Common Intros

Let's go over 4 very well-known and frequently-called intros that you can use when you're playing in your jazz combo.
Gear used in video:
Earthworks PM40 piano mic (although the signal is not a true representation of the mic because I also had my vocal mic on the entire time and much of what you hear is bleed through onto it)
AKG P220 Vocal Condenser Mic
Hallet & Davis 5'3 Baby Grand Piano
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Thanks!

[@Pedro_Larroza]

I love your didactics and how honest and authentic you are about everything you teach. We can actually believe you're not just putting together lists with textbook resources, but, in fact, showing us tricks of the trade you discovered/learned/created yourself, and that you would - or have at some point - actually use in your performances. Also, you exude jazz - even the way you speak and your body language are jazzy! haha Thanks for everything!

[@dannuttle9005]

"I'm playing some kinda crazy alterations here, so forgive me for that"--this is why we're watching!!!

[@christianyi3848]

Some ideas I’ve heard from Aimee, Bill Charlap, Sullivan Fortner, and my teachers at school: -intros off of the original or the standard version of the tune you’re playing (ie the Bud Powell and Tommy Flanagan intro on Confirmation, A Night In Tunisia intro, This I Dig Of You vamp); -arrange the broadway or orchestral intro from a tune and use that as an intro, especially if you play the opening intro, for piano or similar instruments -layer in pieces -montunos! Of course, these take more work, but even these can work depending on who you’re with! Thanks for sharing these ideas Aimee!

[@atelier3985]

16:32 ' You can imagine what THAT might look like " . Hilarious ! Super informative lesson as usual. Yes, as some one suggested the eyebrows have changed over the years. Thanks for the valuable content in your lessons that you impart with such honesty, passion and above all a great sense of humour.

[@donnagilligan2905]

Thank you Aimee. Your intro's are most helpful. Beautiful voice I might add too!

[@ericwinter4513]

Great video! I'm a huge fan of those pedal turnarounds. I do have one suggestion regarding that salsa pattern at the end. If you leave out beat 3 on the second bar so that you're playing all upbeats for that measure, you end up with a much more authentic sounding montuno. It has to do with the clave-based accent patterns. In any case, this is a minor gripe, and I always learn a lot from your videos. Keep em coming!

[@JMOLIVES]

Thanks Aimee... right to the point. This video is spot on for musicians from a musician. I value that, especially in these times when a lot of jazz geeks go into a useless verbosity pseudo-lessons without being able to play in a gig or handle properly their instrument... We know its not your case. Thanks for these helpful tips.

[@markr8326]

Hi Aimee, that was amazing thank you! Have any tips please for ending Ballads like 'Fire & Rain' James Taylor ? Love the tune SO MUCH but instead of just ending on that C (sus?) chord I'd like any small 'flourish' however simple or short. Any help much appreciated.

[@AimeeNolte]

That one is tough because it has that coda on it and fades out with “thought I’d see you…thought I’d see you…” and it’s just kind of staying on the I7 chord. I guess because the last word is “again” and it’s on the fifth of the chord, it might sound nice to play a bVI chord and then maybe move to the bVII and then the I to make it sound final. Idk :)

[@oselini]

oh yes! This is a very useful lesson, for non pianists also! Thanks for sharing!

[@WigganNuG]

Wow takes me back. I remember all these types of intro's having watched my father gig all over the San Fran/ Bay Area. Great stuff. Gonna start practicing now!

[@claireholmesmusic3482]

Thank you so much for these videos, they are such a gift!

Nice one, thank you!

[@Antwanio87]

Just saying, I'm a big fan of those "crazy alterations". Absolutely love this vid, it's super helpful!

[@MomLAU]

Love the "mouth percussion" at @14:05! Aimee, you are truly a woman of many talents. :)

[@xatnu]

Funny, I never really thought about that in jazz. I usually play trad and folk, and we have two main kinds of intro - four bars and four potatoes. A four bar intro is where you have one person play the last four bars of the tune and everyone joins on the repeat, and four potatoes refers to four quick accented tonic chords played over the course of two bars if you're in 4/4 or 6/8 (or three over one bar if it's a 3-time tune like 9/8 or something) before everyone joins in then. Interesting how different it is!

[@midnitesongs]

you make this soooo easy to understand - thank you Aimee !!!

[@jeroengradener4505]

Very helpful to prepare for gigs, thanks Aimee!

[@AimeeNolte]

Miss you my friend! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@jeroengradener4505]

@@AimeeNoltesame here! Having our first gig next Saturday as vocal jazz trio Just Friends!

[@AimeeNolte]

@jeroengradener4505 i’m so happy for you!

