Solo Piano BASICS | You'll Hear It

Sometimes it's scary to be alone, but with proper technique and preparation, you can take on the jazz world solo.
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The theme song for You'll Hear It is Peter Martin's "Emotion in Motion":
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[@georgehiggins1320]

I love that Adam has to stop talking and add a small "woo!" every time Peter plays something a little out.

[@nicscott8560]

Adam: *is giving kickass lecture* Peter: *is interrupting with playing* Adam: *stops talking* Peter: *stops playing*

[@mmmludicious]

OK, it's true. Nobody is perfect, including geniuses trying to teach us the basics. We expect that very accomplished people, who are committed to teaching, should be master teachers. Why do we assume that? Wishful thinking.

[@nicscott8560]

@@mmmludicious It was just a funny thing i noticed... no shade. I totally think they're great, its not like I'm roasting tf out of them. Chiiiiillllllll, my guy. XD

[@ross9263]

wow im so glad you guys exist. Im just starting to get into jazz from classical and I have no idea what im doing. Watching your videos not only teach me but give me good little foundations to start learning off of. Maybe i hear something you say and then i go look that up and learn about it.

[@OpenStudioJazz]

Hey. Checkout the courses at Open Studio. You would love

[@Herfinnur]

Here's something I learned from a colleague that worked as a cruise and hotel bar pianist for a spell: if it's running late and the guests aren't going to bed, let go of all groove and drive. Make it sound like you're just floating around, and invariably the guests will start to yawn and leave the bar. And it won't even be because they think you're playing badly, since your playing is still tasteful

[@8629369]

Thanks as always for sharing your knowledge and passion. I appreciate the connection with you guys within this community of passionate jazz piano players. 😀

[@amotinyabongo5659]

As a bassist who started in R&B and transitioned to Jazz, I used to fear trio work but now I embrace it. Still developing my improvisation on the bass but I know it doesn't happen over night...and I'm working at it.

[@nathanyang9188]

as a classical pianist trying to transition into playing jazz, this video completely changed my outlook on practice. thank you adam and peter!

[@ganjarulez009]

This podcasts are sooo insanely valuable!

[@juanpia7913]

Thank you so much guys, so important and useful stuff! Really guiding piano learners in the vast universe of jazz.

[@tonybayliss8530]

What an excellent video. There are some great pointers here for playing solo piano and I do now have some ideas as to what to practice.

[@weedanwine]

love these videos, so right when you're talking about being able to lock in the groove. I'm basic af playing jazz, but the one thing I've never had an issue with is swinging, I might be ignorant with my theory game but at least I can swing 🤣

[@salarico7777]

Thanks guys! Always love your insight!

[@brianmathis935]

You guys are amazing!!!

[@josephmartino9958]

Thanks for the one liners and various comments, essential building blocks to hold the glue of ideas together...always landing on a new stairway with a new landing

[@marvinmadarang4622]

Hey Peter & Adam, I've been watching you guys for a while and you've really helped! I had the pleasure of seeing Peter at Mt. Hood Community College last year and it was a wonderful experience. Could you guys take a look at dolphin dance in a future episode? Keep up the good content!!!

[@jac5667]

Really great stuff, you guy deserve more views

[@OpenStudioJazz]

Thanks. Share this with your folks!

[@fernandoyanez5386]

Gracias gracias gracias! son enormes y generosos con la informacion

[@louismartin4446]

Great Content…great!

[@bloopwars9977]

Best channel on KZbin!

[@vanwellington]

13:32 Peter goes, "I almost *mist* that." 🤣🤣🤣 I see you, man. By the way - 5 choruses perfect or go back one. Love it.

[@daotran5707]

I got like 5 tabs of ya'll queued up, love it!

[@keyofbrink810]

Another dope podcast! Keep up the good work. I can listen to solo piano talk all day! Thanks!

[@willzang3000]

two feel basics is so overlooked by myself and therefore everyone haha

[@tobistephens]

Thanks guys!!! So helpful

[@taagenletter6454]

Thanks for all your thoughts and amazing insights to the world of music. It is always possible to find some great stuff to practice og feed to my innocent students at the conservatory ;o) I like the informal attitude and the humor that guys use during showtime. Whether intended or not, it makes me, and I hope, other musicians think that music is worth to work at. Thanks Guys.

[@eugenestockstill7162]

Thanks, guys! Uber helpful!

[@giuseppechisari6222]

"You call that basic?" Love you guys

[@gregoryellis5576]

This is very important to know especially for beginners, you guys playing is awesome, can you do a gospel music basic bass lines.very helpful

[@keyofbrink810]

I Especially like how you guys put emphasis on getting the "basics" together and learning how to sound good with that, before trying to focus on advance stuff.

[@AnalyticPiracy]

You should expand on the 2 feel patterns to practice

[@searching4pawgs495]

I'm curious to know how skilled these guys are in the grand scheme of solo pianist. Seem pretty amazing to me.

[@AManAnd88Keys]

Very skilled, no doubt.

[@jman12849]

pretty much everyone at their level is very skilled, it's just a matter of taste and other factors that determine where they stack up.

