The Easy Way to Play Melodies With Chords

0:00 Intro
0:45 Why This Method
3:07 Method Walkthrough
6:42 Drill Walkthrough
9:01 Drill Practice Strategy

My very easy method makes voicing melodies with chords relatively simple. Perfect for beginners and more experienced jazz pianists who are still getting into this skill.

Resources:
Practice Chord Chart

[IBoughtItMyself]

This is revolutionary. I'm weirdly bad at improv and have needed this for... decades, I'm embarrassed to say.

[juliejackson]

This is exactly the scaffolding I needed to learn this. As a new student to jazz, it’s been a mind boggling slog figuring out voicing. Switching the 3 and 7 each time in practice helps when it comes to applying the theory to the actual music. Brilliant and thank you. Liked and subscribed.

[annea.]

I like how your teaching is systematic and accessible to beginners. Thank you.

[raymondjoseph]

This is very helpful. You are absolutely correct. Beginners get pulled in some many different directions regarding chords voicing. I think learning this simple method makes the most sense. I will get busy. And keep you posted.

[craigdouglas]

Yes, this is profound. It is hard to image that something so simple can be so effective and offer such great results; but it does. It takes a great mind to innovate something with simplicity. Although I am very much a pedestrian piano player I am an experienced musician. I added a little something to it which made sense for me and that is after the I chord in every key I play the V7 chord of the II chord in the next key to connect the whole cycle of fifths and therefore create continuity as a larger exercise. (D-7 G7 Cmaj7 D7 G-7 C7 Fmaj7 G7 etc.)

[acwatercolors]

This was my main concern when starting playing jazz chords, how to voice it....! I did more or less your technic by intuition, which is by far the easiest way to have a "full" sound. Thanks for sharing your knowledge !

[garreth]

Haven't taken this new knowledge to my piano yet but I already feel like this is exactly the answer to what I was looking for last couple weeks. I thought I just had to cram in all the different voicings and inversions in order to get comfortable with accompanying. But here you are, blessing us newbies with easier methods to get our fingers jamming :)

[desmckenzie]

This looks like a game changer for me Sam.
I have been struggling to learn jazz for a long time.
This looks like a great foundation to build from.
Happy trails mate !

[deltacomatso]

This is a great exercise. I will work on this. Ive been playing the 2-5-1 in right or left hand clockwise around the circle of fifths, this thing is different and counterclockwise, it will work, but slow to start with. Great channel, love your piano methods !

[jasonbourne]

Your videos and teaching technique are brilliant. Make more please!!!!

[marceau]

Thank god for this video. In the vast ocean of free online content regarding piano lesson, this is the first one I encounter which really takes the time to explain things and match perfectly what I need to take it to the next level by giving me autonomy. I can set sail now thanks to you ! Let's go !!!!

[kcollins]

This is the best video I have seen on this topic.

[HongBXia]

Sam, I completely agree with other viewers that you are an enlightening educator. It would be very interesting if you could accept a few arrangements by the viewers and offer your feedback. Using this process, you could make your channel dynamic and interactive. Look forward to your future releases.

[joesauvage]

Sam, your channel is superb! So deeply appreciate your, approach, teaching style, and great content. Best wishes and deepest thanks

[spongechameleon]

Been playing classical for two years and have wanted to get into jazz but never knew where to start. This lead sheet thing with a go-to left hand harmony shape is knockout. Thanks a ton man!

[mjbrehman]

You're an amazing piano teacher. I wonder why you're not posting videos?

[davesax]

Yes. Excellent. Always overwhelming so we spin our wheels. Even if we start here, once the tune and basic structure is "in our hands, " our instincts will let us explore modifications over time as our feeling, ears, experience, knowledge etc. grow. Thank you.

[vezffhd]

Had to keep replaying this video to 'get it'. Slowly, slowly it's starting to sink in. Good system

[LucBoeren]

Oh wow that feels like a great exercise!

[modernmusicstudio]

This was so great! Thank you for sharing!