How to Sound Like Bill Evans [Jazz Piano Tutorial]

[@roberthunt1540]

80% of the time you were playing, I felt those familiar heart tugs that Bill's music has been giving me for over 40 years. That's pretty good for a young right-hander!

[@NoahKellman]

Hey, thanks Robert! That means a lot.

[@AllIn1Studio]

Ditto! 😍

[@lewfarkyy]

Not sure if you saw my comment, but I did suggest this, and to see it in my recommended was a lovely surprise. Bill is my favourite pianist of all time, nobody compares to his genius. I could fall asleep to his playing, it's so beautiful. Thank you for this.

[@NoahKellman]

I did see your comment! Thanks again for the idea. You and a few others had asked me recently for a Bill video, so I figured it was time. And you're welcome!

[@zaneshihadeh1955]

Bill is my favorite jazz pianist so thank you very much for sharing this

[@NoahKellman]

Hey, you're welcome, Zane. Yeah he's easily in my top 3 of all time.

[@p.as.in.pterodactyl1024]

@@prestonfisher I wonder if Keith Jarrett is one of them.

[@alexthompson6529]

How you break down and illustrate these complicated Jazz sounds is amazing. This kind of playing is certainly beyond my skill level at the moment but it’s great to know these videos will still be around when I finally get there! Thank you for sharing, as always!

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Alex! Really glad you're finding it helpful. You'll get there soon enough!

[@裏まぶたの]

9:07 reminds me of the ending part of Bill Evans' solo recording of "Like Someone in Love"! Great Lesson!

[@stefanosilano1430]

Incredible, this inner voice leading movements are amazing

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Stefano, glad you like them!

[@miguelangelriccione4950]

"How to sound like Bill Evans". Don't do it Noah, don't give me hope

[@NoahKellman]

hahah ah man, well I know what you mean... but there's always hope to steal lots of great info from him :P

[@illusion5739]

Don't give up man. Keep practicing. I hope one day I could play any song and jazzify it the way I want

[@thameswrote]

@@illusion5739 That doesn't mean you'll sound like Bill Evans pal lmao

[@ewallt]

Around 8:30, I think of that chord as in inversion of Db Maj with 6 7 9, a six note chord composed of Db Maj 6 and the major triad a fifth above that, which is Ab C Eb. You can put these two chords together in almost any way and it will sound good, because there aren’t any tritones anywhere. You can think of it as the first 6 notes of the Ab major scale. Then you moved triads around the Ab major scale in the middle. You can also flatten the third on the Db Maj 6 chord making the voicings DMaj 6 + A Maj triad, all the notes of Db melodic minor except the fourth note of the scale (Gb). I was very happy to see this for two reasons. One is I very much like seeing ideas involving inner voice movement, and the other it gives me another way of looking at something I’ve looked at in a different way.

[@thephilosopherofculture4559]

Bill Evans got the greatest compliment possible: "He plays the piano like it was meant to." The last time such a compliment had been given was to Fréderic Chopin in 1832. Evans had a long time coming!

[@NoahKellman]

The Philosopher of Culture nice! Who gave him that compliment? I agree with you. Such a wonderful pianist.

[@BrunoNeureiter]

I love them both and that's exactly my thought! Wow.

[@blevens7251]

As I told you, he's my favorite. And not just because we're both from New Jersey.

[@NoahKellman]

Figured you'd enjoy this one, Rob!

[@AllIn1Studio]

😂🎹🥳

[@TheMinniemal]

Man you fullfilled my request! Thanks so much. I am already signed up for the early bird next month. Cant wait

[@NoahKellman]

Hey, thanks Anton! I sure did :) As soon as you said Bill Evans I was like... why didn't I think of that! Had a fun week listening to him to prepare. Amazing! Looking forward to seeing what you think of some of my methods which I'll reveal as part of the pre-course video series!

[@alejandropando593]

I was just hearing Emily the other day wonder how to sound like the master, thank you Noah! (Another master :) )

[@NoahKellman]

You're welcome, Alejandro! Have you tried any of these techniques yet?

