3 Must-Know Jazz Piano Licks

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LESSON SUMMARY
Do you want to know what one of the biggest myths out there is when it comes to improvisation? As a young jazz student, I was taught that improvisation means “spontaneous composition.” Maybe you have heard a similar definition. This is really a distortion of the truth. In actual practice, improvised lines are not “spontaneously composed” as much as they are “spontaneously recalled.” This is a significant distinction, especially since jazz language parallels spoken language. Proficient speakers do not spontaneously create words or phrases when they speak-the create meaning by drawing from their vocabulary and experience. So if you want to be a great improviser, you really need to learn some jazz piano licks. That’s what this Quick Tip is all about! You’ll learn:
- The most essential jazz chord progression
- 4 chord shell voicings
- 3 essential jazz techniques
- 3 authentic jazz piano licks
Get your FREE 14-Day Trial to PWJ here: pianowithjonny.com/
Happy practicing!
Jonny May

[@dreanof]

Taking up the piano at age 72, had some music theory as a foundation and started with boogie woogie, prob more challenging than a beginner should tackle (hand independence - ugh!) These tutorials are just right and you get some playing gratification right from the start as continued motivation.

[@anthonyclegg1511]

Same here, same age has you, and playing boogie woogie and jazz. 💓🎹.

[@DK-fd3fi]

I am 15!

[@kristopherjensen2513]

Every time you play you look excited that you can play so well! Love the enthusiasm

[@j-kad7]

Best Jazz piano teacher I know. I love the way you clearly explain and demonstrate everything

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Gr8 lesson Johnny. Very clear tutorial in your free help writeup and accompanying videos. A masterpiece tutorial.

[@reinhardheiderich1879]

Thank you Jonny very nice ! Greetings from Reinhard /Germany...you are my best Teacher 👏

[@carolinebarley]

Love this guy. The more I watch and learn from jonny the more I feel all the theory but then at the same time it all goes away. The best is when I feel like suddenly it's all the same and there is no theory. I just run my fingers around and find the good sounds. There is no theory or meaning, I just feel what sounds good.

[@Yin7094]

amen. music is a language. you don't need to look at the dictionary to speak it. only to learn

[@lanchanoinguyen2914]

it would go away for sure.You can't analyze and playing at the same times.Only 20% of your brain is used for theory and 80% is the skill.The theory only come for forming chords but only practice can apply it into real performance!

[@toothpasteyeti3383]

@@lanchanoinguyen2914 why is sure.You a link💀

[@claricemouraopontes7291]

Good to hearing you, always..

[@benjaminarruyer3037]

Thumb up from France, all your video are very interesting and go straight to the point. Thank you very much !

[@vyoproject1963]

great great lesson, liked and subscribed!

[@thinginground5179]

These are absolutely legendary!

[@igrosem]

Nice licks! Thanks, Jonny 🤩🙏🏻

So cool. Thanks for sharing !

[@davidreidenberg9941]

Learning rootles voicings is an absolute must.

[@jbedoyah96]

This is amazing! Thank you

[@PhG1961]

Wonderfull ! Awesome ! Great way of explaining and performing !

[@BenBennett10]

Hi Philip! These are great lessons, aren't they?? I have a KZbin channel for beginner pianists, or those trying to learn how to play real songs without needing to read music or know theory. In just a couple of months, I have gained over 400 subscribers! I wondered if you would mind checking it out (click the logo to the left) and comment on a couple of my videos and let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate your help trying to get better! Hope to see you there! (I respond to ALL comments on my channel!) -Ben

[@sakshamsingh2305]

Beautiful lesson ❤️❤️❤️

[@tianxing7795]

Jonny, awesome tutorial as always! Can you make a tutorial about playing outside? Thx!

[@iberomagazine]

you are cool jonny, thanks, I'm learning with you !

[@symphonyoftheday5519]

Nice Jonny!!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Johnny. Great video. The G7 has the D# and E played against it. I look at these notes as super fast extensions of G7. The D# is a#5 and the E is a 13. Taken together they would clash but apart they make two very fast chords. G7#5 and G13. My .02. worth.

[@htaywin9983]

Thank you so much for your kind explanation.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

love playing lick #1.

[@thiagobraga7664]

Brasil here😁 thank for lessons

[@oscarlaredo5035]

Best explained tutorials ever!

