Piano Method Madness

Exercise 22 involves 7th and 9th chord progressions. The exercise retains the same bassline as exercise 18. Although simple, the chord progressions take a bit of practice to master in the correct fashion. There are minor syncopation features in the 9th ,10th, and 11th measures. Take your time and enjoy.


Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright...

Exercise 21 introduces syncopation. The right hand is holding notes across measures. Although lesson isn't particularly challenging; it is extremely fun to play. 

Left Hand:
The is no change in the left hand; it plays the same bassline as in exercise 20. 

Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne

Exercise 20 is a slightly modified version of exercise 19 with the thumb and pinky spaced one octave from one another. The right hand pointing finger will get the most work in this exercise because it moves one half step up and down along the staff.

Left Hand:
The is no change in the left hand; it plays the same bassline as in exercise 18. 

Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the informati...

Exercise 19 introduces a new fingering pattern for the right hand using fingers 2 through 5. It couples the fingers 2 and 4 and fingers 3 and 5. When I originally worked through this, I had no problem using fingers 2 and 4, however, fingers 3 and 5 were challenging. After repeating the exercise, my problems with went away.  Measure 8 is most challenging because it really works the relation between the middle finger and the pinky. <...

Exercise 18 is a minor variation of exercise 17. The bassline remains the same, however, exercise 18 breaks up the straight eight note triplets played using the same fingers in exercise 17 into something a bit more challenging. Exercise 18 also introduces a chromatic conclusion to the lesson in measures 11 and 12. Enjoy!



Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
...

Exercise 17 introduces a walking bass line on the left hand and broken chords on the right that traverse up and down the keyboard in octave intervals. This piece is not complex. Multiple reps should cure most of the the technical problems it introduces.


Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 -...

Exercise 16 introduces a new technique called a "Running Riff." Mastering this technique will allow a student's right hand to move chromatically up and down the musical scale. It is a challenging technique to master, but fun to use in improvisation song breaks.  The left hand is playing the same bassline from exercise 15. If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Exercise 15 uses a combination of techniques from both exercises 13 and 14. Technical challenges occur between measures containing grace note chord changes such as moving from measure 4 using a G7 chord to measure 5 with a C7 chord. These challenges can only be overcome through discipline practice. Don't give up! Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Exercise 14 is a minor variation of exercise 13 where the right hand approaches oncoming chords from below. The left hand plays a slow single finger bassline and the right hand plays seventh chords. As before, the biggest challenge appears in measure 12 with the closing of the song. With the exception of the hops and leaps, this lesson is not complex, so it shouldn't take long to master. Keep playing and don't! If you nee...

Exercise 13 introduces a new bassline and melody. It feels more like the old school traditional blues you have come to know. The left hand plays a smooth single note bassline, and the right hand switches finger patterns to cover the chords it plays. Once again, students will face technical challenges in measures 1 & 12. This lesson is not hard, so it shouldn't take long to work through. This lesson piece was me to be playe...

Exercise 12 is a slight variation of exercise 11. The left hand plays a double bassline and the right hand is being forced to stretch the fingers over an octave span. The same technical challenges still exist in measures 1 & 12. The melody is inverted in comparison to exercise 11. Happy playing and practicing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano...

Exercise 11 introduces new concepts for the left and right hands. The left hand plays a doubled bassline and the right hand is being forced to stretch the fingers over an octave span. Students will face technical challenges in measures 1 & 12. This lesson is not overly complex, so it shouldn't take long to master if being practiced by a novice. Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below ...

Exercise 10 is very similar to Exercise 9. It also contains challenging finger techniques. Techniques such as fingers being spread an octave apart; fingers two and three crossing over the thumb to play lower keys, and gracing of fingers two and three as well as fingers three and five. Exercise 10's bassline is pretty straightforward and can be played with little to no difficulty.  It WILL take a while to successfully complete ...

Exercise 9 is the exercise that you've been waiting for. It introduces a real blues song filled with good, challenging finger techniques. Techniques such as fingers crossing over another to stretching the thumb and pinky to play keys an octave apart are introduced in it. The exercise makes a slight alteration to Exercise 8's bass line and includes notation for foot pedal incorporation. This exercise is both fun and challe...

Exercise 8 reintroduces an old bass line and right hand finger patter. The pattern in this exercise helps builds finger strength of all fingers on the right hand. There are very few melodic notes played in this exercise, however, playing them helps the player gain finger independence as the speed of play is increased. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payn...

Exercise 7 continues with a minor variation to the stepping pattern introduced in exercise 6. The pattern in this exercise is repetitive and builds finger strength. The level of difficulty is not as challenging as in exercise 6. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured  ...

Exercise introduces a stepping pattern involving the pointing finger instead of the grace note introduced in exercise 5. Again, this exercise takes a little time to learn because of the focus of strengthening the second (pointing) finger on the right hand. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
Inter...

Basic Blues for Piano: Exercise 5.

Exercise introduces a new grace notes melody and bass patterns. This exercise takes a little bit to learn because of the incorporation of the grace note as well as other fingers on the right hand. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyrig...