Build Hand Independence With The Blues (Piano lesson)

When I starting playing around with the blues I was shocked at how difficult it was for me to play a swing rhythm in my left hand while I played a different chord rhythm in my right.

It was downright embarrassing. BUT it was also challenging, and in the end, it forced me to practice and actually develop better hand independence.

The key is the break things down into small, simple steps. Master those, and then gradually introduce more complicated concepts. By doing this, I was able to get the hang of it reasonably quickly!

The big thing that helped me here was counting out loud. Don't be afraid to do this. Don't worry if someone will hear you -- counting out loud can really help you place the beats.

Hand independence IS frustrating. If you struggle with it, you're not alone! But the best way to get better is to work on it and practice.

Here are the timecodes for today's lesson:

- What we are working towards (the end result) - 0:50

- How to start - simplify the left hand - 1:10

- Adding a simple right hand - 1:20

- Adding some intensity - 1:34

- Getting a little more complicated (time to count) - 1:59

- Adding some 'bluesy' flair - 3:21

- Turning it all into the 12-Bar Blues - 3:39

Check out our free lesson series on chords:

And if you're a complete beginner, you can try our free series to get you started:

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[AwesomeMan]

I've been playing keys for almost 10 years now. I've been come across over the years hundreds of piano teachers online and bookmarked and watched over thousands of videos (I am NOT exaggerating). By far Lisa is one of the best if not the best teacher I've come across, her videos are so easy and practical to put into use. So thank you Lisa! and to Pianote, please KEEP her as the teacher!!! She is a needle in a haystack as a teacher!

[shadowfire]

oh thank GOD. i was looking for this because my teacher assigned me some crazy jazz and i've never played two different rhythms on different hands before.

[rogergreaves]

This is brilliant..especially how it's broken down..I'm a beginner and managed to not only get this down, but had so much fun doing it once I got it..and the best part is the variations and possibilities towards the end (which I haven't got yet) that are gonna be some serious fun to try and play and are pretty limitless..Love all your videos, everything about them!
Mucho appreciation 🤘

[theophilusmartins]

Yep, excellent! That’s how I started - I call this technique filling the gaps in your mind. Teaches the mind and body to be in sync but yet multitask at the same time. I can now improvise at will and I’m pretty ok at playing the boogie woogie.

[JR-otim]

The counting is the glue that makes learning new exercises possible for me. Thank you for yet another helpful hand independence building skill that's fun and is broken down into very achievable steps.

[arielsimbikabila]

This is absolutely amazing! Helped me build my hand Independence so much. Thank you x

[scmontgomery]

My current challenge with left hand runs and cross overs is the "c" section of fountain of dreams. Definitely using these exercises to introduce the right hand. And i totally went over the same 6 measures for probably 5 hours today. It was amazing to sit down and not even know the notes and now im playing at 50% speed with my metronome. Thanks again for your hard work

[hube]

After watching Jordan’s lesson I went through the same process of trying to break down this triplet! Even though I figured it out, so glad to see this posted. Love your videos of practical exercises.

[Antonio-tihe]

Thank you for breaking it down to its simplest form. BEAUTIFUL!!!! Sign of great teacher is to take the complicated and make it easy so anyone can learn who really wants to. Thank you.

[agagoogoo]

Am fours years late for the prom, but THIS is the best hand independence exercise for blues piano to have ever graced the net. A great big thank you to Lisa and Pianote 💫✌

[boldcautionproductions]

Great vid - I accidentally found the triplets in 12-bar blues as a beginner as my first hand-independence practice. Found your vid here, today - and it confirmed all piano players must learn 12-bar blues as their first exercise. 👍

[danielcraddock]

You are honestly the most inspiring online teacher I have ever seen... I was perhaps starting to become a little disillusioned with my practice and playing but your kind and thoughtful style of teaching has given me so much drive to play again... This blues video in particular has given me so much feel and pleasure in practise... thank you so much!!

[kofidebrah]

So true about going on and on and on when you get the groove going.

[fulfillkhongkiang]

Thankyou Miss Lisa for yet another helpful tutorial. Keep them coming... Love all your videos.

[PrinceKlutz]

this is the most fun I've had with my keyboard ever!

[sean]

adorable. A lifesaver and is helping me with the lockdown blues

[Ronno]

From my own small experience, this is a durn good way to get this LH rhythm and RH pattern sounding right!

[sulimanhassan]

I LOOOVE YOUR VIDEOS 💕
I'm music producer and i have good knowledge in music but never played a piano.
Your videos get me super excited to buy a piano and start learning and apply my knowledge on the keys
I Love sooo Much Lisa 💕💕

[AIreadsmydiaries]

This lesson has been a breakthrough for me in terms of getting my head round hand independence!! There is hope! Thanks so much

[jackgold]

Thanks for another great video! In the intro to this video when you said you realized that you couldn't play the piece as a demonstration, I was reminded of something.

If I've learned anything since beginning my journey to learn how to play the piano, it's this irrefutable axiom:

Playing any instrument "spontaneously" can only be achieved through constant practice.

Even Improvisation is the culmination of many repetitions of many different melodies, rhythms, and chord progressions.

I remind myself of this every time I sit at my piano or practice finger movements on my legs.

Thanks again!