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Shop > Jazz Piano Courses > Cocktail Piano Improvisation
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Cocktail Piano Improvisation

Learn how to play and improvise in the cocktail piano style. We cover chord voicings, chord progressions, and improvisation techniques for solo jazz piano.

$99.00
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Summary Information:

One-time purchase - learn at your own pace, with unlimited access to this course.

  • Difficulty: Beginner
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Cocktail Piano Improvisation

Cocktail Piano Improvisation

Learn how to play and improvise in the cocktail piano style. We cover chord voicings, chord progressions, and improvisation techniques for solo jazz piano.

$99.00
Buy Course

PianoGroove’s Cocktail Piano For Beginners Course is a step-by-step method for arranging and improvising over jazz standards in a cocktail piano style.

The first module explores harmony and how to internalise the chord changes and the different voicing options available to us. We explore 2 handed voicings, the stride left hand style, shell voicings, and 10th voicings.

The second module focuses on the art of improvisation. We start with chord tone drills and arpeggio exercises. We then introduce chord alterations and chromatic lines. Finally we explore modal scales, blues scales, and how to create and develop motifs and a narrative in our improvisations.

Course Introduction
1.

We explore the key of Eb Major including the diatonic 7th chords and the common chord progressions such as the 251 and 36251 progression.

2.

We arrange the A section of the tune "Misty" with 3-note spread voicings which contain the root, 3rd, 7th, and sometimes the 5th.

Cocktail Piano Voicing Techniques
1.

We introduce chord extensions into our voicings for the A Section of "Misty". Chord extensions include the 9th, 11th, and 13th.

2.

The stride left hand style drives forward the pulse of the tune and frees up our right hand for melodic embellishment and decoration.

3.

In this lesson we are going to identify the chords within the 1625 and 3625 where we have the freedom to change the chord qualities.

4.

We create a bigger and more powerful sounding arrangement by playing the right hand melody in octaves above a stride left hand style.

5.

We explore techniques to transition from the 2nd A section into the Bridge and voicing options for the B Section harmony.

6.

In this lesson we will learn how to embellish the turnaround sections with extensions, echoing, inner voices, USTs, arpeggios, & Sus chords.

Cocktail Piano Improvisation
1.

Chord tones are ideal 'landing places' to finish our improvised phrases and are useful 'resting points' to allow our improvisations to breath.

2.

We create diatonic & chromatic approach patterns to help us to visualise the 7th as a strong landing point when improvising.

3.

We explore how we can simply rearrange and rephrase the notes of the melody to create a structure and framework around which we improvise.

4.

We will combine arpeggios runs and arpeggio patterns with chord tones and approach patterns that we have explored in the previous lessons.

5.

We start with single alterations, then double alterations, then we will explore a versatile altered arpeggio run to use on dominant chords.

6.

In this lesson we create interesting colours and tensions in our improvisations by targeting isolating the individual chord alterations.

7.

We explore 2 chromatic lines that work beautifully over the 3625 progression. Apply this technique to any tune that you are working on.

8.

Learn how to get an authentic bluesy sound by using crushed notes, walk-ups, chromaticism, and New Orleans style licks and voicings.

9.

We learn techniques for creating melodies over the minor line cliché, and how to create melodic interest over a single static chord type.

Cocktail Piano Intros & Outros
1.

We take the diatonic 7th chords and change the chord qualities to dominant which allows us to access more interesting colours & textures.

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