Improvisation shared between the hands

procky1845 · #1 04-05-2012, 03:22 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm currently working on the Hornsby "Way It is" lesson and I'm really struggling to get that interaction between the left and right hands like Willie does in the lesson.

I mostly play blues and boogie piano so my left hand is used to doing quite complicated repeated phrases while the right hand improvises, but getting the two to both freely participate in the improvisation (sharing the rhythm) is proving quite difficult.

I'm at the stage where I can ghost the root an octave higher with the chord but the feeling just doesn't seem correct. Can anybody recommend any follow up lessons that deal with this issue specifically.

Thanks,

Lee

wmyette · #2 04-05-2012, 09:29 PM

Hey Lee, sorry to hear that you are having some trouble getting the sound right.

I'd suggest that you take a look at the Gene Harris lessons for some of the "grit" grace note work and maybe the funkadiddles or funk improv lessons for the more technical 2-handed stuff.

Now, sometimes you just need to work a concept hard for a week, then let it sit for a few days and not touch it. So, practice it hard, then work on something different then come back to it. It really does take time for some of these concepts to "gel".

When I say time, I really mean time. Studies have been done proving that just giving the brain a few hours/days to "process" a concept produces better results than trying to just hammer on through.

It's also easier on the patience level.

Hope that helps.

procky1845 · #3 04-11-2012, 08:25 AM

Hi Willie,

Thanks, I'll take a look at the suggested lessons.

Cheers,

Lee

zerozero · #4 04-14-2012, 09:35 AM

I am an intermediate pianist working on thebllike yourself.

One thing I find effective to get the left hand improvising is taking three simple left hand patterns A, B,C, then integrate them over the twelve bars. First play the A all the way trhrough, then the B, then the C. When comfortable play ABABABABABAB or soemthing similar, then ACACACACACAC then BCBC etc.. as ideas occur incliude them but only after you are secure with all three paterns.

Well its working for me but bear in mind I am a learner.

Zero