piano for the non-pianist

[Rahspeak]

hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew of any piano method books that are specifically geared towards the non-piano playing jazz musician? I'm a tenor player but want to get familiar with the keyboard for purposes of composing, working out harmonic problems/situations, and just to be able to do basic chord voicings and stuff. i know many jazz musicians on all sorts of instruments are at least proficient on piano. any leads on books that are particularly geared towards this kind of knowledge, or tips on how some of you may have become familiar with the piano?

thanks, Miguel.

[turner47]

Hi Rahspeak.

Over the years I've bought and studied many piano books. The most important thing to look for in a book is chord voicings. With that comes efficient movement through dominants, majors, and minors around the cycle and movement through ii-V7-I progressions. There are many ways to accomplish these goals and, unfortunately, you find bits and pieces scattered in different books. I've had teachers and taken classes at the local community college - these techniques are hidden in many places. I comp every chance I get - I manage to do okay with about five different "styles" of chord voicings.

My latest "best book" is "Voicings for Jazz Keyboard" by Frank Mantooth. He presents a minimalst approach to building chords mainly using fourths: AKA, quartels. He introduces "miracle voicings" that - if you've done your practicing - give a very jazzy, modern sound to comping. This is a very good book and has worked well for me.

Of course, you should practice these voicings and study the components so that when you find yourself lost on the keyboard you can "on the fly" build the next change and hopefully swing back into known territory by the next measure. I've given up trying to be a good soloist and feel quite happy at the end of a session if the bass player doesn't complain.

The knowledge I've gained from studying chord voicings has strengthened my improv on the sax. Seeing the notes that make up a chord seem to stick in my head. Most sax players I know can't point to keys on their horns and say "those four make up an Ab-7(b9)," but I can see a few ways of voicing it on the piano (and know with moderate certainty which chord will follow).

And, needless to say, practice, practice, practice. Good luck.

[bpimentel]

Try Jerry Coker's Jazz Keyboard ("For Pianists and Non-Pianists"), published by Belwin. It has good stuff on how to play different kinds of voicings, plus idiomatic piano stuff (like good vamps to play on specific tunes). Cover price $12.95.