3 Exercises to Master Cocktail Jazz Piano

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LESSON SUMMARY
In this lesson, you're going to learn 3 exercises to master cocktail jazz piano improv. Specifically, you will learn:
- The turnaround progression
- Chord shells
- Rootless voicings
- The Major Blues Scale (Gospel Scale)
- An 8th note exercise
- A triplet exercise
- A slide exercise
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Chapters:
00:46 Turnaround progression
01:20 Beginner approach: chord shells
02:30 Play with backing track
03:04 Intermediate approach: rootless voicings
04:09 Play with backing track
05:04 Gospel scale
06:33 Exercise 1: 8th notes
09:05 Exercise 2: triplets
10:56 Exercise 3: slides
12:33 Play with backing track
13:07 Conclusion
Get your FREE 14-Day Trial to PWJ here: pianowithjonny.com/
Happy practicing!
Jonny May

[@PianoWithJonny]

00:46 Turnaround progression 01:20 Beginner approach: chord shells 02:30 Play with backing track 03:04 Intermediate approach: rootless voicings 04:09 Play with backing track 05:04 Gospel scale 06:33 Exercise 1: 8th notes 09:05 Exercise 2: triplets 10:56 Exercise 3: slides 12:33 Play with backing track 13:07 Conclusion

[@Momofthr3e]

Hallo

[@sussvarman]

hey if you put these in the description it should show up as a video index on the youtube player!

[@ksan1648]

@Peter Parker get lost, spammer

[@nyanlinn7077]

hi teacher I am beginner which one should i start ?please can u tell me.🙏

[@MomLAU]

@11:02 : Jonny, I know how you love to use slides-- since taking your courses, I find myself starting to do slides even when they don't fit the music! I especially love throwing in an occasional double slide (you didn't discuss them in this lesson)-- very enticing, like making the keyboard purr!

[@thomasmartinscott]

I wish I'd have found you 50 years ago. At 71 I'm finally learning what I wanted to back then. I was playing rock organ, but wanted to play Jazz. Oh well, better late than never. Your teaching style is perfect for the way I learn. Thank You, and God Bless You.

[@brucetowell3432]

I'm 71 and have been studying his method for the last 3 years or so.....he has so many different sections of learning, and sometimes, I find it overwhelming cause i jump from one idea to another before I can master any one....I have a bit of an advance as I did study music at music college, but that was when I was in my early 20's...I just need to find the discipline to not jump around. Good Luck and God Bless!!!

[@jchard45]

Not sure why youtube made you appear but it is the best lesson I’ve had. Excellent. I’m subscribed. Please keep going. Thank you!

[@sallysigler727]

Nice little lesson, Johnny! Been playing for years, but i gave up trying to figure out improv because I couldnt find a comprehensive lesson, but this is it! 🎹

[@evanwilliams8908]

Wow Johnny is the best piano teacher I have found on KZbin. Everything is so clearly explained and the digital piano overlay is perfect.

[@pierreforget3357]

I had to look many times to realize how you are doing the slides. At first, I didn't see that you were touching 2 keys! Almost like a magician. Very good lesson for me, a beginner at 72!

[@robinsarchiz]

Never too old to learn!

[@BenjaminJoffs]

It’s always the right time to develop new talents. Good on you!

[@stepawayful]

You GO!

[@madmoustache3653]

Thank you for your comment, I had to turn up my resolution to see that

[@stagelifelv9324]

I really appreciate your teaching style. I am learning a lot. You really demystify piano. I am so grateful.

[@J.L.Media.]

This has just become my favorite video on KZbin. I never knew I wanted to play cocktail jazz but now I think I want to do it more than any other thing and I know I will be able to. Excellent teacher. 👏 Thank you :)

[@AlDC96]

Not sure I’ve ever seen this so cleanly described in so little time. Amazing!!

[@Khordmaster]

You're an awesome teacher and I love the professional look and feel of your video! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@nickn1316]

WOW - I really enjoyed that lesson you have great teaching technique and have given me something to aspire to and actually achieve - thank you so much 🤗🤗🤗😎

[@edhawker2114]

Best lesson I’ve seen yet, And only eight minutes in. Exactly what I was looking for because it’s taking a very simple chord sequence and embellishing it to sound like something much richer.