[@jeroengradener4505]

Thanks! 😀

[@christianconway8787]

Thank you very much for this, Aimee! I'm a guitarist and my teacher was getting on my case about intros this week, so perfect timing!

[@matcoddy6097]

This is one of the only other videos on this very important topic, from a large & good channel (such as Rick Beato's) that I've seen posted.Thanks, Aimee!

[@AimeeNolte]

You called me large 😂

[@matcoddy6097]

Soon you'll be HUGE

[@Rick-Willy]

I'm not a musician and couldn't carry a tune to save my life, but I always enjoy your videos! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@mzhkhokhar]

I think you're trying to make some space. Looks like you want to marry her.

[@dichabachampdikgale3216]

WOW Aimee this is beautiful, I'm so into intros and am glad you covered this topic. much love from South Africa.

[@polkmusic]

Really great video. This is such great material. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevepethel6843]

Nice voice and lesson

[@lemiffe]

That was a great video.

[@andrewsmith4356]

Thanks so much for another one of your best videos. As a solo (mostly classical) pianist, any of these videos that show how to do arranging/accompanying so that one sounds good solo are really useful (even though you are talking in context of a group gig here). You have a video (for singing practice I think) where you are playing Happy Birthday and it's a great accompaniment that plays just for a few seconds. Would love to see a collection of little clips like that (and every pianist needs to be good at Happy Birthday!) Your playlist series Accompanying Yourself is helpful of course. Thanks!

[@AimeeNolte]

Can you be a little more specific, Andrew? Clips like what?

[@andrewsmith4356]

Hi Aimee and thanks very much for your reply. I suppose I mean, just as in this tutorial gives a good compilation of intros without too much slowing down for theory, a similar handful of clips of your hands playing some cool accompaniment in the middle of a few songs (and I suppose you probably already have this somewhere; you have so many tutorials and I admit to not having seen many of them. But one example would be like the "I accompany you: Green Dolphin . . ."; the playing is so great there and it would be an extra bonus -- among the many you have already supplied -- to see your hands doing that. ) . Sorry if such videos already exist and I deserve to be scolded! Cheers

[@suck_ur_codmobile37]

Your Voice Is Pure Beuty and Your playing Is Perfect :) I could listen to You play and Sing all day Long, Keep it up Your inspiration X

[@charlesstiebing9231]

Aimee! you remind me of two great music educators: Mark Baxter and Rick Beato! keep up the great work! God bless you and yours!

[@MathAndComputers]

Thanks for giving the nice overview at the start! I'm looking forward to the video you mentioned at the end on writing original intros. :)

[@silvenshadow]

Awesome video, thanks Aimee!

[@grampiano]

Wow, thank you very much! Its very intresting for me. You are perfect tescher!

[@zakerymizell8838]

Love this video so much! The little syllabus overview in the beginning was amazing. Great tips, can't wait to get in front of my piano to practice

[@LylyaMusic]

I’m in love with your content, thank you very much!

[@tomkozic8505]

Great lesson. Thanks

[@DJRiiser]

Honestly and truly appreciate the time you put intro learning us! Thank you!

[@danielmoon4704]

you are a life savor

[@AwayAwayandUp]

Thanks for the video Aimee!

[@patbreacadh]

You are a brilliant teacher - and I like those brushes! Thanks so much, this is amazing material.

[@oskarb6885]

The dramatic C major zoom at 10:54. That got me.

[@slcrooks]

Awesome teaching

[@simonupstone4924]

You explain it so clearly, and I'm inspired to try these out. Thank you Aimee

[@nickhoschke6063]

Nice mouth-brush sounds!

[@BMarPiano]

This was fantastic, Aimee! Thanks ❤️

[@jimmycruz3309]

Thank you Aimee another great video

Great video. Time to practice these ideas! Thanks.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thanx, Maestra. 🌹🌹🌹

[@gerardo4104]

I just discovered your channel and i love it. You are amazing very funny and of course a beautiful teacher. I've been watching many of your videos and i'm learning a lot!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@AimeeNolte]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@lochvids108]

Great sounds ! Im a piano noob so its inspiring to hear this

[@Tanglangfa]

Would you pretty please do a vid for us bass players? Maybe something about how much we should stick to chord tones vs substituting or playing outside and other thing relating to your expectations/preferences, or when to do those things vs when to not? Thank you for another great video!

[@AimeeNolte]

Check out my video called, “be excellent to each other. “I talk about some of that. :)

[@gdamad1826]

Nice tutorial Aimee! Another on the outros would be appreciated as well.. Thanks a lot for your great channel!

[@AimeeNolte]

I already made that video. :-)

[@gdamad1826]

Found it! Thanks. Subscribed!

[@andrewh25]

The mouth brushes were awesome!!