[@ultimateperspective]

Love the enclosure technic 👍

[@royrosales81]

Really cool

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Thank you so much for your videos. I have .been off my guitar for awhile..concentrating mostly on jazz licks. btw..It is easier for me to make the complete 4 note chord in the left ✋. Have most of Donna Lee song down..the left ✋ chords are still a work in progress.

[@PianoNotion]

very cool!

[@Mind-BlownMoments]

Love it

[@josephn3496]

This is awesome!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Johnny..heard the Dominant G bebop descending scale and the A major blues scale. I use that often when soloing in C. The 1 6 2 5 and passing chords like C7b9 (C# E G Bb) are related to A7 ( A C# E G).

[@beedubs1327]

Good stuff. Will learn in every key ASAP. Hey that rhymes...

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Johnny excellent video. Working on video 1 of the must know licks Just about to start on video 2. Thank you for the good quality sheet music.

[@emailtour]

Wor impressive one❤️

[@streetrec6349]

thanks ........i love this clip

[@maloneycraig]

Lick2: Super useful as a newbie without a teacher to hear the diminished scale in context in a lick. Thanks! --- Now I gotta go do it in all 12 keys :)

[@petteroakley8000]

Lovely video content! Apologies for butting in, I am interested in your opinion. Have you heard about - Riddleagan Smart Hands Remedy (probably on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for learning piano fast minus the normal expense. Ive heard some decent things about it and my friend Sam at last got cool results with it.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Doing these in 12 keys will help quite a bit. Also try to do familiar songs..that makes it faster and easier to learn. I found it freeing to play in unfamiliar piano keys. After a while I started doing blues etc. in pretty much every key. I started playing guitar about 1968..on one string..started blues on the harmonica about 62..

[@jimalfieri280]

Thank you!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Very good Johnny. Was looking at the G Half Whole diminished scale. Thought I recognized it. I have been learning all 12 HW diminished scales. Recently, I noticed a helpful pattern. From the top think mixolydian descending G F E D then It departs to Db B Bb Ab G..Ascending it's (G Ab Bb B C# D E F G). it is very close to the G alt scale. Root b9 #9 3 #11 5 6 b7.

[@kkh445]

Hi, Jonny! Beautiful tutorial as usual. Maybe you could make a tutorial about playing outside? Regards. Your student from Russia.

[@user-kz9yc7cf2b]

สุดยอด nice

[@davidgerber9317]

Really good, solid bebop licks, clearly explained and then performed with REALLY good technique. Can't thank you enough!

[@rogerioesposito2170]

Useful ! Very useful again ! Thank you, master ! On practice...

[@raymondleclair8396]

Hi am I Z Hi p

[@BenBennett10]

Hello Rogerio! These are great lessons, aren't they?? I have a KZbin channel for beginner pianists, or those trying to learn how to play real songs without needing to read music or know theory. In just a couple of months, I have gained over 400 subscribers! I wondered if you would mind checking it out (click the logo to the left) and comment on a couple of my videos and let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate your help trying to get better! Hope to see you there! (I respond to ALL comments on my channel!) -Ben

[@user-dd6md6ur6e]

Nice job ❤

[@celsodormiro]

Show Brasil ✌🏾

[@trevonreal923]

Thank you

[@PRILIPAK61]

Hello Jonny, nice job. Please tell me, which piano synth and what sound exactly are you using. Tnx.

[@user-ck8nw5yl6p]

Hi from Russia!!! Good job 👍 thx 👌

[@matiaskotilainen134]

Thank you Jonny. This helps me a lot!!! Can you do more content like this, or if you have some old videos like this, can you please tell me. Im new to ur channel

[@novaknovakovic1585]

Appreciate video content! Forgive me for chiming in, I am interested in your opinion. Have you heard about - Riddleagan Smart Hands Remedy (probably on Google)? It is a smashing one of a kind guide for learning piano fast minus the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my friend Sam after a lifetime of fighting got cool results with it.

[@matiaskotilainen134]

@@novaknovakovic1585 Oh, thank you, I'll try it!!

[@TheFertoledo]

this guy is underrated

[@HerrChamaeleon]

May I ask how you create the view of the second keyboard with colours and keynames?