[@alejandropando593]

Noah Kellman I’m just about to! With all the videos you put up every week is hard to keep up, but please don’t stop! They are the best Noah!

[@NoahKellman]

Alejandro Pando glad you’re enjoying them! I’ll keep them coming

[@samuelpatton1828]

This is pretty good young man

[@BlessedOne686]

Your skill level is crazy.

[@rahulwadhwani6563]

You are so amazing man. Thanks for sharing

[@NoahKellman]

Sure thing! Thanks for the comment

[@jamesewanchook2276]

thanks, that was a great synopsis of Bill!

[@lucianphipps5430]

So much in this Bill Evans tutorial Noah.. thanks again!

[@lucianphipps5430]

3rd time viewed this Noah and not the last I'm sure. Just see things I didn't quite appreciate the first time! Thanks again..

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks Lucian glad you enjoyed it!

[@cagatay181]

A very instructive video, thank you so much.

[@Eldorias]

8:00 It's a 2-5-1 in Ab right ? But great lesson anyway ! :)

[@jeanlucchapelon]

You are so good ! Bravo

[@arielmitevski]

Amazing tips 🤩 Definitely the best Bill Evans tutorial on KZbin Many thanks for sharing, you rock!

[@danielgfeller1587]

thank you

[@cityshakestudio]

Very good. Great backdown of some technics. Thanks heaps for the share.

[@caseydahl1952]

What's going on in that voicing at 9:21 before the Eb7sus? E D F# B F ???

[@chriswright2553]

Amazing lesson Noah as usual. Loads to work on. Love your neo soul stuff too. Not enough hours in the day.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Chris. Keep up the good work man

[@chriswright2553]

@@NoahKellman Thx Noah. The flat 6 is the same as the Barry Harris thing, right?

[@NoahKellman]

@@chriswright2553 Hey Chris yeah exactly!

[@chriswright2553]

@@NoahKellman Just sent you an email to [e-mail]

[@herveyav428]

Man, I like your style of teaching...

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Herve, appreciate that!

[@BrunoDeSimone-h5b]

perfect! I didn't catch nothing at all! So fast playing without really explaining just nothing clearly! I just did understand you are very good playing Evans!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thanx, Maestro.

[@NoahKellman]

You're welcome, Brenda!

[@rigelloar7474]

Beautiful stuff, thank you!

[@TommyCosterMusic]

Ty so much for this video…🙏

[@donaldscherzi169]

Excellent. Your videos are just super and the best around.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Donald! Appreciate that.

[@jazzsecrets]

Nice one

[@hermes_musica]

Omg you're a god Player!!! This is just for mystery cause i like this part so much (4:17-4:25)

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so much 🙏🙏

[@gergelyozsvar9890]

I've made many test songs only a few them is good. I usually make bad songs. What do you think I should do to get good at writing music? Do you have any videos for total beginners?

[@ursolpecial]

Omg you’re so amazing thanks for your teaching ♥️♥️

[@anthonykane201]

Great playing, sounds like Bill! Very informative, but it all goes by way too fast for a novice/beginner! Don't know if this is asking too much, but is it possible to slow it all way down, and/or to just pause from time to time to let us see those green left and right hand notes, and is it possible to also identify the notes?

[@nujazzelectro]

Great tutorial as always. Thanks

[@NoahKellman]

You're welcome, Roel!

[@amilisom]

So awesome

[@newnewchannel]

Great!!i love your teaching video so much ,you help me a lot

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, glad you like them!!

[@jaredlichtenberg]

Hey Noah! What lesson videos would you recommend as a pre requisite to jumping into something like this? I.e.. building blocks before moving into something like this? I have basic knowledge of piano, but can't read music and tend to learn more by ear.

[@Bookssful]

Gorgeous

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks :) !

[@colllm]

What an intro!

[@NoahKellman]

Thank you!! 🙏

[@flyingisland7583]

2:28 Awesome. I will work on this this weekend

[@NoahKellman]

Awesome let me know how it goes!!

