Practicing voice leading? on LearnJazzPiano.com

Jazz Piano Book Reviews • Piano Teacher Search • Jazz Piano Links • Jazz Piano Lessons

Practicing voice leading?

how do you practice voice leading? i'm basically always playing the chords in two or three different ways, so it pretty much sound the same all the time. it's always rootless left hand voicings, or spread voicings of that kind, i know some upper structures too. i want to improvise with my comping too, and be able to make some nice lines with chords, but i don't know how to approach the practice for this. i also want to know how to incorporate fourth voicings in non-modal tunes, and how to practice adding notes in the left hand, like 3rd or 7th. i just don't know where to start.

by hej on 09/27/2007, 15:26

There are 12 comments, leave a comment.

there's a good book by luke gillespie called stylistic ii/v7/i voicings for keyboardists, which has some great examples of voice leading in the later chapters. masses of examples, only in one key though, so you'll have to do plenty of transposing!

LJP Like

by Jez on 09/28/2007, 06:59

yes i've read about that book before, i think i will buy it actually. still, i would like some kind of advice, because it just puzzles me, seeing all these other pianists in my own age who can actually comp with such variety, and have that modern sound that i really crave for.

LJP Like

by hej on 09/28/2007, 07:25

yeah get some books on it there are loads, i think its good that you want to broaden out its good to be able to play all styles. can't think of anything at the moment but will have a think.

LJP Like

by jazz jasper on 09/28/2007, 08:03

+1 on luke's book. it's the best collection of voicings i have seen.

LJP Like

by Jazz+ on 09/28/2007, 20:28

LJP Like

by albetan on 09/30/2007, 08:15

mark levines great book, jazz piano, would help. in the chapters on fourth chords and so what voicings he suggests ways of using the chords to voice melodies. he also brings it all together later on where he shows how to use fourth voicings, upper structure etc on an arrangement - and how smooth voice leading can arise from using these different voicings.

i play around with fourth voicings in non-modal tunes all the time - i just look at the chord and change the maj third intervals into fourth intervals - trial and error. i find much scope for fourth voicings in moon river.

cheers

bro'

LJP Like

by Brotherdavies on 10/01/2007, 05:30

well, if we put it this way; when you comp behind a soloist, do you just play your voicings like you know them, or do you move the voicings around, adding and taking away notes all by ear at the spur of the moment? this is what i want to achieve.

LJP Like

by hej on 10/01/2007, 09:06

"

yes

LJP Like

by 7 on 10/01/2007, 21:53

yes +1

LJP Like

by smg on 10/16/2007, 16:50

Reply to Thread

Please sign in to post.

Jazz Piano Notebook Series

Scot Ranney's Jazz Piano Notebook, Volume 1 - jazz piano tricks of the trade

Volume 1 of this educational jazz piano book contains 15 jazz piano exercises, tricks, and other interesting jazz piano techniques, voicings, grooves, and ideas Scot Ranney enjoys playing.

buy pdf version - buy coil binding version - videos

Scot Ranney's Jazz Piano Notebook, Volume 2 - jazz piano tricks of the trade you can use today

"Latinesque"

Volume 2 has 14 jazz piano exercises and tricks of the trade, and quite a bit of it is Calypso jazz piano related material, including some Monty Alexander and Michel Camilo style grooves. Jazz piano education is through the ears, but books like this can help.

buy pdf version - buy coil binding version

Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Notebook - jazz piano tricks of the trade

Volume 3 contains 12 jazz piano exercises and explorations by the acclaimed jazz piano educator, pianist, author, and recording artist Tim Richards.

Tim wrote the well known "Exploring Jazz Piano" and "Improvising Blues Piano" books and has several others to his name.

buy pdf version - buy coil binding version

Jeff Brent's Jazz Piano Notebook - jazz piano tricks of the trade

Volume 4 is by Jeff Brent, a jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and author of "Modalogy" and other acclaimed jazz theory and education books. In this book Jeff shares detailed analysis of transcriptions of live performances. He covers everything from the shape of the songs to the tricks and licks he uses in improvised lines to the ideas behind his lush chord voicings.

buy pdf version - buy coil binding version