[@tecladistasbrasileiros]

Que solo lindo.

[@peterwestermann5265]

Only one thing besides fantastic. Where can I get the opening song?? Thank you guys for all the great stuff.

[@grzankomuzykant]

Guys U are great ! What are the Chords to the blues from the two feel ? Thank U

[@genekelly3961]

Shout out to you guys Peter and Adam. Adam I caught you at the Berklee performance center a couple of years ago and you were swangin’! Great topic hey can you let me know what type of software to use to create the keys on the bottom and then the video above it?

[@martinlehfeldt6916]

BEAR PAWS DOWN!! Lol that a good one.

[@Ronin42069]

How do I figure out what figure you are using in these Examples

[@kaisfp]

Which Pianoteq version and model/preset are you using? Thank you.

[@cisumgre]

That was not basic. 🤦🏾‍♂️. I love you guys.

[@robbielem99]

Does it need to be added that practice with a metronome keeps you honest? I like the half-tempo click on 2 and 4. It’s frustrating how you can get it turned around, especially as the tempo comes up!

[@bradforddavis6497]

How 'bout... Peter just plays 3 solo tunes with some unsophisticated college kid singer who needs experience and help, he or she fleshes out one chorus per, who then walks off, but allows us to recall the lyrics. Like once a week at a regular time. We'll vote in the comments if we want more from that particular singer. But the emphasis is on the solo piano. Point being, Peter's playing is ten+. The subsequent commentary is fine and can be posted in the description, or maybe on the back of a St. Louis Wheaties box.

[@jakereosti]

what can you do if you can just barely reach the voicing Root 7th 3rd in the left hand like Adam does at 11:10? I can get it if its white to white, but black to black just doesn't happen.

[@chrisfazio9934]

I have a few ideas: 1) just play R 7 and forget that 10th. or play R 3 7 if adding the 3rd isn’t too low and muddy. Or hit the Root, hold the sustain pedal and quickly jump up to hit the 7 and 3. Work on getting that rhythm to work with the song. Or, in some contexts just do 7 R 3 or 5 7 3. Lots of options!

[@raphaelhudson]

Does the intro song actually exist . I've heard it so many times now I want to play it 🤣

[@elleondejuda4681]

Come on petter ! Thats not basic at all...thats more advanced roadrunner mode. Thank you guys...I'd like to say that i try to skip the foundation to get more ahead and what happened was i didn't succeed at all, so i had to go back to learn all foundation...hahaha Oh boy, I'm learning to love the process and as I practice its making sense...so yes , practice foundation and little things will eventually will take you very far.

[@nilkilnilkil]

7 stars...

[@rasmuseberley]

What does 5 Choruses mean? What is one standard chorus?

[@AntKneeLeafEllipse]

Love it! Is that Sophisticated Lady at the top? Some crazy harmony in there

[@winstonmacmahon9735]

This was probably not not one of the most not too terrible-ish okay podcasts. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - New One 10 stars! Well I got myself confused in that one. Great show as always BAM! Karma Addressed

[@benrijkmans8983]

Yo I rate u 7 guys.. would love to see more ways to practice the left hand ,and the combination of the two! Thank you! Lots of live from beni the mano from GYC israel.

[@kerstinostgren4805]

I didn't miss what Peter did at 13.32. 😂

[@joaopedromelao]

I just wanna say: 11:40

[@swiftla]

A13sus A13 to Bb13 😍

[@bumchong1]

What is name of the song Peter playing on Intro?

[@salarico7777]

Sophisticated Lady Duke Ellington

[@jenniferv]

I almost mist that. lol

[@jmares93]

What is the tune / progression that you guys are playing when discussing the two feel?

[@AMSharpshooter]

An F Blues and later in the video "Have You Met Miss Jones."

[@svensvensson6705]

This is what you call entertainment.

[@antoniog2854]

What's the tune Peter plays solo at the start? Anyone know?

[@robwatts7900]

Antonio G Sophisticated Lady by Duke Ellington

[@antoniog2854]

@@robwatts7900 ah yes! thank you!

[@ArgoBeats]

Hey Peter, hey Adam: what piano VST (if any) are you using? It sounds very "al dente".

[@weedanwine]

keyscape I think

[@ArgoBeats]

@@weedanwine I don't think, man... Kescape C7 has a different timbre, it might be Pianoteq

[@genomos90]

tbat intro was so not basic . still cool doe

[@GizzyDillespee]

13:25 Hold up... you have a middle hand?! Ah, that must be why I can't play like you. Does Peter have 2 middle hands, or how many?

[@rdettwyler]

"I almost myst that" - HA

[@johnsknox]

coming 3 years late but 7 stars

[@AlexanderThePianist]

I'm 5 minutes into the video. One of my favorite works of solo jazz piano is Bill Evan's Like Someone in Love. You guys are obviously experienced in the jazz tradition but saying "You have to hear a bass and drums in your head" is never going to lead to someone being able to reproduce the sense of give-and-take rhythm (rubato) feel that's going on in that track. Unless the drums you're hearing in your head isn't steady like a real drummer would be. This is speculation but I get the sense Bill Evans turned off that mode of thinking (the mode of improvising in a trio setting) when he did these nearly universally beloved solo tracks. Love the podcast, will be watching more.