[@ChristianneNeves]

Could you explain the movement of the voicings on 8:33? How are you moving the voicing from the 7-3-5 of Bbm?

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Christianne, I'm moving each voice up to the next note in the Bb dorian scale. Make sense?

[@dulistanheman]

Seeing your video and all your through explanation, I have to subscribe for good.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Dulistan! Hope you're getting some good info. Glad to have you as a subscriber.

[@MeeeKaaaL]

Great video!

[@NoahKellman]

MeeeKaaaL thanks 🙏!

[@OriginOfSpin]

great video Noah !

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so much!

[@luxolontamo4440]

Everything you upload is very useful..you've got a new subscriber ✔

[@luxolontamo4440]

Your Bill Evans impression is on point

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Luxolo! I appreciate it. Glad you're finding it all helpful.

[@normantran2011]

Please do a video on how to sound like Anomalie. The way he fuses Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Bebop and Gershwin is absolutely insane.

[@NoahKellman]

Norman Tran Hey Norman, I’ve actually been thinking about that one. Will probably do it in the not too distant future when I have time!

[@AfroGhillieSuit]

@@NoahKellman I hope you get to this eventually 🙏🙏

[@AllIn1Studio]

Noah, did you study at Berklee? I am blown away at your youth and playing with such musical experience and continuing the legacy that is Bull Evans. Takes me back to the late 60s and my father who was a jazz pianist and we had At The Village Vanguard on for my formative years. Thank you for being so generous with us all, I will dig deeper into your teaching courses

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Melissa! Nice to meet you. I did do Berklee's summer program a couple times and have many friends that went to the college, but I did my jazz piano undergrad at The Brubeck Institute, which was in California.

[@DruPetty42]

Interesting. Seeing you play the block chords with your left hand like that, I just realized how that's the exact way I play. It's my right hand that is a little weaker than my left when it comes to playing. But I think it depends on what I'm doing.

[@Bojackyy]

Can you do a tutorial on "Vanotek feat Eneli - come back to me" please? It s a famous song but there aren't any piano tutorials for it

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Nichita, I will look into it but if I do it won't be for a while as I've got a lot of videos on my list to make!

[@jackwaughmusic]

Dude i just watched this and your Brad Mehldau playing out video- these are really good lessons. seriously great work!

[@leeDs718]

is this the dim 6th scale?

[@뿡뿡이-k9s]

Ive been waiting for this thanks~~!!

[@NoahKellman]

You're welcome!

[@bogusdogus]

fabulous

[@NoahKellman]

Michael Oliphant thanks, Michael 🙏

[@ChristianneNeves]

HI. really nice. On 7:32 you are moving your left hand on to the "possible" chord but in 4ths, right? how did you thing for building up these chords? thanks

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Christianne, the shape of the voicing is fourth's based, but I am moving the notes diatonically, meaning they go to the next possible note in the scale.

[@connerbaker5435]

Why do we play a diminished chord in between each diatonic chord? Thanks for the great vid Noah

[@filiomusic]

Otherwise you couldn’t harmonize every note in the scale. And diminished chords function like dominant chords (Bdim7 = G7b9 without root) so they make for great passing chords!

[@stepanglaser1272]

Great

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Stepán!!

[@waynedavis7552]

Great job! I love would you to teach me. How can I get the resources?

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Wayne thank you so much. Why don’t you reach out by email? Or you can fill out the contact form at jazzpianoconcepts.com

[@philburpalooza8]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the part of a video where you talk about the comping rythms... it seems like it comes in a split second (1/16th, or 1/3rd for the 3/4 timing )before the melody note ...am I right? And on harmonizing the left and right hands, the 10th (or b3 /#9 for minor sounds) interval IS your friend....

[@NoahKellman]

Hm I'm not sure about the notes coming in 1/16 early, but I am playing a rhythm that works against the right hand maybe that's what you're hearing? And yeah, for sure, the 3rd (or played as a 10th) is always a great harmony note!

