| The piano is an important musical instrument for | | | | beat with the right hand just after a weaker beat |
| jazz bands since the origin of jazz music and it | | | | with the left hand. The objective of this technique |
| can be played in the style of a solo performance | | | | is to mimic the combination of a cymbal ride as |
| or as part of a band. Like the guitar, the piano is | | | | well as the walking bass. This technique can also |
| one of the few musical instruments in a jazz band | | | | be executed deftly with the left hand alone, by |
| which can play chords as well as notes instead | | | | imitating the weaker beat preparatory swing note |
| just single notes only instruments such as the | | | | that is played by a bassist just before he strikes |
| saxophone, trombone, trumpet or even the | | | | some of the notes of the bass phrasing.b) Play |
| vibraphone (1 or 2 notes together). | | | | the melody or solo improvisation with the right |
| Gone were the days when a jazz pianist's role is | | | | hand.c) Establish the guide tones for chord |
| just to keep tempo with repetitive chord | | | | changes. |
| combinations. Nowadays, the pianist is free to | | | | One method commonly used by jazz pianists for |
| choose any technique or style to accompany a | | | | tackling this triple situation simultaneously is to hold |
| band or a singer using both short and sustained | | | | the hands together in a fork-like shape with the |
| chordal and melodic fragments called comping. | | | | index and the third finger joining the thumbs to |
| An accomplshed jazz pianist must not only be | | | | form a central group, whilst the fourth and fifth |
| good at sight-reading as well as good at | | | | fingers are spread outwards. |
| improvising chord symbols but also must be able | | | | This is done so that the pianist can use the left |
| to adapt to the different playing styles of various | | | | branch fingers to play bass notes, the middle |
| bands he jams with. Jazz pianists must balance | | | | fingers to moderate the guide tones and the right |
| this interpretation and improvisation to the musical | | | | branch fingers to play the upper lines of the |
| style the bands are playing. | | | | melody. |
| The jazz pianist is indeed a happy musician | | | | It is indeed challenging for the pianist to meet all |
| because of the extended range of the piano. The | | | | these demands at the simultaneously. However |
| piano offers the pianist with a much greater | | | | these skills are inherent in most competent jazz |
| number of choices and techniques for | | | | pianists. |
| improvisation, much more so than any other | | | | What is commonly called the 'circle of fifths' is also |
| instruments in a jazz band. | | | | an important element in playing jazz piano |
| In a jazz musical style known as "striding", the left | | | | because it provides harmonic diversity through a |
| hand of the pianist alternates positions very | | | | well guided harmonic phrase. Playing the circle of |
| quickly playing notes in the bass register and | | | | fifths technique is very much related to chord |
| chords in the tenor register. The right hand will | | | | "planing" techniques which shift a chord, often |
| usually play the melody, but might also play | | | | voiced in fourths, up the scale, while implying a |
| harmonic content, chordally or even in octaves. | | | | repeated harmonic pattern of |
| Jazz pianists play the solo with 3 basic objectives | | | | tonic-dominant-tonic-dominant. |
| to fulfill simultaneously. The techniques are as | | | | If you intend to be a good at playing jazz piano, |
| follows :-a) To provide a clear and swinging | | | | then mastering these styles and techniques is a |
| rhythm. This style is usually done by striking a | | | | required skill. |