[@sebbo1496]

"Learn the Rules Like a Pro, So You Can Break Them Like an Artist" - Picasso i think that's the purpose of most educational material. teach the stuff that can be taught easily and then let people make it their own once they mastered the basics. it's pretty hard, if not impossible, arguably pointless even, to try to teach this type of creativity and artistry you described. and who knows, if Evans turned it off. maybe the drummer and bassist in his head were playing some crazy rubato stuff but toghether ;D. that's the beauty of using your imagination. anything possible

[@pickinstone]

Coming from a guitarist: There's too much rubato solo piano/ guitar that is poorly done and over done. Bill Evans was a master, but ya better believe that he could swing by himself before going full rubato. If done wrong--like many of us not at Adam or Peter's level--you end up either train wrecking or putting the audience to sleep. Learning how to develop your inner drummer and swing by yourself will HELP you play rubato--because you'll learn how to push and pull the tempo and make it elastic WHILE pushing the composition forward. You learn it by listening, learning a little bit of drums, vocalizing drum rhythms, and becoming more creative with the metronome. Time well spent.

[@GizzyDillespee]

This comment confuses me... I'd wager real money that everyone, who's listened to or played an instrument with accompaniment, for even just a little while, or has learned a language, or even just lived a little, hears or feels a virtual grid, or some sort of rhythmic accompaniment, when noodling alone or solo playing a song you know well enough not to have to think about it. I've just spent the last 30 minutes tripping out about the pushback to this description. Right now, my inner beat is more precise than my playing! (I can't entirely tell if it's accurate or precise when I'm playing... only if I record myself and listen back. I'd rather hear a precise sway, with floaty notes, than precise notes gridded to a floaty sway, if that makes sense. So, that's what often seems to happen.) "Nonmusical" people (another term I have doubts about) can dance to songs they only can hear in their heads... and often, they hadn't thought of the song on purpose beforehand. That's another manifestation of this natural human ability. When I first started recording my playing, I wondered why it didn't sound like it did when I played it. There were 2 big reasons. The biggest was that, when playing, I was listening as a performer rather than as a participatory audience member. A smaller, but still actionable for me, reason, was that the recording only played back what I actually played - it couldn't have recorded the parts I was playing off of🤣. I think, in some ways, it's good to restrict young people (artificially or not) to having only the cheesiest of drum/bass machines... then, kids can develop their own virtual accompaniment, to supplement the metronome/chintzy auto-accompaniment. Okay, it's been 45 minutes, and I'm done thinking about this aspect now.

[@MomLAU]

The first time i read "ymmv" I thought maybe it was "you make me vomit"!

[@coffinman5007]

Warren Bernhardt can do solo playing.

[@mtrsoftwareservices]

Why are they not showing close up of his hands in the intro?

[@natanaelmelinao6029]

Primer comentario:)

[@mikzreyes]

"it's just dogmatic enough." come for the tutorial, stay for the GAWD-level commentary.

[@henrydodds3749]

why did Peter call Adam daddy

[@jorgegarcia2000]

Hard to listen to this much chatter. Peter, no need for all the clever asides. This is great fruit …all these comments feels like too many seeds in the watermelon.

[@rachelsmename6]

I wish you guys would talk less and show us more because I know you've got a lot to teach us. I get impatient and just leave.

[@OpenStudioJazz]

Hey Rachel, they do a lot more teaching on their courses at Open Studio. Check it out. Openstudiojazz.com

[@mosephina]

@@OpenStudioJazz If this video is a sales pitch for the Open Studio courses, then you have done yourselves a dis-service

[@pickinstone]

Rachel, it's a pod cast first. If they didn't have commentary, it wouldn't fit the pod cast feel. As someone who has a bunch of their courses over at Open Studio--they do a BUNCH more teaching on the actual courses. Peter's courses are incredibly deep--one ten minute section of a course changed how I approach modal tunes. Adam is a pro at teaching the FUNdamentals. You can preview the courses on the site.

[@mosephina]

@@pickinstone good to know...thanks

[@rachelsmename6]

pickinstone that's true! They are trying to sell their lessons! Good to hear the lessons are not as verbose and full of jokes or joking as the podcast. That they actually get to work on the teaching part. I'm sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes or hurt feelings. Thank you for your feedback.

[@jorgegarcia2000]

Peter… please talk less. Too many words = less meaning. And too many cute comments are distracting and annoying.

[@ichabedichlieb4745]

Good tutorial but the bald guy is a little annoying.

[@Epistrat22]

ichabe dichlieb bald guys cool,

[@tianxing7795]

He is a great pianist.

[@mmmludicious]

thanks for sharing.

[@JJArts-sr5jw]

The bald teacher is one of the best legendarische teamchef i ever met.

[@marklampkin2907]

Can we hear some black musicians now?