[@philburpalooza8]

@@NoahKellman I appreciate your pointing out the fact that he did compose and structure a lot of his improvisations. I take his famous quote when he was talking with his brother of..." never letting him (Bill) deprives me of the discovery notes on my own" to extremes... That's what keeps practice fun for me even more fun than gigging.

[@NoahKellman]

@@philburpalooza8 for sure-- I think it's always great to take the time to come up with a beautiful arrangement, if you have the patience!

[@richardxu8865]

Does anyone know the song Noah was playing in the intro? The chord progression sounds very bill evans-esque

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Richard, Here’s That Rainy Day !

[@richardxu8865]

@@NoahKellman Thanks a ton Noah! I swore this was a medium-tempo bebop song by the feel you gave it, but this is definitely the changes to here's that rainy day 😁! I've been having a great time practicing the ideas in this lesson, so thank you a bunch for this video!

[@NoahKellman]

@@richardxu8865 you are very welcome! Yeah I stole that feel from Bill Evans 😅

[@jesuloin]

Great stuff :)

[@nickcicchese2323]

Noah, I must know - how did you get that 1/4 step bluesy bend at 6:41? On guitar, sort of simple... but piano?

[@matt.5249]

I think you’re talking about the Ab to A natural and basically he just slid his finger from the black key to the white key

[@manuelbelezajazz]

Hi Noah! Incredible, your playing sounds like Bill actualy! I have studyed jazz piano for a many years and I love Bill, but I never sound like him! I'd like to know a bit more.... God bless you, Manuel

[@raggamuffin2349]

hey man! thanks for the video. You mention an 2-5-1 in Eb but then play a Bb min - shouldn't it be a dom chord if its the 5 of Eb???

[@raggamuffin2349]

oh wait I figured it out there's a typo lol, the 2-5-1 is in Ab! :D

[@AZIMUTS52]

Isn't the first scale you played Barry Harris' 6th dim scale??

[@hekimadivin2758]

how can i do to make jazz music?

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Hekima, maybe this vid will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJCtZJyQja-laLM

[@PabloEstigarribiaok]

Excellent video Noah! Thank you! Can I ask you what camera you use for filming and what software for editing? Thanks again!

[@terrymiller111]

1:54 East St. Louis Toodle-Oo sounding. Good stuff.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Terry! Much appreciated.

[@מריחואנה]

I tried to take the chords from the "block chords" part. can someone tell if this is correct? C Eb G A: CmMAJ7 D F Ab B: Dm7b5 (m7b5) Eb G A C: Eb9b5 F Ab B D: Fdim10 G A C Eb:G/Adim7 Ab B D F: Ab dim7 A C Eb G: Adim7 B D F Ab: Bø7 thx!

[@emmanuelezekiel5759]

How do I get your materials?

[@jamesnicol8726]

u r a god x

[@zurielauguiste]

Ahhh he was a left hander.... makes sense now! 😮

[@nickcicchese2323]

@8:40 so thaaaaat's how does that.... I always felt like it sounded like a waterfall

[@NoahKellman]

I know what you mean, Nick!

[@nicholasc9461]

4:09

[@batuhanfidan3349]

Plz add turkish sutitles

[@s.kurt1011]

How to sound like Bill Evans step one: be Bill Evans.

[@NoahKellman]

hahah well if you can do that one, you'll definitely sound like him.

[@Magnet12]

I hope you do longer impressions at the start so I can learn your impressions because they sound so good

[@jamesnicol8726]

young god on the keys

[@benbernanke7701]

Wait... people play block chords with their right hand? Im left handed and it feels so weird...

[@NoahKellman]

yeah usually right hand! I think Bill did use his left hand though at times

[@kgodishomowa]

it's 00:25 for me, wow

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks!

[@mybiggrin]

ii V I in Ab*?? 8:00

[@nickcicchese2323]

"rhythmically mimicking the right hand (soloing) with your left hand" THIS! I feel like it doesn't get mentioned enough. Usually, he starts doing this at the start of his final chorus...

