Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize some bread and butter “fifties” piano comping styles… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
Basic music reading… LOVE of music… and the discipline to study and practice.
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“Fifties” Piano Comping Style #1
Applied to the Major 1 6 4 5 Chord Progression (I-vi-IV-V)…
Key elements: triplet sub-beats, block chords with voice leading in the right hand, melodic bass line which creates a strong sense of momentum, direction, and anticipation…
Performance Tip: Play the bass line melodically!
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“Fifties” Piano Comping Style #2
Applied to the Major 1 6 4 5 Chord Progression (I-vi-IV-V)…
Key elements: 8-bar form, triplet sub-beats, arpeggiated chords in the right hand, and step-wise melodic motion in the bass line that creates a strong sense of momentum, direction, and anticipation for each chord change…
Performance and Interpretation Tip: Play the bass notes on each strong beat as if they are connected to the right hand arpeggios and think “easy in, easy out” on the arpeggios!
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“Fifties” Piano Comping Style #3
Applied to a 12-bar Blues Chord Progression…
Key elements: 12-bar form, triplet sub-beats, block chords with voice leading in the right hand, and broken chords in a 1-8-3-5-3-5 pattern in the left hand, and walkups and walkdown for the turnaround in the last two bars…
Listen to Frank play this at 80 beats per minute…
Performance and Interpretation Tip: Play the bass line melodically!
back to… Table of Contents
“Fifties” Piano Comping Style #4
Applied to a 12-bar Blues Chord Progression…
Key elements: 12-bar form, triplet sub-beats, block chords with voice leading in the right hand, and broken chords in a 1-3-5-b3-3-5 pattern in the left hand, and walkups and walkdown for the turnaround in the last two bars…
Listen to Frank play this at 80 beats per minute…
Performance and Interpretation Tip: Play the bass line melodically and with expressive dynamics.
Extra Credit
Add a bit more life and bounce in the bass line by playing b3 grace notes into all the 3s for each chord as follows…
Technique Tips: 1. Play the grace note and right hand chord with the same impulse, as if you have a ten finger hand with one mind, 2. Play each grace note and target note with the same finger by sliding your middle finger off each black note (b3) onto the white note (3) in one continuous motion.
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wow takes y there doesnt it
It does indeed! I am deeply enjoying your short, sweet, and incisive commentary, Dave. Keep ’em coming!