Solo Jazz Piano: What Do I Do with my Left Hand???

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Pianist Jeremy Siskind, author of "Playing Solo Jazz Piano" shares three approaches for what pianists can do with their left hand when they play medium swing pieces.

[@Vaejovis357]

High level musical talent + natural teaching skill + generous personality = rare resource for jazz piano students.

[@MingusDynastyy]

Playing piano is so refreshing. I'm able to express myself, in a truer way, than on a bass.

[@JeremySiskind]

It's a pretty magical instrument sometimes! Enjoy!

[@pianotubeleonbricht9635]

I first visited your channel from Jonny May's interview with you and ever since I've been so amazed by the quality of your content🙏

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! And as soon as I read your comment I realized I said some things similar here to that video. But hopefully you didn't mind the review. Jonny's my hero!

[@jlrussell2668]

L

[@patrickmcginty632]

"I Love You" (Cole Porter) has been stuck in my head for days now. Thank you for mentioning the song name!

[@patrickmcginty632]

This is such a great video. I've been tempted to go ahead and buy your solo book, but I know I need many, many fundamentals (from your 3-book series) first. Still, it's nice to know what I can look forward to. Thank you for the great videos, and thank you for creating a series of wonderful books with a systematic, progressive approach for jazz beginners lost in a sea of information from other KZbin sources. Yours is by far the best instructional content I have discovered. Cheers.

[@kenseidman409]

You are really delivering substantial content, Jeremy, not just promotional tricks. Thanks so much! (I am looking forward to the arrival of your book and ordered one for a friend!)

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much for the nice comment, Ken! I'm glad you're finding the videos valuable! .

[@joetheouf]

I've been looking for such a precise left hand video for days now. This is amazing. Cheers Jeremy!

[@kennyb1063]

Hi Jeremy what a wonderful explanation, I admire the way you teach and play on your videos. Congratulations and keep on teaching us and produce books regards

[@michange3141592]

Great overview, just when I was getting afraid of shared hands. This is pushing me beyond my comfort zone, thanks a lot Jeremy !

[@Bearba2]

Loved the stride lesson

[@levic317]

solo jazz piano is crazy hard. thank you!

[@kingz7151]

I just bought your book through recommendation (I'm a beginner pianist) and decided to look you up, I never thought such a simple title could give me a video with such a good idea of what to do with my left hand, thank you :)

[@JeremySiskind]

Yay, so glad to hear it! Let me know if there are particular issues you’d like me to explore in a video.

[@michaelbates625]

Really enjoying your lessons Jeremy, keep it up please!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks so much, Michael! I'm planning on releasing at least one video a week. Tell your friends! :)

[@keyofbrink810]

Hi Jeremy, this is a great video from start to finish!! You gave a good overview of “modern” solo jazz piano, which I’m striving for! I appreciate you sharing it! I will purchase you book today!

[@JeremySiskind]

Yay, I'm glad you like it! I think you'll really like the book!

[@paolomanzionna8257]

Wonderful your arrangements. You should record complete pieces e score them… fantastic .

[@Pooter-it4yg]

You can also play rootless voicings in LH and melody in RH and just not play the bass notes at all. It's won't work for all tunes, it's a very stylised sound and since the rootless voicings can't be played too low it has a "medium and up" register sound. So generally best thrown in with the other approaches from time to time. BIzarrely, the bass note doesn't actually always need to be there - quite often it's just presumed or felt even by casual listeners.

[@JeremySiskind]

True! Bill Evans sometimes went with this approach!

[@joycehancock280]

Thanks. So many great ideas clearly explained.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks much, Joyce!

[@arthurvictor161]

Mestre! Watching from Brazil!

[@imalamboman12]

Thanks Jeremy, really helpful.

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome - glad you liked it!

[@lennardbehnke3681]

Thank you so much!

[@JeremySiskind]

You're welcome, Lennard! Thanks for watching!

[@HeavenlyBridegroomMusic]

This man really can play oh my!

[@JeremySiskind]

You're very kind!

[@gordonbooker7719]

Great lesson ! The mention at 3.00 of playing on the and of two and and of 4 is really helpful - it makes the playing more swinging - is this something that you would vary during a piece - for example sometimes playing the bass note on the 1 rather than the and of 4 ?

[@wadecottingham]

I am working on trading fours between right hand and left hand., or trading twos, or 8's. My left hand is spastic compared to my RH for soloing. But it's my favorite thing to practice currently.

[@duongduong2414]

Thank you so much for the lesson, I always use the same, dull left hand and your lesson is damn great to learn. Do "stride-like" comping for left hand have another name? And do you know any jazz pianist popular for this style? please enlight me.

