Block Chords (Locked Hands)

[@Prilly49]

That was a terrific explanation, showing so many of the possibilities of block chords. Thanks so much!

[@davidburtstudio]

My pleasure Priscilla

[@TheJofrica]

I am one of those musicians who loves block chords. I am coming from a jazz guitar background and this lesson was very helpful for me. Thanks for the upload!

[@davidburtstudio]

Hi Goo gle, Carmen Cavallaro aka "poet of the piano', was famous in the late 30's and 40's. Now he. was a schmaltzy piano player. One of his style characteristics was to play block chords in octaves in his right hand along with the melody is his left hand. In total, 3 melodies (one in the left hand, two in the right) with the harmony of the chord placed between the octaves in the right hand. The "blue haired ladies" loved him.

[@KoboldCommando]

This is fantastic, you're a wonderful teacher! It was very clear and easy to follow, and the way you mixed the ideas and the applications was very fluid. Most importantly, you held my attention, haha! From the little asides in this video I get the impression that I could just sit and listen to you noodle on the piano for hours.

[@mjbrehman]

Best video on locked hands

[@davidburtstudio]

Thank you. Glad it was helpful 😎

[@alessandrosantana3161]

Nice instruction; I'll train it! 🇧🇷 Thank you for the pousts like this.

[@davidburtstudio]

You are most welcome. I hope it was helpful. 😎

[@davidburtstudio]

Hi Ace, Thank you for your kind words. I've just completed writing a book called: THE BASIC THEORY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CHORD PROGRESSIONS Major and Minor. My next few tutorial videos will be to tied to material in my book. Hopefully, it will be of value to you and others.

[@BillPhillips2000]

I'm assuming this book is available through your website?

[@juliojauregui8839]

Thank you David for sharing your knowledge, great playing! Your video was shared to me by Eddie Palmieri's bass player. beautiful Playing.

[@davidburtstudio]

+Julio Jauregui Thank you for your kind remarks. My pleasure.to share a little insight with you.

[@BillPhillips2000]

David, I loved your tutorial on Block Chords! I'm going to watch it about 10 more times! LOL! Getting ready to check out your other videos. You're a great instructor! Thanks for posting!

[@ThePianotunerman]

Very good Tutorial. Explains bock and drop 2 chords made easy. ( and switching between them.

[@davidburtstudio]

Glad I could be of help. 😎

[@leongfongonn6968]

Thanks so much. Really love the sound of these chords and now l understand how it’s can be created!.l love listening to Cavallero’s music too.

[@davidburtstudio]

Block chords belong in every musician’s “tool kit”. When pulled out and used at exactly the right time and place can add a beautiful texture to your music. Glad you enjoyed the tutorial. 😎

[@edwardbaylis1712]

Hi, these tutorials are great! Along with my other studying (Jazzology by Robert Rawlings- great book) they are transforming my playing and understanding of jazz! So many thanks and please keep them coming!

[@tp63us]

Thank you! So well explained. So clear about the reasons.

[@davidburtstudio]

Glad you enjoyed the tutorial on block chord . You either love or hate them. Hate them while you’re learning how to play them, and love them when you can perform them proficiently.

[@tp63us]

@@davidburtstudio Yeah, they have a particular sound. Some of the generation before me use them a lot for their favorite songs. I like to use a dash of old styles on the kids in the next generation sometimes. 😀

[@davidburtstudio]

Because Block Chords are compact they certainly get the attention of the listener when applied. However, in most cases they are used sparingly due to the lack of base movement. Nevertheless, should you have a base player sitting your hip pocket, Block Chords can be carried on over many bars. Just listen to the music of George Shearing.

[@toto.universe]

This lessons is very helpful. Thank you so much. :)

[@fendergasm11]

dude you play like a boss on the fly. i will be studying your videos. I'm an avid fake book user

[@davidburtstudio]

fendergasm11 Happy to hear you're enjoying my tutorials. I'm glad they are helpful.