[@diannebrewer6416]

LOVE THIS! You have opened up a new world for me with this...I’m jazzed & that’s no joke!

[@rebanelson607]

I've gone back to this lesson at least 10 times in the past year. It is a treasure. Seeing improvement in my playing and is so encouraging. Thanks, Jonny!

[@musicaldev5644]

This is one of the best materials I have seen on entire youtube. Everything explained in such easy way

[@jbridge3830]

Jonny, I've been practicing all evening ... what a brilliant tip this is. All of a sudden I'm sitting at the piano playing my own compositions and it almost sounds like rudimentary cocktail piano. Fantastic.

[@101Parkside]

Awesome Jonny. I'm more than inspired as a beginner!

[@joeljahnke9000]

This is a perfect little lesson, thank you Jonny.

[@angeliquescarpa9433]

My grandfather used to play jazz piano, and I loved listening to him practice. I'm excited to learn how to play!!

[@Racquetballplayer76]

Thank you for posting this. What great teaching and playing technique.

[@kevinlind4640]

Took me about three hours to learn how to play a handfull of songs in this style. Properly amazing!

[@roy4173]

I'll be honest. I was going to be disappointed if it was actually only a minute long. Keep them coming! I just love listening you play.

[@alexmammoth2916]

I am working on a project where I play one song in several styles. I don't get jazz AT ALL nor play much piano so the cocktail version was the most difficult to transcribe. WOW this helped so much. I don't feel embarrassed to share this with my help for this song now. Thank you so much. Even getting a feel for the timings you used at the beginning helped. Cheers!

[@marielaure7183]

Está súper Cool tu clase, amigo Jhonny. Voy a practicar. Muchas gracis!!!

[@leocmen]

Beautiful... This is the only word I have for this small piece of music

[@jdclapp]

Just finished watching the triplets and slides . . . wow. Even more impressed. GREAT job!

[@whyohwhy357]

You are a great teacher! I've watched a couple of your videos with no real piano knowledge (I play guitar) and I'm already "slowly" improving to backing tracks on my keyboard! THANKS! This is gonna be a great journey!

[@annb1265]

I played piano in middle and high school jazz band and we were NEVER taught anything like this. Thank you!

[@12Keys]

Same for me

[@luzvimindasuficiencia4804]

Thanks for sharing your piano tricks …much appreciated. Stay safe always.

[@doublengee]

These 14 minutes are much more helpful, than year long traditional piano lessons. Thank You!

[@BrandonMcBadass]

He didn't use a metronome, that's why

[@thegood9]

Best piano course on the internet, and so generous with the free content. Fantastic.

[@carlosb6205]

I started playing piano at 13. Went to college for it for 2 years. This is just what I needed to get back into it.

[@JohnFred1964]

You're a hell of a teacher! Thank you for your work. Your site is a treasure trove.

[@debeshbhattarai]

You have changed my Piano strides....Love you ....Johnny.... Stay Blesssed!!

[@jdclapp]

Wow. Super impressed. I stopped at the 8:50 mark because I couldn't wait to try it . . . and 30-45 minutes later I can start to get a handle on the intermediate bass line and am fooling with the gospel improv over it. I've only been (really) playing about a year and learning this kind of improv was really my motivation /goal to start playing piano in the first place. (I play for myself late at night to relax---yes, with a cocktail nearby! lol) Thank you Jonny for the great free lessons. (I'm a professional artist/art professor as well, so major props for the clarity and demystification of your art form.)

[@iloveSMandGD]

Awesome stuff! Just the video i needed! Im a classical piano player but always wanted to learn how to to simple jazzy piano

[@amusedwoman]

Omg it is one of the best tutorial video I have seen!!! Thank you so much!!! looking forward for the next videos!!!

[@pdxfun4888]

Wow, beautifully explained, good tempo and a wonderful gift to peopl curious and hungry to learn. Thank you, Johnny.

