Reharmonization means you are changing the chords, sometimes adding new chords, sometimes changing the existing chords. This gives you the ability to create dozens of variations on the blues to improvise over.

This advanced lesson will show you different ways of using diminished chords. You'll also learn the Whole-1/2 diminished scale, how it relates to the 1/2-Whole diminished scale and how to harmonize and reharmonize using the V7b9 chord.

In this lesson, you'll learn my 8-Steps To Improvisation method which includes: 1. Target Notes, 2. Chord Tones, 3. Scales, 4. Activating the Left Hand, 5. Neighbor Tones / Enclosures, 6. U.S.T. and Advanced Scales, 7. Rhythm / Syncopation, 8. Reharmonization.

In this lesson I'll take you through the 12 levels (I broke them into days for this lesson) and show you once and for all the steps necessary to play standards and lead sheets from a fakebook. This lesson should be your FIRST lesson before beginning my other courses on standards and fakebooks. The goal of this lesson is to introduce you to the levels and show you where to get more help on each level, so this is a great summary lesson. We will use the song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" as an example.

In this second part you'll learn the complete arrangement for "Moonlight in Vermont" and we will break it down step-by-step.

In this course we’ll be studying some common alternate chords which can be inserted into the standard 12-bar blues progression in order to get that advanced, professional sound.

Related ii chords precede your dominant chords to extend your progressions.

We start this lesson reviewing student arrangements and homework. At about 34min in we start working on the song "There Is No Greater Love."

Using the standard "My Ship" we will review the techniques we have been using up to this point to create an arrangement.

Using the song "A Foggy Day" we will work on how to create an arrangement using the techniques we've used so far.

Using the standard "My Ship" we will work on Upper Structure Triads. UST's (for short) are the life-blood of advanced reharmonizations and you want to work on these using ballads at first. This lesson will show you how to incorporate them into your arrangements.

In this lesson you'll learn how to create your own cocktail piano arrangements using different techniques like pedal tones, cadences, 1-6-2-5 progression stalling and other techniques.

This short lesson is a good primer into reharmonization. Start here before digging into the longer reharmonization lessons.

Another classic Christmas song. Its lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. This carol is set to the tune of “Greensleeves”, a traditional English folk song. In this lesson, you’ll learn each section of the song in two ways. First you'll learn an easy version perfect for beginners. Then you'll learn to create an advanced jazz piano arrangement of the song.

Learn different ways to create an arrangement for a Christmas song.

Learn this cool jazz/gospel chord progression along with analysis.

This lesson features a popular Duke Ellington tune. You will learn an advanced arrangement of this tune and breakdown the various jazz devices that go into creating a pro arrangement. Topics covered in this lesson include mapping the form, bebop scale harmony and theory, and the planning technique.

Learn how to play this classic song from Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue” recording. Since this is a more advanced “like a pro” lesson, you’ll learn how to create chord substitutions that you can use to add more spice to the arrangement.

In this second part and conclusion of our Body and Soul lesson, you’ll learn how to play the 8-measure bridge, coupled with first 8 measures of the song to complete 32-measure form. You will learn the original melody and harmony as well as learn to use advanced harmonic devices such as tritone substitutions, diminished scale harmony, internal harmonic motion, and how to use motivic development in the melody. At the end of the lesson, you will have all the information necessary to play a beautiful professional arrangement of this timeless jazz classic.

In this lesson, we will be tackling the jazz standard Body & Soul. Learn how to play this in a professional way. This lesson will focus on the first 8 measures of the song. Learn the correct method for going through this or any other jazz standard and turn it into a professional piece.

In this lesson you’ll learn how to create your own gospel/blues progressions while also learning more about dominant motion, alternate bass notes and 2-5-1 progressions. This is a perfect mix of how to apply music theory to create really cool chord progressions.

Part 2 of the lesson.

In this lesson, we will work on the standard “The Days of Wine and Roses” and arrange various phrases of the song with some pro techniques. In the end, you’ll have a fully scored (and explained) arrangement of this tune. Concepts discussed include: chromatic approach, inserting a ii-V-I, using dominant sus4 resolutions, tritone substitutions, quartal voicings, modulation, drop-2 voicings, and reharmonization.

In this lesson, you will get an inside look into creating a reharmonized, solo piano jazz arrangement of the pop tune “Every Breath You Take”. If you're interested in just learning the song, we have a lesson on just the song. Topics include how to reharmonize chords, jazz theory, reading a lead sheet, and how to create comping and soloing ideas over a static (2 chords only) harmony.

In this lesson we will use the song "Everything Happens To Me" as a vehicle for chordal improvisation techniques.

In this lesson, you will learn how to play a reharmonized version of the Sting & The Police classic Every Breath You Take. Note, this is not the original version and contains some jazz style reharmonizations.