[@OscarTadlock]

Great video!

[@OmariLiveHD]

I love the mouth brushes :) ahah great video

[@WAValenti]

This is high quality content, and I wish more young cats would take the time to learn how to make interesting arrangements when they're playing their restaurant gigs or whatever. But I feel like younger players who are slowing this down to learn about it might notice things like "Oh, you said Dm7, but played a ninth, and you said G7 but you played G9" and not get that it's OK to do that. And you mentioned the altered A+7b9 for a VI chord and that it's better for voice leading to the ii7, but I feel like a lot of us take for granted that our students follow that logic all the way through. Do you have any good resources about teaching extensions and voice leading for intermediate level players? Like a high school jazz band pianist or guitarist who can read their school band's charts and play them great, but doesn't understand why the arranger chose the specified voicings, so they can't apply them when they're playing standards without a chart? Maybe you've already done videos on this, but if you did, I need to find them!

[@AimeeNolte]

I have already made videos about that subject. I’m thinking that people would probably assume that and go look for them. I suppose that’s a bold assumption. :-)

[@monkeydooswingband831]

Thanks!

[@TorkilZachariassenTZNG]

8:17 Em7b5sus4 resolving to Em7b5. Wau, what a great crazy soundscape :-)

[@andrewh25]

Those mouth brushes were awesome

[@didierlinsen3712]

Great trick the chord a hole step lower. I was searching a chord to go from Cmaj to Amin, Bbmaj sounds nice. Thanks. By the way your accent is "savoureux" when say do ré mi fa sol in french.

[@masha_piano_gal]

Aimee, thank you for your great videos, truly great resources! For the vamp option - or perhaps even for all of them - do you have some tips on how you can do a build up/set up the melodic line so the vocalist or band knows when to start playing the head?

[@AimeeNolte]

Depends how adept your vocalist is. I’d say to just give them the starting pitch before you start vamping. Or you could make the opening phrase be a part of your improv over the vamp so that the singer gets their opening pitch from that.

[@babawawayoyo]

another genius video with tons to steal! :) :) thank you so much for making these. you not only have a talent for teaching - and communicating complex stuff -- but obviously also the music talent! :) also - "for all we know" - nina simone's version kills me, amazing amazing amazing (that was just a PSA) 13:25 - 13:55ish, when you mention the importance of specifying the length of the intro -- not just "stop when you feel like it" -- i thought of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJW7d3WeeruAd9k @ 0:43, Jean Arthur just says, "watch for the breaks." I wonder if that works anywhere but in the movies 😂

[@babawawayoyo]

15:05 omg this is the intro to a great Sondheim song...I think it’s from *Merrily We Roll Along* but I can’t remember.... soooo good.

[@HarmoChopin]

En France, nous nommons la cadence VIm7-IIm7-V7-I6 l'anatole. Je l'aime aussi joué comme ceci : VI7b9-IIm11-V13-I6/9.

[@sidewindersith]

“Forgive me for that” Those subs were hip!

[@ernesto1956]

Hi, Aimee. Big, big fan. About the Pedal Intro. Sounds particularly good when the song starts on the tonic. Eg., starts on C if in the key of C. But what would you do with songs that begin on a different chord? Example, “Satin Doll” which starts on the ii chord, i.e., D minor. Or “All the Things You Are” which goes all over the place, but certainly does not start on the tonic. Is there a smoother way of leading into those starting chords?

[@AimeeNolte]

You can do the pedal and then a quick ii V to get you into whatever key the song begins in. Just one option

[@ernesto1956]

I’ll try that. Thanks!

All the things have an original intro vamp with IV7 and III7 that leads to the VIm7. In autumn leaves I use a vamp on the I, inspired on Barney Kessel’s recording. Playing in Gm I use Db/G C/G B/G Bb/G as a vamp. After 2 or 4 repeats we break in the 4th bar and the sax pickups the Melody. For fly me I use Djavan’s Intro. He vamps 2 bars of I/5th (Cmaj9/G) and 2 of IVm6/maj7 (Fm6). Lead player creates an atmosphere. In the last repeat, he puts a VIIdim7/VI (G#o) that leads into the melody (Am7). For satin doll you can use the last 4 bars of A section. In the last 2 bars you can do a turnaround to the IIm: Imaj7 IIm7 IIIm7 VI7 or Imaj7 IV7 IIIm7 VI7 etc.

[@varumora]

Hi Aimee. Really love your videos. I was wondering, is there any kind of bibliography about this kind of topics?

[@sygmundklimczak5938]

Wunderschön Klang PM40

[@howardbaer3205]

Thanks Aimee! Any tricks for tunes that don't start on 'one' (other than 'last 8')... Night & Day, All the Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, Fly Me etc...

