Similar here. I never learned piano (25 years ago my sister did and taught me the first section of fur elise but she got annoyed with me because I was too stubborn to use the “right fingering” haha), but I did trumpet, violin, and sang in choirs for a couple of decades, so there’s some foundation. (now I can play the full A–B–A–C–A at 90bpm with the right fingering, so I guess she was right!).
Yeah I read Hayden’s comments above about having 3-4 going at once, and he has suggested similar to me, with a longer term goal of aiming for 30 that I am familiar with.
When you say that you practise playing the melody with roots, 3rds and 7th what are you doing there? Reading from the lead sheet playing the melody through and R-3-7 in the left from theory knowledge? Are you chosing your own voicings or learning from the provided videos/transcriptions?
There’s a nice autumn leaves ballad video in the Intermediate section which starts off with a simple r-3-7 arrangement which I’ve spent some time on. I can play it through without mistakes and it’s much better than some other things I’ve rote learned from elsewhere because I can easily think about the chords. So now picking up another (Just Friends) to start.
One thing I’ve started doing is spending more time dedicated on a single scale. Playing major scale+triad around the circle is easy enough but it’s more rote learning and formula learning (next one has another b or another #), and I wasn’t really committing much to memory. So I’m spending a solid 15-30 minutes on a single scale now. note #s, rootless voicings in both hands in all inversions thinking of the numbers, notes, whats at the top, etc. intervals (1-2-1, 1-3-1 up two octives to 1-15-1_) The 5 7s, type AB 2-5-1s. That’s helping a lot.
In the Misty video on this site, Hayden has broken the lesson into chapters. First root and melody, and then 3rds and 7ths, followed by extensions and harmonisation. In my first jazz standard p, I watched the whole video, and then tried to copy him through the whole video, basically working on the final product from the outset. With Misty, I decided that I would make sure I could play what he taught in the first chapter off by heart before moving onto the second chapter.
With the jazz standards, I’m trying not to use the sheet music provided. I work with the lead sheet provided and I try to commit everything Hayden teaches in a chapter to memory so that I can play it off by heart only looking at the lead sheet. It’s a lot more time-consuming, but I figure that I’ll reap the benefits later if I put in the work now. I’m not doing anything from my own knowledge yet. I don’t have enough of it lol! I’m just trying to Get familiar with what Notes are played in what chords.
Your scales practice plan sounds great. I can understand you needin* to dedicate so much time to one scale. I’m always surprised by how long it takes me. At the moment I’m just learning the major scales and their relative minors, and trying to work out how to build the scales from the formula. I’m finding that challenging enough already!
I see, that’s what I’ve done with the Autumn Leaves one. I did end up writing out the simple version because the sheet music wasn’t available and I find it easier to read the music than pause/play the video constantly. And I’m pretty happy having reached a point where can play that version now just using a lead sheet as a reference. So on to others now!
What do you mean when you say “build the scales from formula?”
I’ve found this chart very helpful:
It’s a very clear circle of 4ths/5ths with Major/Minor keys and piano scale fingering. It’s my go to reference for the circle, key signatures, and fingerings. I keep a print out behind my sheet music / ipad.
Oh wow that chart is amazing, thank you for sharing it! I’ll print it and keep it near the piano.
Formula is a very fancy word for what I do with scales. I first play the major scale and then its relative minor (natural minor). Then I play the natural minor raising the seventh note which creates the harmonic minor and then I play the harmonic minor raising the sixth note which creates the melodic minor. That way I practice all my major and minor scales without sheet music, which is a skill I’m trying to develop at the moment.
Aah! That’s a good idea. I’ve been sticking to just the relative minor but I see from what you’re doing it’s trivial to throw in the harmonic and melodic. I’ll start doing that too thanks!
Hi Emma
Nice insight of the interwining of scales
First reading the formula, was looking strange , i have to play it to verify ; you are right . Because i always comes from the major scales to form other scales , Good to have this view building from natural minor
Building from major scales :
b3 gives melodic minor
b3 b6 harmonic minor
b3 b6 b7 natural minor (aeolian mode)
b3 b7 ( dorian mode )
good to write it down to clarify things : so much minors, with strange names
What an inspiring thread! Emma I was getting a bit confused with the threads today lol - I love how you are detailing your practice routine and the lessons you are working on. I really love it - something I need to add as well onto my piano journal. I really like the invaluable comments as well and tips from other members and Hayden. I learn too as I read.
Hope all is well with yah. How are your practices going? All the best!
I was getting a bit confused with the threads today lol - I love how you are detailing your practice routine and the lessons you are working on. I really love it - something I need to add as well onto my piano journal. I really like the invaluable comments as well and tips from other members and Hayden. I learn too as I read.