jazz Piano Improvisation: Build Great Licks

Do you wish you were better at jazz piano improvisation? Do you wish you could improvise over major 7th chords better than you do now? Do you find yourself lost when major 7th chords come up in your favorite jazz and rock songs? Well, in today’s lesson we’re going to explore some new licks and…

Jazz Masters Method Special Video Blog Thank You

Hey everybody! Today’s post is going to be short but sweet. I’m truly humbled right now. I’d like to thank everybody who’s ordered the Jazz Masters Method DVD so far during this launch week. The response has been simply been AMAZING. I am truly blessed! Thank you!! I prepared a quick little video blog as I…

Chet Baker Jazz Improvisation Lesson

In today’s jazz lick lesson we’re going to learn a very simple but cool Chet Baker lick. You guys are going to love this one. Chet’s minimalist jazz improvisation style may be basic, but it’s full of tons of great jazz vocabulary, articulation, swing feel, and soul. Plus, he was an awesome singer too. I know…

Clifford Brown Jazz Improvisation Lesson

I always tell my jazz students if they really want to learn jazz improvisation and master the bebop language then they need to go directly to the source. They need to learn from people like Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Bud Powell, and Sonny Stitt. So, in today’s jazz improvisation lesson we’re going to do just that!…

How To Add The Major Bebop Scale To Your Playing

Have you ever heard of the bebop scale? Do you wish knew more ways to bridge the gap between the scales you know and what real jazz musicians actually use in their jazz solos? One of the best ways to go about doing this is to learn the method behind the major bebop scale. When used…

7 Tips To Help You Play Better At Fast Tempos

Do you have trouble playing well at faster tempos? Do you feel like you just can’t execute your ideas as clearly as you’d like? Do you sound good at slower tempos but the second the tempo starts getting up there your jazz improvisation starts to suffer? If you answered yes, (which most musicians probably will) there…

2 Famous ii V I Licks Starting On The 3rd

In today’s free ii V I licks lesson we’re going to explore a couple of very famous licks from legends Joe Pass and Harold Land. If you want awesome ii V I licks these guys are some of the best to learn from! This is the 3rd article in our series “How To Play Great Jazz…

How To Play Great Jazz Piano Licks Starting On Any Note

Parts in this series: #1: Starts on the root of a minor chord. #2: Starts on the 9th of a minor chord. #3: Starts on the 3rd of a minor chord. (Featuring licks from Joe Pass and Harold Land). #4: This one stars on the 11th (also known as the 4th) #5: Starting on the…

Jazz Minor Scale Formulas And How To Solo With Them

In today’s jazz lesson you’re going to learn how to quickly add jazz minor scale techniques and modes into your playing. Whether you’re playing in a jazz rock band, a bebop band, a latin jazz band, or another jazz style, this jazz minor scale tutorial will be useful. I think you’ll enjoy this particular jazz…

3 Of The Most Useful Scales To Play Over Major Chords

When most players first start jamming over major chords they’ll usually turn to licks and ideas built from the major scale. This can create a nice inside sound but often times the lines can get predictable and somewhat boring. We don’t want to be boring and predictable right? 🙂 Fortunately, there is a solution to…

Jazz Scales Piano – How To Actually Use & Apply Them

Do you want to learn more about jazz scales? Congratulations, you’ve come to the right place. This jazz scales article and many others on this site will help you! Musicians love scales. We really do! They sit nicely on our instruments, they are easy to play over changes, and many of us have been playing them…

Bill Evans Jazz Lick Lesson and Video

Here’s a free Bill Evans lick lesson and tutorial video. Bill was a harmonic genius and one of the truly great jazz musicians. This Bill Evans lick is just so beautiful sounding I had to share it with you all! (After you check out this lick you will want to check out this additional Bill…

Great Red Garland Solo – Jazz Transcription

For today’s free jazz lesson we’re going to take a look at a jazz transcription of Red Garland’s famous solo on the jazz standard What is This Thing Called Love. This is one of the first jazz solos I ever transcribed and when I studied Red’s solo it paid off big time! So, let’s take…

Shell Voicings Lesson – Super Simple Yet Powerful Jazz Chords

Have you ever wondered what shell voicings are? Do you ever wonder what chords people like Bud Powell, Barry Harris, and Al Haig play in their left hand when they’re soloing in their right hand? Well, most of the time they are using a particular type of chord voicing known as shell voicings. Shell voicings are super…

Bebop Piano Lick Lesson II – V(alt) – I

Here’s a new II – V- I bebop lick instructional video I just shot. This particular lick is one of my favorites because it uses alot of the classic building blocks of bebop. I’ll list some of the more “theoretical” elements of lick that make it bebop. (video below) 1. chromaticism with mostly chord…

Jazz Comping Chords – How To Play Two Handed Comping Chords (Rootless)

When I was first learning jazz I searched for a long time trying to find a good book or a method to learn how to comp in a jazz rhythm section. Sadly, there isn’t a ton of information out there on this subject. How To Comp It’s vitally important for everybody to learn how to…

Wes Montgomery’s solo on Satin Doll

Here‘s a Wes Montgomery solo I transcribed about a year ago on the jazz standard “Satin Doll”. (scroll down for the solo.) There’s all kinds of great jazz licks in this one. I could write a 10 page essay on everything that I like about this solo but I’ll just mention 4 things here: 4 Wes…

How To Solo Over the Jazz Standard All The Things You Are.

Would you like to be able longer jazz licks? Do you feel like your licks sometimes sound like run on sentences? How do you play those beautiful and long flowing lines that a lot of the great jazz masters play? You know the ones that always sound good no matter how long they go? Your Jazz…

Turnaround Lick Lesson

Need a cool lick to play over a jazz turnaround? Great! Here’s a new jazz piano lesson video on playing a turnaround lick. I recommend you watch the video tutorial first and then scroll down for a bunch of extra tips and resources for you to learn jazz. The lesson features a lick in the key…

Swingin’ II- V- I lick lesson

Here’s a very cool bebop jazz lick over a II – V – I chord progression. I break this lick down to it’s core elements so you can master it and add to your own playing. There is some very nice bebop source material in there including arpeggiation minor line cliche approach patterns altered tones…

Barry Harris Jazz Piano Lick Lesson

Here’s a video lesson on how to play a Barry Harris Lick. He played this lick over the standard “Green Dolphin Street” Barry is one of the best bebop piano players in the world. He was a true disciple of Bud Powell and Charlie Parker. There’s several cool things about this lick but make sure…

ii – V- i Jazz Lick in Minor Lesson

Here’s a very fun bebop lick over a ii -V-i in a minor key. I teach you how to play every note on there and break it down for you. This lick is not just for jazz piano though. This lick will sound great on guitar, saxophone, and trumpet as well. If you are looking…