In this lesson, you will get an inside look into creating a reharmonized, solo piano jazz arrangement of the pop tune “Every Breath You Take”. Topics include how to reharmonize chords, jazz theory, reading a lead sheet, and how to create comping and soloing ideas over a static (2 chords only) harmony.

In this lesson we will cover four important uses of diminished harmony: 1) Diminished chord reharmonization, 2) Harmonizing melodies using diminished chords, 3) Using diminished scales for improvisation and 4) Diminished and Slash Chords. These four techniques are practical because they are most often used in live situations and are important for any gigging musician to know. We will use the song "It Could Happen To You" as an example.

In this lesson we will cover gospel piano basis that we will expand upon and use as a foundation for future lessons. These important ~tricks~ come in handy in many different styles of music. Broken apart like this, these ideas will be easier for you to incorporate into your own arrangements and use them as a springboard for your own music or improvisation.

In this lesson inspired by the playing of Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin, we will learn a simple gospel bass pattern along with right hand gospel chordal and melodic grooves. This lesson is the first part in a series of easy-to-follow gospel lessons which are perfect for all levels.

In this lesson we will take all of the techniques we learned in the previous lesson to create a full arrangement. I'll teach you the entire arrangement step-by-step.

In this lesson we are going to work through an arrangement for Auld Lang Syne in 8 steps (The 8th step is Special Reharm pt 2). In each step we will add a new technique that we can use for reharmonization of this song and countless others. If you are interested in reharmonization, want to create your own arrangements or need more help with concepts like Dominant motion, related ii's, tri-tone substitution then this lesson is for you! Even beginners can benefit from this lesson...just remember to go slow and re-watch the chapters!

Learn Duke's beautiful ballad In A Sentimental Mood. We start with the analysis of the song which makes it easier to memorize and transpose the song to other keys. Next we cover the step-by-step process for creating an easy "quick" arrangement. After that we talk about how to re-harmonize the song to create an interesting arrangement. Finally, you will learn the arrangement note-for-note.

In this second part we will cover some usage of the diminished chord for improvisation. We will also apply diminished replacement techniques to song snippets "I Could Write A Book" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?". We will end by covering the Barry Harris diminished approach technique and apply it to a snippet of "The Days Of Wine And Roses."

In this lesson we will be working through arranging this 6/8 traditional piece using re-harmonization techniques. We will also focus on various ways to 'groove' on a 6/8 song and use grooves in your improvisation. You'll also learn about the 7-3-6 progression and what it really is called.

A question I get asked a lot is “How do you create an arrangement for a song?” Or, “How do I ‘modernize’ this song and give it new life?” In this lesson I am going to share with you some of the techniques that I use to create arrangements and “contemporize” a song. Some of these techniques are common, yet some are ones that I have come across over the years and developed my own personal style. We will use the song "Wade in The Water" as an example.

In this classic spiritual, we will cover how to create a simple arrangement…perfect for beginners. We will also move into a more advanced “reharmed” version of the song with fuller chords.

In this lesson we talk about HOW to create those BIG sounding chords. We will also cover how to turn a basic progression into a more contemporary sounding set of chords through re-harmonization, chord fills, left hand accompaniment techniques and chord tensions.

You will learn how to re-harmonize the song and play the arrangement. However, we will also cover improvisation and I left room for a "followup" chapter to answer students questions about the lesson!

In this beautiful piece, I will split the lesson into an easy beginner section that shows a beginning student how to put together a nice contemporary arrangement. In the second half we discuss advanced techniques to create a richer arrangement.

In this lesson you'll learn how to analyze this traditional hymn and play it with basic triads, perfect for beginners. I also created a more contemporary arrangement with some cool reharmonization techniques and big chords.

Learn how to create and extend your chord progressions. Have you ever been asked to just "wing it" and create a chord progression? Well, now you'll have some techniques to create your own progressions on-the-fly. You can also incorporate these techniques into existing songs to extend the progression.

Learn how to effectively use tritones to add spice to your arrangements. I’ll also teach you how to create fuller, richer chords with Upper Structure Triads and Quartal voicings.

Georgia on My Mind was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). I’ll teach you how to re-harmonize and play my arrangement. Soloing tips will also be available.

Learn how to create an arrangement for Amazing Grace. Re-harmonization and improv techniques are also covered.

Learn my arrangement of the holiday favorite, "Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire". I will also cover some "runs" and "fills."

In this video, I brought in my good friend Thomas Brinkley to teach along with me. Learn from our experience playing together and with other groups.

I love this song. In this lesson, you'll learn my re-harmonization for this classic piece. You'll also learn some tips that I have gotten from players like Keith Jarrett. This is an advanced lesson. THERE IS NO SHEET MUSIC FOR THIS LESSON.

In this lesson you'll learn some "real world" cocktail piano tricks. If you've never gigged before and want to, this lesson will give you some great information to help you feel more secure.