Monk's Technique
when he does a run up the keys he uses his left index finger to jab at some of the notes and help out his right hand. is anyone else familiar with this technique or is it strictly a "monkism"?
There are 7 comments, leave a comment.
first off, it's not specifically a monk technique.
i've seen a lot of performers do this, and it occurs in one section of eubie blake's monumental "charleston rag" (written in 1899, long before monk was even born).
it can be used to ease a difficult fingering, for example try running up three octaves on a c minor pentatonic blues scale ( c eb f f# g bb ) with a triplet feel, using the third finger of the lh on the white notes and the third finger of the rh on the black notes.
not that that's any more efficient than doing it the normal way, but it sure is a lot showier.
other times when i'm in the middle of a solo and don't feel like comping chords in the lh, i'll poke my lh finger into the rh lines just to give some extra rhythmic groove.
and sometimes i'll just pretend like i'm throwing in notes with my lh while soloing in the right, waving my lh around as if i'm actually playing (am i giving away too many trade secrets here?)
it's a show biz trick mostly, more for the eyes than for the ears.
thanks 7 for some background and explanation of this interesting
phenomenon.
source: wikipedia.org
the method of procedure or way of using basic skills, in rendering an artistic work or carrying out a scientific or mechanical operation.
source: webster's new world dictionary, third college edition
but it does work well...and maybe i should practice it more..
the only monk technique i want to master is the one where he stands up and starts dancing around while the band still plays :) i must work that one in at the next church recital ;)
Jazz Piano Notebook Series
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Most Recent Discussions
Articles
Piano for Adoption Scam
Aprender Jazz en Piano
BEWARE: FREE BABY GRAND PIANO SCAM
Oh Tannenbaum for Jazz Piano
Volume 5 of the "Jazz Piano Notebook Series" is Available!
LearnJazzPiano.com File Downloads News
more...
Top Sheetmusic Picks
Jazzy Christmas Arrangements
Cocktail Piano
Best Songs Ever, 6th Edition
Christmas Medley
Moana Songbook
Late Night Jazz Piano
Jazz piano education is cool.
Rock on. Follow your passion.
Sign In
LearnJazzPiano.com Copyright © 1995-2024 by Scot Ranney • website software and design by scot's scripts
LearnJazzPiano.com is For Sale - Serious Inquiries Only