[@mrkeyzzz]

Thanks David...nice tutorial.

[@acecassidy6449]

can you do a video tutorials about counterpoint, chord progression for composing, and different styles of playing off a lead sheet? one or all would be appreciated. your videos are great and i'm wishing there were more, as i've now seen them all.

[@davidburtstudio]

Check out these Tutorials I've just posted. The Relationship of Primary Chord Movements, Part 1 & 2. Then proceed to The Relationship of Secondary Chord Movements in Major, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4. For the best learning experience, please watch them in order. Just click on Tutorials on my Homepage -- www.davidburt.com

[@babethecangi2510]

Thank you very much! I have been looking for a long time how to play with these block chords (locked hands),and I have found your video! It's a beautiful day for me,because of you ,and I am very happy beginning to learn these chords! It sounds so nice! I don't remember which musician played with this method(?). Bravo for your great work!

[@davidburtstudio]

I'm pleased you were able to get some benefit from my tutorial. Block Chord (locked hands) are the only terms that I grew up with; however, I'm sure someone has or will come along with another handle for that style. George Shearing was one musician who used block chords alot. It also helped that he had a bass player handy to cover that end of the spectrum.

[@davidburtstudio]

To Xan Blacq In many cases it turns out that the second note from the top ends up being a 10th away from the melody when dropped an octave. Where it won't work is when the melody moves by step and returns, like D moving to E, then back to D on an F Chord. The C below the D would be held down throughout that movement. Block chords depend on movement top and bottom of the chord either in the form of a duplicated melody or drop 2. Bottom line, that theory works in some cases, but not all.

[@novasco55]

very nice style of instruction. I want that book

[@johnnynoirman]

Your a fantastic teacher.

[@davidburtstudio]

Thank you

[@justins.2138]

this is fantastic! thanks again!

[@davidburtstudio]

Happy to help out.

[@wolfunplugged]

that's a great tutorial, thanks for that! I have to study that deeper...

[@babethecangi2510]

It's a great lesson! Thanks so much! Please have you made a tutorial explaining Li'l Darling chords? I should be so glad to play it with the good locked hands chords! Have a good day!

[@davidburtstudio]

Some songs take to block chords better than others. Block chord work best with more steps than leaps in the music. If you follow the principals that I outlined in my block chord tutorial it should work in most cases.

[@JonInLuck]

As far as I know, "drop 2" doesn't mean dropping the lower voice by two (diatonic) notes, but dropping the 2nd voice (the one below the top melody) one octave down. In books about jazz arrangement, you also find other drops, such as "drop 3" or "drop 2 & 4", which follow the same logic. In your example (C6), my version of drop 2 would yield almost the same result, except that the c in voice 2 would not be doubled, but replaced by the lower c. But anyway, great tutorial, and thank you for making it! I learned something from it.

[@davidburtstudio]

+jazzfyzix You are right that there is not much difference between the two variations. The replacing of the note below the melody, one octave below, and not doubling it, is very useful in the lower register of the piano. However, it is different in the higher register. Block chords in many ways mimic “stage band” sectional writing techniques I.e. five saxophones consisting of 2 altos, 2 tenors and a baritone. When you double the melody at the octave, most performers are looking for the tension a 4-note-chord will provide, from a 7th right up to a 13th. They are also looking for the flexibility of being able to switch back and forth easily from “tradition” block to “drop-two”.

[@DimitrisKarkoulias]

Very informative, thank you very much

[@davidburtstudio]

Glad you enjoyed Dimitris. Hope it helped.

[@katooriankatoorian2753]

It was great!Thank you.

[@jarredgraffiti]

Very nice sir.

[@callecolliander]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@callecolliander]

Absolutely, I did! Carl is the first name :) Have a good day Mr David Burt

[@davidburtstudio]

Thank you Carl and you have a good day as well

[@davidburtstudio]

My pleasure C. Colliander. Hope it was helpful and that you picked up some helpful hints.

