Arranging Techniques

Learn essential arranging techniques to enhance your piano playing and create more dynamic, professional-sounding performances. This course covers a variety of left-hand accompaniment styles, modulation techniques, and advanced arranging methods to help you develop a unique approach to playing and arranging songs. Whether you’re looking to modernize a tune, add stride piano elements, or create seamless key changes, these lessons provide the tools to transform your arrangements.

Throughout the course, you'll explore different left-hand patterns, including stride, reggae, and funk grooves, and learn how to apply them to jazz standards and contemporary songs. You’ll also dive into modulation techniques using pivot chords and diminished sequences, as well as transposing patterns into new keys. Additional lessons focus on locked-hand style, swing basslines, and adapting arrangements for players with smaller hands.

This course is ideal for intermediate to advanced pianists looking to expand their arranging skills. By the end, you’ll be able to craft engaging and creative arrangements with greater harmonic depth, rhythmic variety, and smooth transitions between keys.

Elevate Your Piano Arrangements with Advanced Techniques

A great piano arrangement can turn a simple tune into something extraordinary. The Arranging Techniques course is designed to help pianists develop a deeper understanding of left-hand accompaniment, modulation, and contemporary arranging methods that bring new life to any piece of music.

The course begins with essential left-hand accompaniment styles, showing how different approaches can completely change the feel of a song. From stride piano and swing basslines to reggae and funk grooves, you’ll gain the versatility needed to adapt to different musical settings. The lessons also cover modulation techniques, helping you transition smoothly between keys using pivot chords, diminished sequences, and advanced harmonic tricks.

For those interested in modernizing songs, the course explores creative ways to arrange and reharmonize pieces like Wade in the Water and Amazing Grace. You’ll also learn how to adapt arrangements for small hands and master the locked-hand style, a technique made famous by jazz legends like Barry Harris. By applying these techniques, you’ll develop the ability to create richer, more polished arrangements that capture the essence of any song while making it uniquely your own.

Is this course suitable for beginners?
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced pianists who want to improve their arranging skills and explore more complex left-hand techniques.

Will I learn how to modulate between keys?
Yes! The course includes lessons on modulation techniques, covering pivot chords, diminished sequences, and other methods for seamless key changes.

Does this course focus only on jazz arranging?
While many of the techniques are jazz-based, the arranging concepts can be applied to gospel, pop, blues, and contemporary music.

Will I learn how to arrange songs for small hands?
Yes! There is a specific lesson on adapting arrangements for pianists who struggle with large hand stretches.