Top 3 Practice Exercises for Jazz piano

I was recently asked:

“What would you consider the most important daily exercises for jazz piano practice - and should those exercises vary by the week, month etc.”

Here's my answer:

What you should be practicing is different for each person.

It depends what stage you’re at.

I will list an order of topics that I consider to be ESSENTIAL.

And this is the order in which I would recommend you progress (for jazz piano):

1. Counting Intervals

The first step to learn Jazz piano, is to master counting intervals.

There are 12 different intervals which exist within an octave - half-step, whole-step, min 3rd, maj 3rd, etc…

And there are 12 notes which you can build these intervals from (C C# D Eb E etc).

So you have to get confident at building all 12 intervals from all 12 notes.

This is an essential first step because you cannot learn anything without it:

Every chord is an interval pattern - e.g. C maj 7 = ‘maj 3rd + min 3rd + maj 3rd’.

Every chord voicing is an interval pattern - e.g. The Kenny Barron voicing = ‘stack of 5ths from the root + stack of 5ths from the minor 3rd.

And every scale is an interval pattern too - whole-step / half-step, etc.

This is one of the main ways that jazz is different to other genres:

In classical music you just read the sheet music (no theory knowledge necessary)…

In pop music you just play from the 12 major or 12 minor chords - no interval counting necessary (just memorize those 24 chords)…

But in jazz - you the pianist - has to construct the chord types, chord voicings, and scales for your improvisation - without the sheet music telling you which notes to play…

So if you’re not able to count all 12 intervals from all 12 notes - start here.

Spend a whole month practicing counting intervals (can be done away from your instrument)…

Don’t just count the intervals, but memorize the answers each time (just like when you learned your 12 times table in math - if you just remember that 7 x 7 = 49 then you won’t have to count it all out in future)…

This will probably take you 1-2 months to master. Practice often in short bursts. Learn the 5ths first, then focus on whichever intervals are lagging.

Free Resource: Download my '30 Beginner Jazz Songs' list.

2. Learn the 2-5-1 through all 12 keys

Next, I recommend you become fluent at playing the major ii-V-I progression through all 12 keys…

Most jazz songs are built mostly of major ii-V-Is played through various keys…

ii-V-I in C major - then a ii-V-I in Bb major - then a ii-V-I in Ab major - then a ii-V-I back in C major, for example (Afternoon In Paris).

Practice playing the ii-V-I in your left hand - using ‘literal voicings’ - like this:

D min 7 (D F A C) - G7 in inversion (D F G B) - C maj 7 (C E G B)

Your end goal is to play the ii-V-I progression through all 12 keys - note perfectly - and to do this 3 times in a row…

(If you mess up on the 2nd or 3rd run - you have to go back and start from zero again).

Once you’ve achieved this - you’ll be equipped to play any jazz song for life - since your left hand is familiar with every ii-V-I in every key.

This will probably take you 2-4 weeks to learn. Practice often in short bursts.

For extra credit: Do the same for the minor ii-V-I - which is less common:

D min 7 b5 (D F Ab C) - G7 in inversion (D F G B) - C min 7 (C Eb G Bb)

Free Resource: Download my '29 Jazz Piano Licks' sheet music.

3. Learn 3 Jazz songs

And lastly for today, once you’ve achieved the previous two milestones - it’s time to learn 3 jazz songs…

Why?

I recommend you use these 3 songs to apply every new concept you learn…

So if you learn a new type of chord voicing - go straight to your 3 songs and apply that voicing to the song…

If you learn a new reharmonization technique - go straight to your 3 songs and apply that reharm. to your 3 songs…

Or if you learn anything - a new improv. technique, a new scale, a new texture, or rhythmic pattern - use the 3 songs you’ve learned to ingrain the technique.

This is something I did naturally throughout my jazz piano learning years - I started with 3 songs (Afternoon In Paris, Ladybird, and Girl from Ipanema) - and every time I learned something new, I went back to these 3 songs and applied the new technique to those songs…

It allows you to focus on the new technique - without having to sight-read a new jazz song from your real book…

This will probably take you 2-4 weeks. Aim to learn one or more songs a week. Choose songs that are within your reach.

Here are some good songs for solo piano you could choose from:

Ballads: Misty, Cry Me A River, Tenderly, My Funny Valentine, Georgia On My Mind.

Swing songs: All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, Afternoon In Paris, Ladybird, Fly Me To The Moon, Satin Doll.

Latin: Girl From Ipanema (ideal), Blue Bossa, So Nice (Summer Samba), Slow Hot Wind.

Recommended Lesson

'Jazz Theory Explained in 20 Minutes'

All the essential Jazz theory you need to know in one video:

Free Resource: Download my 'Chord Symbol Reference Guide' sheet music.

(All Jazz chords notated on one page - including 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths).

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'29 Jazz Piano Licks' sheet music

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