How to write jazz piano parts - Big Band Arranging SECRETS REVEALED

A short and direct lesson on how to write piano parts for your big band arrangements.

Elliot Deutsch is a composer and arranger of big band music in Los Angeles, CA. His arrangements and orchestrations have been performed and recorded by Arturo Sandoval, Martina McBride, Big Phat Band, Take 6, and many others. Deutsch's collaborations with electro swing producer Atom Smith have been streamed over a million times on Spotify. As a freelance trumpeter, Deutsch has toured with Solomon Burke and The Mutaytor, and he performs regularly with the polka band Die Sauerkrauts and the party band That Vibe.

Joining my Patreon at the $5 level gets you access to the study guides to these lessons.

All of the background music was recorded by the Pandemonium Big Band.

00:00 Intro
00:44 Jazz notation VS traditional
01:17 Chords & Slashes
02:23 Ex. "Pink Sunset"
03:37 Rhythm Slashes
04:47 Ex. "Lady Be Good" [1]
05:14 Grand Staff Notation: Break
05:58 Ex. "Lady Be Good" [2]
06:12 Grand Staff Notation: Groove
07:15 Ex. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
07:42 A few more considerations
09:38 Outro
10:12 Patrons

#keyboard #notation #jazzensemble

[ibdense]

I loved your C7 vs C13 hint. I just realized that the C13 isn’t just the harmony being used, but it really conveys the message to the piano player that this is how far you can go.

[mombo]

A guitar video would be lovely. As a guitarist myself, I've played a lot of tunes where the composer clearly did not bother writing a guitar part, so I have to read off of either the bass or piano parts. I'd love if you could *encourage* people to remember us lowly guitarists haha

[victorsmith]

Your videos and the service you provide from an educational standpoint point are excellent!

[robpallot]

Great video - thanks! As a pianist, the other (4th?) sort of notation is the single line melody with chords - often helpful in a shout-chorus section

[yert]

3:07 to 3:22 is just incredible. Great chord motions and a very satisfying melody

[drummonk]

Super helpful! VERY VERY PRACTICAL!!!!

[alanhowell]

Brilliant content as usual from Elliot 👏

[diegovidela]

You are the Best teacher of Big band arragment

[gilevansinsideout]

Wow nice playing on that ballad! And loving the sax trills.

[nibblrrr]

0:00 _Intro_ — 0:44 _Jazz VS traditional_
1:17 *Chords & Slashes* 🎵2:23 — 3:37 *Rhythm Slashes* 🎵4:47
5:14 *Grand Staff* 🎵5:58 - 6:12 🎵7:15
7:42 _More considerations_ — 9:38 _Outro_

—

00:00 *Intro*
00:44 *Jazz notation VS traditional*
01:17 *Chords & Slashes*
02:23 _Ex._ "Pink Sunset"
03:37 *Rhythm Slashes*
04:47 _Ex._ "Lady Be Good" _[1]_
05:14 *Grand Staff Notation:* Break
05:58 _Ex._ "Lady Be Good" _[2]_
06:12 *Grand Staff Notation:* Groove
07:15 _Ex._ "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
07:42 *A few more considerations*
09:38 *Outro*
10:12 Patrons

[alexcontrapunto]

From Guatemala, Thanks! Your videos are so educative! You are a good teacher as well as a composer you are!

[johandatema]

Great video's Elliot, just made my first big band arrangement. Thnx

[fjzingo]

Really great advice on notation for pianists, one could add a lot to this topic - summarised: simplify sight reading! No shocking changes from one page to another. Avoid repeats over two pages if possible. Don’t be crazy with codas and segnos jumping all over the place. Dont combine repeats and segnos. I personally like when the arrangers write in horn parts, this enables fills between lines……

[jacksonmack]

Awesome video, I’m keen for the guitar video if you make it!

[Chris]

How do you change from grand to single stave and back? in Sibelius. PS Thanks for your previous answer.

[clifford]

Maybe a single staff part would be the 4th type of piano writing (writing just for one of the hands plus chords)

btw, great content!

[Chris]

Do you ever use repeat bar signs instead of slashes?

[christopherdeloffi]

Would you do it this way for a high school group?