[@xanblacq]

Thanks David. A great video! I have learned a lot from this.You've discussed Drop 2 as being a 10th below the melody note if I understand you correctly. I have seen other places that have described Drop 2 as simply being a process where you take the note second from the top of the chord (regardless of inversion) and playing that note an octave below. What are your thoughts on that approach? Thanks again, Xan

[@davidburtstudio]

*****

[@davidburtstudio]

For Putsmeiser. The opening few bars I played was from a song called Manhattan.

[@koshomannheim]

Thank you very much!

[@ignaciodelavegaencinas1052]

Cool, thanks!

[@petrof0ray]

Thank you David. It is very kind of you to share your wonderful knowledge. I really like the sound of your piano. Lots of rich harmonics. May I ask what make and model? Thank you.

[@davidburtstudio]

+Ray Ziebro Good day Ray. I'm pleased you enjoyed my tutorial on block chords. Please check out my other tutorials. F.Y.I. the piano I use for my tutorials is a Knight. Produced by Alfred Knight out of England. I bought it in 1970, and I remember is was double the price of other pianos its size. I've been teaching on it for many years and it has proven to be a real work horse. Unfortunately, it died out with Mr. Knight. I use a Kawai 7'6" Grand to play the many solo pieces I've put up on KZbin. They are easily found through my website using my name followed by a dot, then com. (I'm not permitted to type out my site here)

[@davidburtstudio]

+Ray Ziebro Good day Ray. I'm pleased you enjoyed my tutorial on block chords. Please check out my other tutorials. F.Y.I. the piano I use for my tutorials is a Knight. Produced by Alfred Knight out of England. I bought it in 1970, and I remember is was double the price of other pianos its size. I've been teaching on it for many years and it has proven to be a real work horse. Unfortunately, it died out with Mr. Knight. I use a Kawai 7'6" Grand to play the many solo pieces I've put up on KZbin. They are easily found through my website using my name followed by a dot, then com. (I'm not permitted to type out my site here)

[@BAwesomeDesign]

Thanks!

[@johnnylch18]

Thank you sir

[@davidburtstudio]

My pleasure.

[@davidburtstudio]

You are more than welcome. If you have any questions you can reach me through my web-site. The address found at the conclusion of all my tutorial and music videos.

[@SELMER1947]

The great Milt Buckner was the creator of this technique and nobody ever plays block chords better than him

[@davidburtstudio]

I checked him out. Can't disagree you.

[@SELMER1947]

Here on YT listen to him in Robbins Nest and Pick yourself up with Jo Jones & Jimmy Woode... great ! ;-)

[@ericliang4744]

Milt Buckner created the technique, but I'd argue that George Shearing mastered it.

[@kilimanjarno]

why are they hated by some musicians? Is it cuz they don't like the sound, or because they're hard to play? Or some other reason.

[@davidburtstudio]

You're right in your assumption that they can be tricky to play. I personally didn't like them because in the beginning I couldn't play them very well. That all changed after I mastered them. They can provide quite a punch if they are played within an octave, especially when 9ths, and 13ths are involved in the harmony. The other downside is there is no bass reference so the chords can sound a little ambiguous. If you're working with a bass player, there's no problem, but the solo pianist is obliged to drop in a bass reference from time to time. This can be a tricky move your hands a locked together. I hope this answers you question.

[@GlloomMusic]

Is this style also referred too as Locked Chords? I’m more familiar with Block Chords as the Chords heard in Red Garland’s playing

[@davidburtstudio]

Block Chord (locked hands) are the only terms that I grew up with; however, I'm sure someone has or will come along with another handle for that style.

[@GlloomMusic]

Thanks, nonetheless I found what I was looking for!

[@Putsmeiser]

What was the song you played at the beginning? Great video!

[@davidburtstudio]

For Putsmeiser. The opening few bars I played was from a song called ManhattanPutsmeiser