[@alexpianoplayer15]

Very interesting! But it is still SO difficult just to start improvising on your own, to make the first step towards it

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Johnny,..I have the lick down..love the bebop scale combined.with the C major blues. Scale degrees b3 3 5 6 8.. Similar to the G Lester Flat Run ,except it is in C not G. My dad taught me the G (🏃) run on 🎸about 1968...I didn't know it had a name..we just called it.."picking it out." I enjoy just reading the music and hearing the melody including the chords. I prefer the complete chords on the left. .Ⓣⓗⓔ Ⓑⓔⓢⓣ.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Btw..I have lately been studying 12 of the Dominant Diminished scales. Knowing that they are just C Db and D or C F and G is very helpful. Also that they can all be played a minor 3rd up with same pitches of note. I had noticed this in the 90s. Thanks again.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

The bebop scale sounds best to me is descending mode. G F# F..basically modified mixylydian.is also a way to hear half steps. I try sight read single note music before playing it. Humming it is helpful. Watched this video many times. I found the major blues scale by accident. I was a doing a 🎸 video. (Been playing guitar since 1968). I was showing the Lester Flatt run or the G bluegrass run. I realized then, that it was from the E minor blues scale. E G A Bb B D E.. I had probably been doing the G bluegrass run since 72..My dad taught it to me. Had no Idea what a blues scale was until about 74.

[@emailtour]

Power full tips

[@larsuk9578]

Great lesson. Love the sound of enclosures! 😊

[@zewdae8847]

lmao when he kept trying to vibrate on the keys -- as a violinist i felt that

[@mrpolar9115]

I play both Violin and Piano, my piano vibrato is amazing!

[@pierred.casseus9645]

Hi Jonny I would like to have that book Improvising

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

So, if this lick was in Bb.(W step lower), we would have chords a W tone lower (C-7,F7, Bb,Maj7 Bb6. I think would start out as Descending F bebop scale. (F E Eb D C Bb A G F). I don't have a 🎹 in front of me..I have to try this out. The best. Simmon. Woke up this morning. Have it almost perfect. Thank you for a nice lick from Oscar Peterson. 🎹style100💯. El Mejor. The best. Pianostyle100.

[@lawpilot8526]

12/19/2021 I have finished my first two years of piano instruction and completed Hal Leonard's Student Piano Lesson Book 4. Is there a jazz licks book for beginners at my level?

[@eliascastillo6247]

Interesante.. Tanks..

[@michaelcollinsjazz]

cool. can you do some Tigran transcriptions

[@chessmith5043]

Hi- Do you create your own backing tracks? If so, which software package do you use? I m wanting to develop my solo playing. Thank you for any advice you coud share! Ches- Columbia, SC

[@kadenlong6280]

ableton is a great option

[@MrLFerM]

where can i get the playback bass drum that you use?

[@balazsszalma2171]

Can someone tell me what software he is using to show the notes he is playing? Thanks!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

I recently got lick down at about 85% ..sometimes much better. Working mostly with melody. A few years ago..I accidentally stumbled on the C major blues scale. I had been playing C6 arpeggios for many years... combining them with C blues. Then one day I played A C D Eb E G. Ascending and Descending. Then I noticed this would go very comfortably up 4 or 5 octaves. Later I heard somebody talking about major blues scales. I was used to Root b3 4 b5 b7 Root. Eg F blues (F Ab Bb Cb C Eb F). As I continued to teach myself. I realized that C major blues came from mixing A MIn. blues scale with the C 6 scale. A C D Eb E G A. In fact as I type this out .. it has the C 6 in it. (C E G A) ( 1 3 5 6). I kept on thinking ..why was the C major blues scaled called Major. As I thought on it. Duh. it has a major 3rd in it. (E).and no flat 7 (Bb) which the C minor blues has it. (C Eb F Gb G Bb.) Btw About 4 years ago..I found I like the C minor blues scale better with F7 ( I usually use the 1st inversion ( A C Eb F) or the F9. blues

[@spiritboy6709]

Such a jazzy gentleman...

[@danielfifield2889]

This guy's awesome! Loved the licks. I wonder what string instrument he plays... that vibrato movement, hate to break it to you, it's not doing anything for the sound coming out of the piano.

[@andreas6470]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@dennispena5496]

Yay, now I can sound cool.

[@user-nv7tb9vp2e]

I love the 2 camera angles

[@marchanselthomas7393]

This is the c maj 7 : you can learn it in our course. The Bdim7 has a separate course. Mmmm what a lovely chord progression! check out chord progression for beginners Course. lol I’m taking all of those thanks

[@ankurjahagirdar9670]

That was a brilliant lesson! Thanks a ton!