[@AimeeNolte]

A well-written, creative vamp is a good idea.

All the things have an original intro vamp with IV7 and III7 that leads to the VIm7. In autumn leaves I use a vamp on the I, inspired on Barney Kessel recording. Playing in Gm I use Db/G C/G B/G Bb/G as a vamp. After 2 or 4 repeats we break in the 4th bar and the sax pickups the Melody. For fly me I use Djavan’s Intro. He vamps 2 bars of I/5th and 2 of IVm6/maj7. Lead player creates an atmosphere. In the last repeat, he puts a VIIdim7/VI that leads into the melody.

[@jonbanjovi99]

a good improviser will signal the band 2 measures ahead. works if your band is on their game

[@AimeeNolte]

That’s absolutely right. That’s why I backtracked just a little bit and said that maybe it wouldn’t be a complete disaster. I didn’t feel like continuing my tangent great then though. :-)

[@annadruzhynina9933]

Thank you for all your videos. I am learning a lot from you. I am a classical pianist (19 years of studying classical music) and now trying to learn how to play jazz. It's not so easy for me because my mind is stacked with classic rules. Maybe you have any suggestions for me how to free myself? And do you have any videos for lounge piano solo? Will appreciate your help.

[@AimeeNolte]

“Jazz Piano: Where To Start” is a good video to start with

[@Tunz909]

Fooled me, thought you were going to do the Fred Carlin tune covered by The Carpenters!:-)

[@Pimp-Master]

The last 8 bars of the song I want to do IS a coda, so that's a problem...

[@manwelldupreez2676]

Amazing tutorial Aimee... would these examples work for ballads?

[@AimeeNolte]

Yeah. If done tastefully. For sure.

[@manwelldupreez2676]

Awesome

[@pawsdude123]

Do these intros work for a minor song as well?

[@AimeeNolte]

No sir

[@pawsdude123]

do minor songs you just not intro on or do they custom intros?

Im7 bVII7 bVI7(or bVImaj7) V7alt. IIm7b5 V7b9b13 as a short intro or as a vamp. Last 8 bars work. Last melodic phrase work as well.

[@fullbelliesclearskies6825]

Great video. I like the 8 bar pedal. Very Frank. Aimee, you should patent those eyebrows.

[@AimeeNolte]

Oh brother 🙄

[@jkrai9684]

Wdym by frank

[@4acesproductions341]

So basically, intros are really based on how you are feeling.

[@AimeeNolte]

Or on how you want the song to feel

[@adamhakim9446]

Are these intros you would use when writing a song as well, or is this more for a live performance? ty

[@AimeeNolte]

You could ... they aren’t very original, but they definitely work

[@adamhakim9446]

So what do you think of, differently, when writing an intro?

[@sallybowles2781]

It s funny because I watched maybe 50 of these videos and i don t even play the piano...

[@AimeeNolte]

Thank you Sally

[@reamallday]

What camcorder are you using? If you don't mind me asking

[@AimeeNolte]

All of my gear is listed on my website. You can get the amazon links too!

[@lukaszha8826]

so hip

[@Billy123bobzzz]

Amazing lesson! By the way I love when you sing along with your music, it really gives me a fulfilling experience, which gave me an idea. How about you collaborating with Ken (Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy) so we can get an amazing experience and you both can benefit (increasing your subscribers) and we can enjoy an inspiring group of videos. Please?

[@oselini]

sound (selena gomez) guoid ;-) 3:06

[@AimeeNolte]

Nooooo 😂

[@oselini]

com'on... just a bit

[@VHerrera96]

Can you be my piano mom and teach me how to play???? 😂💕

[@AimeeNolte]

Ooooook

[@VHerrera96]

I Love you channel so so much, there's a lot of things i don't understand but i just enjoy your playing and singing so much

[@bingosunnoon9341]

Do you ever throw in some virtuoso show off stuff when doing an intro?

[@AimeeNolte]

Yes! That’s a great idea. I forgot about that one. I like to keep it to four bars if I do that.

[@nykmia1997]

😘😘❤❤👑👑👑👑👑

[@samlee2562]

what the dickens happens to your voice at 3:13 ?!?!?!

[@AimeeNolte]

Is it a huge deal to get a little frog in your throat? I just left it in because I figured all of the humans out there would just get it and understand.

[@BMarPiano]

Sam Lee, that’s all you have to say about this amazing tutorial? 🙄

[@latinoticiastelevision3050]

i like your salsa, and you're a cutie. Que bonita, wow !!!!

[@LylyaMusic]

I’m in love with your content, thank you very much!

[@andrewh25]

Those mouth brushes were awesome