[@spencersworldofmusic9686]

Thank you sir for sharing your approch. .its so Amazing sir . Im a beginer in jazz world. .and you explained is a summarry of all of approach. Of three elemnts . Base. Chiords. And melody. And the third hand pattern. Wow. Its Amazing. I understand now. Whats going on. Whats happening when it comes. Playing and improvising jazz. GOD BLESS sir.

[@JeremySiskind]

I'm so happy you like it, Spencer!

[@squabknob]

excited to check out these videos , you seem to have a different ( better more thorough) method of teaching

[@HeavenlyBridegroomMusic]

Sounds so good.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks - it's not so hard, either!

[@ts8538]

Thank you!

[@JeremySiskind]

No - thank you! Also...you're welcome!

[@sergei4517]

Hi Jeremy, I enjoy your book and your videos. It would be very interesting to get your view on an approach of comping (with left hand or shared hands) by playing chords that include their own melodies (in the left hand) while the right hand plays melody or impro

[@JeremySiskind]

Hi Serge! Interesting. Let me think about this. In a sense, every chord includes a melody note (generally the top Note). It’s really just a matter of how much you want to emphasize the notes and how smooth (stepwise) you can make the melody).

[@rommelmunoz4658]

I like the way u approach jazz solo like a band or orchestra break it down into a bass and melody then in between could be like sax, oboe or like alto or tenor then mix it up in improv

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks, Rommel!

[@neil1636]

Awesome

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks, Neil! I think *you're* awesome.

[@scottballin6137]

I believe you mean Dave McKenna from the Boston area.

[@JeremySiskind]

yes indeed! Dave McKenna - thank you!

[@chriswright2553]

Wonderful advice Jeremy and very clear. Glad you mentioned Dick Hindman. A monster player.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks, Chris! FYI - it's spelled Dick Hyman. Check out his albums...and he has an amazing book!

[@chriswright2553]

@@JeremySiskind ah ok different pianist. I’m referring to the guy who played on the Richie Cole album Hollywood madness kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJy8aZdnp6dqqK8 kzbin.info/door/6WR_cYHb7KEsir_xi4Ci4g

[@adampaley154]

And don’t forget Dave McKenna whose “third hand” was legendary!

[@terrypennell5398]

It takes some development time (practice) to be ready to absorb this content, but the lesson here really does help folks like me synthesize lessons learned into techniques that can be applied to create integrated sound.

[@JeremySiskind]

That is true! There is lots of practice required for application but I think the concepts are pretty comprehensible. Happy practicing!

[@asafdav2]

Thanks for the great lesson. Any tips on how to apply the stride like pattern on faster tunes that mostly have two chords per measure (i.e. moment's notice or confirmation)? In the video you simply play the roots but it doesn't sound so good when most measures are like this. Thanks again

[@JeremySiskind]

Shell voicings (r/3/7) are a really great way to go here!

[@EjLapore]

ye syes yes thanks Sir! please do sessions live or twitch sir!... so that a lot people will know you.. you really good... its easy.. just play common pieces,music ,meoldies

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks, EJ! I'm not sure twitch is for me, but I'll keep my eyes open for it. :)

[@lillila6867]

👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍

[@JeremySiskind]

[takes a bow] thank you, thank you! :)

[@jolygod]

Thank you so much, these tips are extremely useful. Just to follow up on the original question, because this is exactly what I was looking for, it would be great to have some exercises to work on for these techniques. For me, especially, how/when to add these syncopated "punch" chords in the "stride-like" self comping during improvisation (their timing should correspond somehow to what's happening in the improv, no?) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKXZh5SGrpySasU

[@JeremySiskind]

I'm glad you liked it! I would start with a consistent comping pattern (for instance, the Charleston pattern where you would have the bass on beat one and the voicing on the "and of two."). Use standard comping patterns like that (I'm happy to suggest more if you need it). It doesn't immediately have to do with your improv. I'd first think about having a difference between "soloist" (RH) and "accompanist" left hand, almost "separating" your brain in two and having hand independence. That's how I'd get started!

[@jolygod]

@@JeremySiskind Thank you so much, this makes a lot of sense :)

[@HeavenlyBridegroomMusic]

Cant see all of the left hand action

[@JeremySiskind]

There are a lot more videos where that came from and my technology has gotten better over time.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

No, not 3, you got 5, you also have rhythm and dynamics.

[@JeremySiskind]

Yep, there are so many things you’re in charge of when you play solo piano.