[@ericbort5248]

Awesome lesson, exactly what I was looking for

[@jaykay1053]

Great pacing and content here. I've been playing this style forever but what I love about music is there's always more to learn. (Your fingerings are different from mine so I'm keen to try yours out.) Thanks Piano with Jonny for having such a great visual display. Having the visual and auditory cues really puts this over the top, for me, a fellow educator.

[@mattdeans9873]

This is a great video. Skills that actually attainable to those starting out. I wish I had had KZbin when I was a youngster trying to learn jazz piano and getting nowhere.

[@17244852]

And how many cassette tapes did you go through before KZbin? Man these kids today got it soooo good!

[@matthewworley5701]

True lol

[@bluewarrior718]

Smile on my face the whole lesson, Jonny is awesome

[@LukeSalvatoreDalli1988]

Tremendous lesson, opened up different avenues!

[@vaniasetti2500]

Thank you sooo much Johnny.... truly accessible,useful, practical, down to earth, doable. And wonderful to play and listen to! Improv made possible!,, So satisfying! Thanks for posting

[@tarablake-meandmyviolin1132]

Awesome awesome awesome exercise - love it! Thank you so much!

[@BentleyBob2024]

Excellent teacher! Hats off to your whole approach and great video production as well. Thank you.

[@Tatiana.Akhremchik]

Great lesson!!! It really works!!! Thank you very much for this lesson!

[@sayarieastsounds]

I love Piano with Johnny... Thanks so much bro for your videos... Can't wait to put these tips into practice. More life more blessings to everyone here😇🙏🏾

[@avaree2271]

So thankful for this video. You started with basics and explained from there which was so helpful. especially when you explained the timing of different scales when you add a swing to it. This helped me a lot and I'm now subscribed.

[@joaoantunes9801]

You're a great teacher! I never got to go to jazz school, but I really appreciate this lesson, I hope to teach like you someday. Great video!!!!

[@christiangrandad]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

[@raymondchan9802]

Thank you Jonny you are an amazing teacher.

[@a.s.v4261]

How beautiful is jazz piano music.... specially when comes from your own fingers!

[@juancruzdiaz7003]

Barbaro profe!!! Genial tu explicacion!!!

[@gerardscelzi5926]

Johnny, your approach is measured, systematic and very much step-by-step and your concept of showing yourself playing at the piano along with the note names appearing above the piano keys as they are being played, is genius. And your musical knowledge and your ability convey it is simply amazing. Thank you so much for putting these videos together and I can’t wait to see your other videos.

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you so much!

[@jcbgonzealaise30]

Merci Jonny pour vos tutos ! Quel plaisir que vos explications si claires ....et en C !!! fabulous for a beguiner !!! Thank you so much 🥰

[@sistaschin]

Your playing is so beautiful & inspiring. And your instructions are clear. 👍

[@hauoan1772]

Thank u so much for this lesson. It's helpful and easy to understand!

[@longgarcon6536]

Thank you man. Great pianist and your techniques are just so easy to understand.👍🏽

[@thedrunkmonkshow]

I'm so glad KZbin recommended your video to me instead of nonsense. I'm not a beginner at piano or pro but as an intermediate everything you're explaining, including the slides, is super, duper important! I didn't know a chord progression I've been tinkling with since kid by ear turns out to be the mighty Gospel Scale! Now that I can recognize that pattern and it has a name to it is really informative :)

[@ncao]

LOVE it, love it .. LOVE it ... thanks for this tutorial

[@user-ce7qp7bu6g]

Great lessons thank you very much!

[@garrisonaurelius2694]

I'm so glad i found your channel. I love jazz but never knew where to start to learn

[@tony113000]

Excellent - really enjoyed this lesson - hopefully I can emulate - Thanks

[@crescendo29]

I'm a hotel Pianist from Malaysia. I really like your teaching as it improves my playing. Thanks for sharing :)

[@JacksonCaesar]

I can't be the only one hearing "Heart and Soul" within these progressions. I am now going to take a second look at that composition, I didn't realize the "Jazzy" in that song. Cool!!! Thanks for these tips!!!

[@MM-ro9jn]

excellent teacher absolutely clear !

