Mailbag 📪 : Do I Need Perfect Pitch to Play Jazz Piano?

Jeremy answers a question from a subscriber: "Are you at a disadvantage as a jazz pianist if you don’t have absolute pitch? Can you function on a high level without it?" He talks a bit about Grace Kelly's "tapping" method of transcribing.

Do you have a question for Jeremy? Let him (me) know in the video comments section.

[yannytheman]

Reminds me of the inspiring Bill Evans quote “I always like people who have developed long and hard, particularly through introspection and a lot of dedication. I think that what they arrive at is usually...deeper and more beautiful...than the person who seems to have that ability and fluidity from the beginning. I say this because it's a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don't have that ability. I didn't. I had to know what I was doing. And ultimately it turned out that these people weren't able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians. I believe in things that are developed through hard work.”

[raidkyu]

Great approach! Tapping is something similar i picked up from Aimee Nolte called "point and sing"...super helpful!

Thanks for the video

[micahslobcrud]

I can understand the advantage of the tapping idea. One develops an intuitive idea of just how far any tone is from what you just played or tapped. Same idea on sax. The fluency presumably (hopefully) comes with lots of work.

[tomsiegel]

I would love to have more ideas for really basic ear training exercises to incorporate in my practice. Like where to start if I suck. That would be great. Transcribing is always recommended, but I feel like there are things I could be doing to support my ability (and current lack thereof) to transcribe solos.

[chrisbigred]

That sounds like a great exercise that I am going to try out ASAP. ❤

[diplamatikjuan]

That Grace Kelly Tapping step is VERY interesting. Thanks

[diplamatikjuan]

I'd been intensely jealous of pianists with perfect pitch for my entire life - it was like they were doing a magic trick that I couldn't comprehend. I've mellowed out a bit in my later years.... It would still be lovely to have been blessed with it though...

[mr.schmitt]

Jeremy, could you do a video about piano learning frustration? Because damn, isn't that the case sometimes. Or most of the times.

[BlackBigCrow]

Do you have any advice on incorporating comping into improvisation? I'm able to comp quite freely when it is my sole focus, as well as improvise freely if I'm just holding the chord down in my left hand. However my improvisation get's quite stiff when even just adding a pattern like the charleston, let alone comping on feel.

[Debangshuification]

How to get a proper ear training when i don't have jazz teachers in my city?

[HS-fkhb]

just out of curiosity do you have perfect pitch jeremy?

[BrendaBoykin-qzdj]

Thank you, Jeremy, for this inspiring and immediately useful lesson. Right stuff, right time. Bravo, Maestro.⭐🌹🔥🌹⭐

[hanspeter]

Great motivating video! I would be interested in good apps for ear training if s.o has suggestions in the comments :)

[jonasaras]

In Gary Burton’s case, having perfect pitch, and then losing it due to health issues, was the cause of the end of his career.