[@howeybunch133]

Well I've never played jazz but I'd love to learn and you make it look easy but I don't think this video is where I'm supposed to start LOL

[@Flora.hd12]

Liam Neeson teaching piano!! kidding aside, this has been very helpful!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Johnny..got most licks down I was looking at the G lick. it is basically a G Dom Dim HW scale. The b is displaced..I think on porpoise as Popeye would say.

[@marianemaxilom7342]

💙

[@BenBennett10]

Hello Mariane!! These are great lessons, aren't they?? I have a KZbin channel for beginner pianists, or those trying to learn how to play real songs without needing to read music or know theory. In just a couple of months, I have gained over 400 subscribers! I wondered if you would mind checking it out (click the logo to the left) and comment on a couple of my videos and let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate your help trying to get better! Hope to see you there! (I respond to ALL comments on my channel!) -Ben

[@ajb7527]

D sharp drives me crazy it’s e flat

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

I am a pianist and guitarist. I know it sounds off.. over time..I fought it. I would say why are you calling that an A#..just call it a Bb.. I do a lot of self study.. say I am trying to get a key like F# down. I have two choices Gb or F# neither very pretty. F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#....or Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb. What makes sense to me is to always follow the alphabet..If I have white key..use it Also the key signature of F# is 6#s. Gb has six flats. I don't ever read anything in these keys. Db and and E .. are the hardest I read. Five flats and 4#s..

[@II-V-I]

Nope, there's a simple convention. If the note can't be easily categorized functionally (like an f# in D which is the secondary dominant). Which is: Downward movement: b Upward movement: #

[@Iamchukwudike]

Correct..... please share the PDF 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@JingzhuChenClassicalPiano]

How to know where to put the accents?

[@nathanaelsloan5003]

1:45 - "Right hand..." right hand disappears... me: MaGiC

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

It is not so obvious..but you have to know how to play in other keys in many songs. They often will start in one key like C and go to the major third E7 then up a fourth to A7 then D7 then G7 returning to C. Essentially very temporary modulations.. When in these temporary dominant sevenths..you guessed it the mixylydian scale or scales that work in more than on chord. A C6 arppegio Is similar to the A7 chord. You can't dwell on the C note too long..It is the min3 of A blues scale or #9. Of course you don't think of all that.. you just use your ear. The theory will work itself out.

[@slatebook2384]

I like "out" notes but the "lydien" F# I don't like. Maybe because on the fourth bar it's a C6 (C, A left hand). So with F# = D7 vertical, while you end up with a G. The other bars are great. Not sure.

[@lawpilot8526]

12/19/2021 On your website, you have : 2021 Annual Holiday Awards Party 12/20/2021 10:00 am In what time zone is 10:10 am?

[@scoppop7231]

0:33

[@NickdeBeerOfficial]

I like that voldemort (ralph fiennes) is teaching us piano licks.

[@williamtipton7978]

Lick one sounds better with enclosure at the end

[@editz5896]

3:22

[@travelnowtv3510]

I dont understand the Principle behind the scales. Can you be more specific and explain the scale you are using?

[@PianoWithJonny]

We have a blog post that goes in-depth: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/3-must-know-jazz-piano-licks/

[@eddyglaudin5769]

Flex 14

[@lifeguard8887]

Do Do Do Do Do, Do Doo

[@miguelrodriguezjr.150]

for the next video you should put subtitles in Spanish

[@scripted44]

Where licc

[@reubenjames3651]

Why is there no Blues in B major? Hahahaah.

[@MrPasqual1]

As a classic piano player.. what the hell are you talking about? :D

[@gwindematteo934]

I love your vids, Jonny! But I struggle with watching what you’re playing vs what is shown in the displayed sheet music. It ain’t the same! Frustrates old decrepit gals like me just learning jazz.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

This may help a bit. The descending G Bebop scale is basically from G down to G in all white keys..Except for the Gb. ( Mixolydian mode). You could try to get the same effect with finger 5 4 3 2 1..this is just an exercise..G Gb F E D.. thumb will be on D. It's key to do something simple and then move on to more difficult finger placement. Hope this helps.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

So just guessing a 2 5 1.(. Dm G7 C Maj 7. I have slowly found that it is necessary to play things in various keys. I believe you illustrated in F in the video. So F being the 1 chord., 2 is Gmin7. 5 is C7. .The lick presented here starts with a 4th from Dmin7. The G. So I would think the C bebop scale would be the start . C B Bb A G f E D C.

[@ohno2566]

Not me thinking I can do this

[@playchesspiano1168]

3:24

[@playchesspiano1168]

3:22