Anyone can learn piano songs for jazz, especially if you take the time to really listen, appreciate, and dissect the characteristics of this upbeat style of music. Some would think it's a really hard style to master, and they could be right. However, jazz can also be considered the most expressive, emotional, and customizable style you can play on the piano.
The beauty of jazz songs translates even more in the ability of pianists to change their speed and style. This leaves plenty of room for jazz pianists to experiment and improvise on the same song, later creating a totally new yet familiar sound.
If you've been playing the piano for a while now, you may have always wanted to learn piano songs for jazz but were just too intimidated by it. You're definitely not alone. You should know, however, that once you start familiarizing yourself with common jazz melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, you'll have so much fun playing it.
Here are some piano-playing tips and tricks which you'll need to become a really good jazz musician:
1. Utilize your hearing. Jazz pianists rely heavily on their sense of hearing. As you start off and learn piano songs for jazz, it could all be about mastering standard dotted notes and chord progressions. But as time goes on, you need to have sharp listening skills to improve and create even more beautiful music.
Developing an ear for jazz isn't as complicated as you might imagine. Start by exposing yourself to jazz music and listening to the many jazz piano greats that have produced countless of moving masterpieces. Take a load of both contemporary and legendary jazz pianists so you can appreciate, compare, and even hone on their individual styles. As you discover the artists and songs that appeal more to you, you can take note of their commonalities and maybe even infuse them in your own style of playing as you progress.
2. Familiarize yourself with common jazz rhythms and harmonic structures. Jazz music certainly uses a lot of eighth notes, dotted notes, and seventh chords to give it flavor and a rather distinctive quality. Now, depending on where in the piece you often use them and how fast or slow you go, you can end up with a rock feel, a blues feel, or a swing feel. Getting familiar with these characteristics will definitely help you learn piano songs fast.
3. Master the 12 major scales. Reading sheet music may appear boring to some, but it is essential in playing piano well. Knowing basic piano theories, scales, and chord progressions will make learning to play jazz piano really effortless.
4. Consider signing up for a short jazz piano course to learn piano songs. More often than not, learning can be a lot faster if you have the right teacher. If you don't have the luxury of attending prestigious music schools, a quick jazz piano tutorial or online piano course ought to do the trick.
5. Experiment. Don't hesitate to add a little of your own style to the music you make. After all, that's what jazz is really about - spontaneous, passionate self-expression and rhythmic music that's inviting to other listeners as well.
There's certainly more to mastering jazz, but with these 5 quick tips in mind, you'll find it much easier to learn piano songs and even have fun doing it.
The beauty of jazz songs translates even more in the ability of pianists to change their speed and style. This leaves plenty of room for jazz pianists to experiment and improvise on the same song, later creating a totally new yet familiar sound.
If you've been playing the piano for a while now, you may have always wanted to learn piano songs for jazz but were just too intimidated by it. You're definitely not alone. You should know, however, that once you start familiarizing yourself with common jazz melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, you'll have so much fun playing it.
Here are some piano-playing tips and tricks which you'll need to become a really good jazz musician:
1. Utilize your hearing. Jazz pianists rely heavily on their sense of hearing. As you start off and learn piano songs for jazz, it could all be about mastering standard dotted notes and chord progressions. But as time goes on, you need to have sharp listening skills to improve and create even more beautiful music.
Developing an ear for jazz isn't as complicated as you might imagine. Start by exposing yourself to jazz music and listening to the many jazz piano greats that have produced countless of moving masterpieces. Take a load of both contemporary and legendary jazz pianists so you can appreciate, compare, and even hone on their individual styles. As you discover the artists and songs that appeal more to you, you can take note of their commonalities and maybe even infuse them in your own style of playing as you progress.
2. Familiarize yourself with common jazz rhythms and harmonic structures. Jazz music certainly uses a lot of eighth notes, dotted notes, and seventh chords to give it flavor and a rather distinctive quality. Now, depending on where in the piece you often use them and how fast or slow you go, you can end up with a rock feel, a blues feel, or a swing feel. Getting familiar with these characteristics will definitely help you learn piano songs fast.
3. Master the 12 major scales. Reading sheet music may appear boring to some, but it is essential in playing piano well. Knowing basic piano theories, scales, and chord progressions will make learning to play jazz piano really effortless.
4. Consider signing up for a short jazz piano course to learn piano songs. More often than not, learning can be a lot faster if you have the right teacher. If you don't have the luxury of attending prestigious music schools, a quick jazz piano tutorial or online piano course ought to do the trick.
5. Experiment. Don't hesitate to add a little of your own style to the music you make. After all, that's what jazz is really about - spontaneous, passionate self-expression and rhythmic music that's inviting to other listeners as well.
There's certainly more to mastering jazz, but with these 5 quick tips in mind, you'll find it much easier to learn piano songs and even have fun doing it.
