This Solo Jazz Piano Approach Will Make You Sound Great

In today’s post I’m delving into a topic close to my heart: solo jazz piano. Playing solo allows for unlimited freedom and creativity, which can be exciting and scary at the same time.

Have no fear though, because what I am about to share with you will show you how use the freedom that you have in a way that will make your solo jazz piano playing sound full, sophisticated and complete.

Elements Of A Solo Jazz Piano Performance

There are 3 important elements that are vital in any type of solo piano performance. These are:

• Melody
• Chords (Harmony)
• Bass

These three elements should always be present unless you are performing a stylistic element that requires 1 or more of the basic elements to be absent.

When we look at the 3 elements, a small issue arises. How are we going to play three elements simultaneously with only two hands? The answer is Role Assignment.

Role Assignment

Think of your fingers as 10 little workers that are controlled by your brain. Before approaching a solo jazz piano performance, we can assign one finger or a set of fingers to each different element of the performance. There are countless ways to do this, but the diagram below shows how I assign the elements to my different fingers, and it works every time!

Exceptions

In certain circumstances, roles may have to be reassigned, but this doesn’t last very long in a solo jazz piano performance. A few examples of these circumstances may be:

• Solo Break: Bass and chords will drop out, leaving the right hand to weave melodies together.

• Improvisation: Bass and left hand harmony say the same, but the right hand focuses on melodic lines.

• Fast Melodies/Melodies with big intervals: The right hand takes over the melody, and leaves the left hand to focus on bass and harmonies.

How To Practice Role Assignment

1. Pick A Standard You Know Well: Pick a standard that you play very well in whatever technique you’re currently using.
2. Focus On One Hand At A Time: Focus on the roles of your right hand first, playing the melody with the ring and pinky fingers and harmonies with your thumb, index and middle fingers. For pianists that have a hard time with finger independence, this is a great exercise for you. If you are interested in learning other exercises, click here.
3. Put It Together: Once you’ve gotten good at role assigning in each separate hand, you can start to put it together. Start SLOW, and make sure that your hands are working with each other and not against each other.

15 Easy Standards To Practice Solo Jazz Piano

1. Sammy Fain/Bob Hilliard-Alice In Wonderland
2. Vernon Duke/E.Y.Harburg-April In Paris
3. Joseph Kosma/Johnny Mercer/ Jacques Prevert-Autumn Leaves
4. Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II-All The Things You Are
5. Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart-The Blue Room
6. John Green/Edward Heyman/Robert Sour/Frank Eyton-Body And Soul
7. John “Dizzy” Gillespie-Con Alma
8. Jimmy Van Heusen/Eddie De Lange-Darn That Dream
9. Duke Ellington- In A Sentimental Mood
10. Bill Evans-Waltz For Debby
11. Thelonious Monk-‘Round Midnight
12. Miles Davis-All Blues
13. Duke Ellington-C Jam Blues
14. Antonio Carlos Jobim-Girl From Ipanema
15. Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke-Like Someone In Love

Conclusion

Solo jazz piano playing can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, allowing you to express yourself in unique and dynamic ways. Embrace the freedom it offers, but don’t forget that this freedom gives you responsibility.

You are responsible for how you chose to maintain the 3 elements of a solo piano performance, so make sure it is done well. Don’t forget to practice slowly, work on one hand at a time, and enjoy what you’re doing. With diligence and consistency, you’ll be role assigning on your own in no time!

With freedom comes responsibility.

Eleanor Roosevelt