- Jazzedge Academy

Chord Play will show you how to get the most music out of even the simplest chord progressions. You’ll learn how to take a basic two-chord loop and turn it into something rich, colorful, and full of movement. Step by step, we’ll explore different ways to “arrive” at a chord, how to break apart and re-build progressions, and how to combine the chords you already know with new ones borrowed from other keys for fresh, exciting sounds.
You’ll also discover how different chords create different moods—and how you can use those moods to spark your improvisation. By the end of the course, you’ll have a set of practical tools to make your playing more interesting, your arrangements more engaging, and your improvisations more expressive, all while deepening your understanding of harmony in a fun, hands-on way.

Come join me for an engaging live coaching experience unlike any other. In this dynamic new format, I'll be calling on each student individually to discuss what they've been working on, share their progress, and get personalized guidance on their biggest challenges.
This isn't a passive session where you sit back and listen – it's an interactive coaching session designed to keep everyone engaged and accountable. Each participant will have the opportunity to be in the hot seat, receiving direct feedback and actionable advice tailored to their specific situation and goals.

These are past coaching replays from Jazzedge teachers.

1. Twinkle Twinkle Reharm is a collection of student submissions that explore different harmonic interpretations of the traditional children's song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
2. "Short People" is a song by Randy Newman that addresses themes of social perception and prejudice based on height.
3. The Dominant 7sus4 flat-9 chord is a specific type of seventh chord used in music, characterized by its suspended fourth and a flattened ninth, which creates a unique harmonic tension.

This isn't a passive session where you sit back and listen – it's an interactive coaching session designed to keep everyone engaged and accountable. Each participant will have the opportunity to be in the hot seat, receiving direct feedback and actionable advice tailored to their specific situation and goals.

Improvisation ideas.

We all want faster fingers at the piano—and more importantly, control. These three lessons in the Faster Fingers series show you how to build speed the right way using scales, patterns, and real improvisation concepts you can actually use in your playing.

You’ll also discover how different chords create different moods—and how you can use those moods to spark your improvisation. By the end of the course, you’ll have a set of practical tools to make your playing more interesting, your arrangements more engaging, and your improvisations more expressive, all while deepening your understanding of harmony in a fun, hands-on way.

Today’s topics include a chord assignment for Randy Newman's song "Short People" and a harmonization exercise for the lullaby "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

We will finish the entire song in this lesson.

Topics for the April 23 Chord Play session include the following: a review of "Isn’t She Lovely" with student submissions, a reharmonization of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and a discussion on the differences between functional and non-functional harmony.

We are moving on to the next part of the song, step-by-step.

1. A review of student submissions featuring chord progressions for the song "Isn’t She Lovely."
2. A reharmonization challenge based on the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

We are moving on to the next part of the song, step-by-step.

Now we begin the first part of the song, step-by-step.

Focus on advanced reharmonization techniques as applied to the jazz standard "Have You Met Miss Jones."

In this lesson we will cover three different exercises to help you gain confidence playing in 12/8 time.

If you want to rock the piano like a pro, mastering your chords is non-negotiable. Rock piano chords aren’t just a skill—they’re your secret weapon. With them, you can learn songs faster, transpose into any key, write your own music, and make the same chord sound fresh in different ways.

Here are 3 essential tips to get your rock piano chops screaming in all 12 keys. And don’t forget—our full video lesson on rock piano chords will take you even further!

1️⃣ Build Major & Minor Triads – The Foundation of Rock

Music and math? Believe it or not, there’s a formula to make your chords bulletproof. Triads—major and minor—are the bread-and-butter of rock piano chords, and learning to build them in any key is a game-changer.

Here’s the shortcut:

Major triad: Play the root, 3rd, and 5th notes of your scale together.
Minor triad: Take that major triad and lower the 3rd by a half-step. Boom—instant minor magic.

Once you can do this in all 12 keys, you’ll have the core toolkit every rock pianist dreams of.

💡 Pro tip: Think in scale degrees: root (1), 3rd, and 5th. That’s your chord DNA.

In order to build a major triad, we need to find the first 5 notes of a major scale. Below are the first 5 notes of a C major scale.

Now let’s look at the “formula” for building the first 5 notes of a major scale. We call these notes scale degrees. The 1st scale degree is also called the root. In order to move from the root to the 2nd scale degree (C to D) we move up a whole-step. From the 2nd to 3rd, another whole-step. From the 3rd to 4th, a half-step. And from the 4th to 5th, a whole-step.

In order to build a major triad, simply play the root, 3rd, and 5th all at the same time.

And in order to turn this major triad into a minor triad, simply lower the 3rd degree a half-step.

2️⃣ Learn the Inversions – Play Chords Like a Rockstar

Here’s where things get really fun. Your triads don’t have to sit in one position. Switch things up:

Root position: Root is the lowest note (classic sound).
1st inversion: Move the root up an octave so the 3rd is on the bottom.
2nd inversion: Move the 3rd up an octave so the 5th is the lowest note.

These inversions make your chords more flexible, dynamic, and full of life. Suddenly, your playing sounds more professional and exciting!

3️⃣ Add a 4th Note – Beef Up Your Sound

Want your chords to fill the room? Add a 4th note by doubling your lowest note an octave higher.

For example, a C major triad (C-E-G) becomes C-E-G-C (octave up) and BOOM!—your chord sounds thicker, richer, and pure rock energy.

Do this with all your chords and watch your piano playing explode with power and presence.

Ready to Rock?

A focused 6-week deep dive into the feel, technique, and soul of rock piano — using Elton John's "Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" as your complete performance vehicle.

🎹 Check out the full program and reserve your spot today:

👉 Rock Piano Intensive Details

Don’t just play the piano—make it rock! ⚡

The topics include the song "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers, which emphasizes the importance of support and friendship. It also covers diatonic triads, which are chords made up of notes that belong to a specific key, forming the foundation of much Western music. Lastly, the description includes "Somebody’s Baby" by Jackson Browne, a song that reflects themes of longing and connection.

The topics include the song "Moondance" by Van Morrison, the piece "Summertime" by George Gershwin, the process of transcribing chords and bass lines from various musical works, and the techniques involved in creating transitions or segues between different sections of music.

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