It’s Autumn, the nights are drawing in and the trees are changing colour. It’s time to get cosy and practice piano. What better song to learn than the Jazz classic Autumn Leaves? Originally written by Joseph Kosma as the French song Les feuilles mortes, it has become a beloved jazz standard. Whether you’re a beginner …
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Scales can often be something that beginner musicians shy away from practicing, they are often considered the least engaging part of piano practice. However, scales can be far more fun than their reputation would have you believe. Once a scale is under your fingers, you know which notes belong to which key, your hand …
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Comptine d’un autre été is the gently rippling piano piece most people know from Amélie, the 2001 French film about a shy Parisian waitress. Written by Yann Tiersen, its full title is Comptine d’un autre été: L’après-midi, and it has become one of the most-loved pieces among adult piano learners. The good news is that …
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Silent Night easy piano tutorialWatch Silent Night easy piano tutorial on YouTube Learn to play Christmas carols like this step by step. Start a free trial today! Silent Night was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by a priest and a schoolteacher, accompanied by a choir and a guitar. Today, …
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The whole tone scale is a surreal and enigmatic sound that often feels ambiguous and unanchored. The scale is perfect for creating dream-like passages and is commonly found in the work of Impressionistic composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. However, examples of the scale date back to the 17th century. The whole tone …
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The diminished scale, or octatonic scale, is an enigmatic and distinct scale that offers a great deal of melodic and harmonic depth and possibility. There are examples of the diminished scale in European classical music dating back to the time of Bach and also in various folk music traditions from the Middle East. However, …
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The altered scale, a term that resonates with intrigue and sophistication in the world of music theory, stands as a cornerstone for jazz and contemporary musicians. At its core, the altered scale is a variation of the traditional major scale, but with a twist – it’s modified to include certain altered notes, which gives …
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Musicians are often practicing groups of notes played one at a time in order, on their instruments. This is a very common way to develop speed and skill, hand independence and practice playing at slow or fast tempos. These notes musicians are often practicing are called Scales, which are actually called diatonic and chromatic …
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Bebop scales are a secret weapon in the arsenal of jazz musicians. These scales bridge the gap between complex harmonic theory and fluid improvisation. What exactly are bebop scales and how can you use them to create that swinging jazz sound? In this article we will dive deep into the theory behind bebop scales, …
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If you want to start playing jazz, learning a few key scales is one of the fastest and most effective ways to get there. Scales are sets of notes that help you understand melodies and get to grips with jazz. Jazz scales are groups of notes that can help give jazz its unique and …
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When learning music theory it often seems like a maze of rules, but it can also be the key to unleashing your creativity. One such fascinating topic in music theory is parallel scales. By mastering these piano scales, you can seamlessly shift the mood of your music, add emotional depth and expand your musical …
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Learning to understand music theory is a lot like learning a new language. Music theory has its own particular grammar and contextual idiosyncrasies. One important and often difficult aspect of music theory is learning about scales, particular major and minor scales. Scales form an important building block of melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions. One …
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