LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Funk Keyboards - The Complete Method
Scot -- 10/12/2004, 00:28:15 -- #7941
If you want to expand your jazz playing into the realm of Herbie Hancock, Chic Corea, David Benoit... this book could be what you are looking for.

Note: This book is for beginning-early intermediate players.

"Explore the chords, rhythms, and techniques used by the greatest funk keyboardists! Subjects covered include: common chords and progressions; classic funk rhythms, licks and patterns; synth bass & multiple keyboard playing; and pitch wheel and modulation. The accompanying CD includes 81 full-band tracks."

vinebuild -- 10/18/2005, 11:53:51 -- #20037
Hi there,
I've been playing the piano for many years now, but it's only recently that I've started to get into jazz. It's a whole new way of playing and thinking in music, so I need to get my hands on some good books. However, I do not read sheet music, and it's too late in my playing to start now. Also, I prefer playing by ear, so what I want to know is: Are there any instructional books that can help me? Ones that don't require sight reading? I've tried reading some books, but all the examples are on sheet music so I can't make sense of it. I need illustrated examples with the chords and notes, instead od sheet music. Are there any books that can help me??

Samuel

Gordon -- 10/18/2005, 15:09:33 -- #20041
Hi Vinebuild,
It would take very little learning to be able to know what an instructional book is trying to convey by their notation - Examples often come in the form of a chord and just a melody line in notation. I think the main difficulty in learning sheet music is to be able to play it up to speed - but just to know what notes they are indicating is relatively trivial.

The other thing you could do would be to get one of the many books that is accompanied with a CD - or some books (eg Mark Harrison's Pop Piano book) can be bought with the examples in midi format - so you can see the notes via appropriate software on your computer - (eg VanBasco's free midi player)

vinebuild -- 10/18/2005, 11:53:51 -- #20037
Hi there,
I've been playing the piano for many years now, but it's only recently that I've started to get into jazz. It's a whole new way of playing and thinking in music, so I need to get my hands on some good books. However, I do not read sheet music, and it's too late in my playing to start now. Also, I prefer playing by ear, so what I want to know is: Are there any instructional books that can help me? Ones that don't require sight reading? I've tried reading some books, but all the examples are on sheet music so I can't make sense of it. I need illustrated examples with the chords and notes, instead od sheet music. Are there any books that can help me??

Samuel

Gordon -- 10/18/2005, 15:09:33 -- #20041
Hi Vinebuild,
It would take very little learning to be able to know what an instructional book is trying to convey by their notation - Examples often come in the form of a chord and just a melody line in notation. I think the main difficulty in learning sheet music is to be able to play it up to speed - but just to know what notes they are indicating is relatively trivial.

The other thing you could do would be to get one of the many books that is accompanied with a CD - or some books (eg Mark Harrison's Pop Piano book) can be bought with the examples in midi format - so you can see the notes via appropriate software on your computer - (eg VanBasco's free midi player)

vinebuild -- 10/18/2005, 11:53:51 -- #20037
Hi there,
I've been playing the piano for many years now, but it's only recently that I've started to get into jazz. It's a whole new way of playing and thinking in music, so I need to get my hands on some good books. However, I do not read sheet music, and it's too late in my playing to start now. Also, I prefer playing by ear, so what I want to know is: Are there any instructional books that can help me? Ones that don't require sight reading? I've tried reading some books, but all the examples are on sheet music so I can't make sense of it. I need illustrated examples with the chords and notes, instead od sheet music. Are there any books that can help me??

Samuel

Gordon -- 10/18/2005, 15:09:33 -- #20041
Hi Vinebuild,
It would take very little learning to be able to know what an instructional book is trying to convey by their notation - Examples often come in the form of a chord and just a melody line in notation. I think the main difficulty in learning sheet music is to be able to play it up to speed - but just to know what notes they are indicating is relatively trivial.

The other thing you could do would be to get one of the many books that is accompanied with a CD - or some books (eg Mark Harrison's Pop Piano book) can be bought with the examples in midi format - so you can see the notes via appropriate software on your computer - (eg VanBasco's free midi player)

kensuguro -- 09/09/2006, 08:50:33 -- #7941
so is there an actual review for this?

kensuguro -- 01/28/2007, 19:48:40 -- #7941
Got the book..  it's quite funky, and has lots of signature phrases and also progressions.  I think it's a good place to start.

The downside is that the CD it comes with shows you the example well, but nothing you can really practice to (as opposed to Aebersold cds)

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