[@NoahKellman]

Good point! He does often save it for the end. Thanks for the comment!

[@nickcicchese2323]

@@NoahKellman key word "saves!" 100% save the best for last.

[@flyingisland7583]

💚💛❤️

[@bjarneyleagudmundsdottir4138]

carrie underwood

[@thuryn.mitchell]

As always , great video. But why dont you record your videos on the grand piano instead of that dinky sounding sorry electric piano? Bill would have chosen the real piano 😉

[@ricardozapata9142]

3:53 He was just built different

[@NoahKellman]

Definitely some truth to that, but we can still learn a lot from studying him/his playing!

[@ricardozapata9142]

Lol I didn't say it in a bad way, it's a meme. He was a freaking genius and he played with a lot of my favorite sounds and colors

[@NoahKellman]

@@ricardozapata9142 ohhh haha gotcha. Don't know the meme!

[@jond532]

BARRY HARRIS SCALE!

[@BrunoDeSimone-h5b]

...obviously except the minor sixth diminuished scale, an old thing...!

[@Officialkingofallkings]

I think Noah is Bill reincarnated

[@klavier1us]

I immediately recognized the first minute plus as part of the BE improv section of "Here's That Rainy Day" so you're clearly hitting an audible bullseye on the styling. Superb- it would be interesting to hear you similarly dissect the BE take on "The Touch of Your Lips" bc it was done in C and famously dissected in part by Bill himself with Marian McPartland on Piano Jazz, which can still be heard. It would I believe be the first such exercise- if undertaken.

[@NoahKellman]

klavier1us oh wow that’s so cool- I haven’t heard that before. I’m going to have to search out that recording ASAP. Thanks foe the tip!

[@klavier1us]

Noah Kellman, this is what you are seeking, 4 th tune is “The Touch of Your Lips” w Marian’s questions for Bill. www.npr.org/2010/10/08/92185496/bill-evans-on-piano-jazz

[@NoahKellman]

@@klavier1us Wow thanks so much- going to check this out today!

[@dr.brianjudedelimaphd743]

Out of all your “how to sound videos” I think you sound the closest to Evans and captured it well ….

[@NoahKellman]

Thank you appreciate that 🙏 Bill Evans is one of my biggest influences for sure

[@terrymiller111]

Playing = 10 Shirt = 2

[@NoahKellman]

Hahaha could use some ironing at the very least.

[@enomusicality]

I'm sorry but your explanation is too fast. Couldn't catch up the chord you play

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Retuno, you can always go into the KZbin settings and slow down the video. Hope it helps!

[@durvilleoliver4065]

Good stuff Sir but you are moving way too fast

[@opp0site]

how are we supposed to believe you when the piano you're playing is clearly behind you? ;)

[@kellycoote7149]

Don’t be too hard on yourself if even after much practice trying to learn the technical details of Bill’s playing you still don’t really sound like him. I doubt anyone will ever be able to really do that given that during most if not all of Bill’s live performances and studio recordings he was playing in a heroin, methadone or cocaine induced high and struggling with the physical pain of drug side effects as well as mental illness and continual thoughts of suicide. Bill Evans’ drug addictions began with heroin when he was 29 years old, shortly after he joined Miles Davis’ band in 1958 and lasted, on and off, along with addictions to methadone and cocaine, until his death at age 51 in 1980. His personal life was traumatized over the years by the deaths of close friends, colleagues and family members to the point where he himself didn’t want to live. By 1972 when he recorded Live in Paris his body was already wrecked from the heroin and he was often seen playing with swollen sausage fingers, a painful side effect of the drug. Every time I hear a Bill Evans recording, as beautiful as they are, I always wonder how high he was or how much pain he was dealing with in his mind or his body during the recordings of his material through those years and whether his playing, his sound or his mental health would have been any different if he had been healthy.

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Kelly, yeah those are all really interesting questions. Certainly his playing emotes a lot of sadness. I do wonder how he would have sounded had he been clean and lived on.