LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Poor stride abilities?

loveforJAZZ -- 01/12/2007, 11:54:41 -- #32347

I have noticed many well rounded jazz musicians playing songs that are too fast but they can still play stride at that very pace! Immediately after seeing these people, I knew I had to increase my stride abilities. So I had gone to the piano and tried doing the oom pah oom pah rhythym. But as I did, I sometimes missed notes that were supposed to be played. So I wondered. Is it just that I have poor concentration or does my left hand need to be memorized so I don't even bother have to look at my left hand? If you could give me any other helpful tips, please do so.

JHMurray -- 01/12/2007, 13:52:48 -- #32347

If you're missing notes, then as always, slow down. Stride doesnt have to always be upbeat. I first learned stride piano from hearing Monk's solo stuff. He played Round Midnight not as a ballad but as a nice slow stride. Also check out his version of Just A Gigolo. Concentrate on slow swing tunes for quite some time. Eventually you'll find yourself getting faster without even trying. I have noticed that the great stride players seldom play complex harmonies with the left hand. Often they just play a triad or a 3-7. Simplifing the chords will help you concentrate on hitting the right bass notes which is most critical. Have fun!

Scot -- 01/13/2007, 09:38:28 -- #32347

Yeah, slow down!  If you practice too fast so that you are practicing your mistakes, you'll never be a good player.  You have to practice really slow and make sure what you are practicing is 100% PERFECT before you'll be able to do it at speed. Once you have it slow, then go at speed.   I used to think that it was a good idea to gradually bring up the speed, but I don't think so anymore.  I think working it out really slowly, deliberately, so you know what notes you are playing and why you are playing them, is key.  After that you can play whatever you're working on at any speed, often without even trying.

loveforJAZZ -- 01/13/2007, 16:11:53 -- #32347

What bpm is the fastest you can play stride at with your left hand?

BlackWhiteKey -- 01/17/2007, 07:35:22 -- #32347

wait i have a question. does stride piano always have to have an octave on the downbeat? or can it just be a root?

ziggysane -- 01/17/2007, 09:23:00 -- #32347

Either. Sometimes it's a perfect fifth as well.  Or a tenth.  Or a tenth with a fifth in the middle.  Depends on hand size and how thick you want the voicing to sound.

Jazz+ -- 01/17/2007, 20:55:04 -- #32347

On beat one I prefer either a single note, or the two note interval of a root and 5th, root and 7th, octave, or root and 10th.

7 -- 01/19/2007, 23:18:59 -- #32347

Generally when I do tenths I fill them. Most often with 5's for majors or in the case of dominants the b7. With minors (if the progression warrants it) I sometimes like putting a natural sixth in the middle of the rooted tenth. It gives a bit of bite without being overly intrusive. And WHY do I prefer to fill my tenths? Simple, it make them easier to roll and reach. The index in the middle serves as a kind of "pivot" or "anchor". You might consider that sheer laziness, but it results in a thicker low harmony and I feel adds a dimension that can be achieved no other way (at least for dominants and minors). That being said, tenths needn't be used simply for Stride downbeats. They are also quite useful in mid-register as straight ahead comping chords when working with a bassist. They might not always contain as many upper extensions as the famed Evans' chords, but they can still create all kinds of cool jazz little lines weaving throughout the progression, if you choose nearby notes and common tones when expressing the progression. Examples over a ii-V-I in C major: F - F - G C - B - B D - D - E A - A - G C - B - B F - G - E C - B - B F - F - E A - G - G E - D - E A - A - B C - B - C This time with the tritone sub in the middle (ii-bII-I): F - Ab - G C - B -  B D - F -  E A - Ab - G C - Db - B F - F -  E C - B -  B F - F -  E A - Ab - G E - D -  E A - B -  B     Ab C - Db - C There are obviously many more possiblities than the above 8, and your choices will, of course, depend on the actual harmonies in a given tune and which positions both sound the best and are the most natural for your left hand. Kewl tricks, eh?

7 -- 01/19/2007, 23:20:51 -- #32347

The last two examples were supposed to be separated, thusly: C - B -  B F - F -  E A - Ab - G E - D -  E A - B -  B     Ab C - Db - C

7 -- 01/19/2007, 23:24:52 -- #32347

more corrections The last example should read: E - F -  E A - B -  B     Ab C - Db - C

Kai -- 01/20/2007, 01:40:15 -- #32347

Thanks to all and particularly 7 for that post that I'm currently printing.  I'm not a purist and I love 'thusly'. Hehehe, is it 'new' in which case it is sooooooooooo appropriate, or is it a word that is 'extant'. :-)

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