[@leonli7394]

just so good that I love you Jonny!!!!

[@Kundacci]

Always simple but very rich tutorials Jonny, thanks a lot !

[@Z3lllio]

Thank god for people like you! Thanks so much ;) you are the best!

[@josequins9099]

I just recently started learning piano. I didn't know there was an actual name for the style of piano music I love most. Cocktail jazz FTW!!! So smooth. Subbed.

[@zyrtec3]

I am deeply connected with music (being now 54). It was always classical, reading music (I love Bach!). BUT!! - I NEVER knew how to play "by heart" or improvise. My Father - a professional conductor and organ virtuoso - and my brother - engineer! :) - could improvise easily! You taught me how much do I have to DEPART from the classical understanding of the harmony I studied in order to IMPROVISE - how much must I change my approach. I have to turn it 180 degrees! That's your GREAT success! Thank you! I will definitely follow starting from HERE!! This is thanks to your remarkable teaching / instructing abilities and a brilliant personality!

[@PianoWithJonny]

zyrtec3 ❤️

[@Iamopen2U]

I am also a classically trained pianist that always felt like I was trapped in a box with no where to get out. I am extremely thankful for my training......but now I see there was an absolutely unopened box to explore. I feel like such a beginner again......and loving it! :) :)

[@Reuben_95]

Bach is the OG

[@KeynerKeys]

Excellent I love the way you teach piano, you're one of the best in the world that's for sure, thanks for sharing it

[@anthonydear4708]

Just discovered your channel. Love your simple deconstruction of what sounds like difficult playing

[@stevenr.2534]

You’re a great piano teacher. Excellent tutorial!

[@LenachenUSA]

Excellent tips! Thank you.

[@marys2264]

Love your lessons! Thank you maestro! 💖

[@juans6639]

Excellent videos. Thank you .

[@charliebarreda2320]

Good job, very clear, you're a very good teacher. Thank you for sharing

[@Jo-ot6tk]

Thank you very much Jonny for this interesting lesson 👍

[@starlite33]

thanks Jonny, helpful stuff.

[@siegfriedwifling9992]

Maybe as you can see I am basically a trumpet player but you motivated me to go further with my secret love playin Cocktail Piano.. Amazing video and extremely helpful keep on going the good work thank you very very much...

[@simonsmatthew]

Thanks for these great videos!

[@EvaMas]

Thank you! You are great!

[@hziegler]

Thank you, Jonny. Your approach and teaching is very easy to understand for a slow learner like me. Thank you.

[@Utuberj0sh]

This is amazing thanks for this. Would love to see more common scales and techniques used in cocktail! 🍸

[@lesvion3815]

Awesome man! Beautiful sound, thanks so much for sharing, truly appreciated. I listen to this not just for the lesson, but for the listening itself. I know I've always appreciated the gospel scale, just didn't know what I was appreciating - until now. Gonna check out your site.

[@chenyu4453]

What an amazing video! Ive been playing piano all my life, but never touched jazz. this is such an amazing intro to jazz!

[@berniefrancisco5221]

Tnx for sharing!

[@KoalaPie24]

I'm really impressed by your teaching, thank you I learned quite a bit

[@rl7763]

Great lesson! Thanks

[@misery3299]

Jazz is one of my favourite genres and I find it very difficult to play since I only know basic chords. This video gave me a chance to play jazz. Thank soo much sir.

[@thememoryhole9355]

Great video. I love to learn simple things that sound impressive. And it sounds amazing!

[@preciousone9377]

Awesome teaching, so easy to follow.

[@patwishdatfish]

Fantastic lesson

[@KatieBerryBooks]

Thank you for the fabulous lesson, Jonny. You've just gained a new subscriber. As a longtime keyboard player who originally learned on the organ back in the day, I have been wanting to learn chord shells along with blues and jazz styling on piano for a long time now. Thanks for making it look so easy!

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Thanks, 4 the tips.

[@excapeplan1282]

Loved this free lesson!!! Thank you! So much!!!!

[@Kristin95762]

This tune makes me so happy. Thanks.

[@chrisSkordPiano]

Thanks for the tips i really enjoy your videos!