Mel Bay's Creative Keyboard® Webzine | Per Danielsson - Left Hand Workout

Left Hand Workout

Most Jazz pianists have more flexibility in the right hand compared to the left. The reason being that we spend countless hours practicing the melodic jazz language in the right hand while the left is taking care of the comping. I would also like to point out that more attention should be paid to the left hand comping, which is often sloppy. The left hand, when played with rhythmical and harmonic perfection, will add a tremendous amount to the overall sound of a solo. In other words, we tend to develop different techniques in the left and right hand. In a perfect world it would be nice to have equal technique in both hands which classical players seems to manage much better than jazz players.

When fluent in the left hand, new musical options become available. Add rhythmic independence to the picture and you will be close to technical perfection, which means that all the concentration can be focused on the creative part of the music. One of the best lessons in jazz piano technique is to listen to Art Tatum. His technical perfection was totally unique and he influenced not only pianists, but all jazz instrumentalists.

How to practice:

1. You have to think about the left hand as a separate entity. If you duplicate something that you play in the right hand you have to think of it as a new quest when played in the left. Since the left hand is a mirror image of the right, new fingering is necessary.

2. Practice transcribed solos with the left hand. When you feel comfortable, try a simple accompaniment in the right hand.

3. When playing unison lines, make the right hand follow the left. If you do it the other way around the left hand tends to become sloppy, since you are probably more efficient in the right.

4. Write two part Jazz Inventions. Also try to get to the point where you can improvise two independent lines at the same time.

5. If you have read these articles before, you know that I highly recommend practicing classical music. Practicing Bach music is a very useful tool to help achieve technique in the left hand. Also, the music of Bach is beautiful so it should be played for that reason as well.

Etude #1

Practice this etude like this:

1. Play the left hand slowly together with a metronome. Take a few moments to work out a good fingering. The key to speed on the piano is well planned fingering.

2. As you get comfortable, increase the speed and play the etude relaxed and controlled.

3. Add the right hand. You will find out how much easier it is to play both hands together when you know the material in the left hand.

4. Increase speed in both hands.

Etude #2

Practice this etude like etude 1. When you are comfortable with the notes, try to create a counter melody based on the chord changes. You can also practice comping in your right hand while soloing in the left. This will create some new and interesting musical material. Also practice improvisng a counter line. This might sound complicated, but after your hands have become independent the two line improvisation will be much easier.

Good Luck! Per Danielsson

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