Free Video Blues Piano Lessons – 30 Must-Have Blues Piano Licks
For those of you who have followed my Series on How to Play a Funk Groove on the Piano, I’ve got another free video series for you. This time — it’s over to the blues for 30 must-have blues piano licks.
Here’s the final demo of the series (after the break), where I run through a bunch of the licks from the series. Scroll down for links to the downloadable music (as a PDF), downloadable MP3 files of the backing tracks and links to the entire series.
The series is organized into an introduction, three sets of ten licks, then the final demo. The first ten licks are fairly easy, the second are intermediate, and the last ten are pretty challenging. Each of these links opens up a YouTube.com video in a new window.
20. March 2008 at 12:22
Hi!
Great you put the music for the lick video online, too! More to practice…
Thanks!
23. April 2008 at 18:56
Hey Jonathon,
Thanks so much for your Blues licks videos they’ve come along at just the right time for me. Your funk groove is very kool too – LH reminds me of Watermelon man, anyway thanks again
Cheers from Simon in Sydney
6. May 2008 at 20:44
I am not sure if you have talked about this before, but is this series available on DVD or CD? I was wanting to have a copy of all of your music videos. They are very encouraging and easy to understand.
Thanks,
Victoria
6. May 2008 at 22:08
I’m sorry, Victoria, but at the moment, they’re only available online. I’m just a computer programmer who likes to make videos on how to play the piano in my (limited) spare time :) — Perhaps I’ll have time to work out some physical DVDs at some point in the future.
7. May 2008 at 19:55
Thanks for the response. I can understand.
Thanks,
Victoria
11. May 2008 at 11:55
Hello Jonathon,
I just joined our High School jazz band this year on piano. Even though I’ve played piano, I’ve never really learned jazz theory. When told to solo, I was just given the notes of the Blues Scales and told to come up with rhythms; yours really help! When we warm up, we all take a solo over Bb blues, so can I ask you to either send me your C version (it looks like Finale?) and I’ll transpose or can you transpose it into Bb for me? If you would like, I can give you my email address.
Thank you!
Your jazz student,
Tyler
11. May 2008 at 13:57
Hey Tyler! Check your email, I sent you the original Finale File (C major) and a new transposed PDF in Bb…
13. May 2008 at 20:34
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6. June 2008 at 19:23
Hi there!
I’ve been trying to break into the world of jazz piano for some time now. I’m classically trained but my passion’s shifted over the last few years.
Without a doubt your tutorials are the best material i’ve come accross so far! I’ve bought a fair few books, but there’s nothing like a demonstration to motivate you, and your enthusiasm shines through! I’ve learned your funk groove, and most of the blues licks, but the difficult part for me is breaking away from my classical training and improvising. Any pointers would be most gratefully accepted!
Thanks for these videos, they’re so helpful, and it’s pretty rare to find this quality of material for free!
Andrew
10. June 2008 at 14:48
Thank you for doing these lessons. I’ve learned quite a bit. I’ve got to work on both hands more. it’s tough.
11. July 2008 at 14:06
Hi,
First let me say that I am a complet beginner at the piano and slowly learning but I like these lessons ok that said I’m starting off with lick#1.
But I am confused a bit, again I’m a piano newb..
Are these licks in C? I thought the C blues scale was
C-Eb-F-F#-G-Bb-C
I’m not every good at reading the notation but it looks like the lick is,
Eb/E-G/F-A/E-G
Am I missing something??
11. July 2008 at 15:16
Hi Grayth –
Glad to have you —
These licks are in C, and yes, the Blues Scale consists of exactly the notes you specified. However, blues isn’t a rigid art form. There’s no reason to only play the blues scale pitches. Very few accomplished blues players stick entirely to these pitches — they’re simply a good starting point and a learning step. You start there, and branch out.
I would have to look back through them, but I’d bet that very few of the licks in this series limit themselves entirely to the blues scale pitches.
Hope this answers your question -
31. July 2008 at 06:26
Dear Jonathan Wilson,
I first saw you on expertvillage.
At first i taught you were like some other musician that will teach some and keep some. However, I was wrong. You are a very different musician. You are different from the rest because you’re unselfish to share what you know. Besides this, you painstakingly record down all 31 videos and 4 backing tracks for us.And your videos are of high quality plus detailed explaination with notes ,slow,fast, and with backing tracks demonstrations.
At first i was so puzzled by blues turnaround but you have unlocked the myth of blues turnaround and even taugh me more. I like expecially the bebop licks you played.
Not only that.. After i learn and watch your 30 licks, now i can improvise myself to make more licks. A word ‘Thanks” is not enough for showing how gratefull i am.
I will like to say ‘Thank GOD for you”… and hope to learn more from you.
sincerely yours,
andy from malaysia
31. July 2008 at 07:15
Wow, Andy — Thanks for the nice words! Glad you’re getting something out of the vids — more to come!
31. July 2008 at 09:40
Thank you Jonathan Wilson.I didn’t expect to get your reply that fast. In replying me, I presume you’re a humble person and not arrogant.I hope you understand that my nice and kind words are not preplanned or trying to flatter anybody. they are from the bottom of my heart. Because I’m so touch to see somebody like you sacrificing a portion of his life to help strangers like me and everybody here.Do you know that you’re sacrificing your life for us? I said this because if for example, if you hav 4 months to live and you spend 3 months creating these learning materials for us,what left for yourself is 1 month. every minute ticking away is the same as ones life ticking away. I had an old friend. He just past away at 86. I visited him a few times in the hospital. in the hospital, he kept telling my parents that how he wish that before he die,he can get to see his son that is working overseas the last time. Few days later,a friend of his visited him and in that same day his only son and 5 daughters traveling back to meet their father. Then this sick old man told his good friend that he wanted to sleep awhile.Then he passed away while his son and daughters are 15minutes away. If he can live another 16 minutes,maybe he can see them for the very last time. But at least if you do die someday,at least in your life time you did something good. and we will all remember you.
Thanks for replying and don’t reply me anymore because i don’t want to take away your life and time. You’ve done too much for us all.
sincerely yours,
andy
17. November 2008 at 14:49
True, about the time, but time giving is time well-spent. I’m just adding my voice to those appreciating all the sharing and the work it takes. It’s giving me a lot of joy and challenge. Fun stuff! Thanks.
17. November 2008 at 14:56
Thanks for the words, Troy — glad to have you here, and glad you’re getting some benefit from the vids!
30. November 2008 at 11:35
Dear Jonathon,
You have helped me -and this is a serious understatement- a long way. It is, as andythan noted, remarkable how unselfish you are with your knowledge. You take the time to smile, lay down the licks -half speed, with metronome; full speed with backing track- provide notations, in various keys and even more… You’ve actually learned me much more about blues (and jazz) piano than my actual piano teacher.
I asure you, your effort is time well spent, for you will have helped many more than those giving voice to their gratitude.
I thank you sincerely, and hold you in great respect.
A student from Belgium,
Manuel
30. November 2008 at 12:27
Thank you Manuel! It means a lot that you’ve taken the time to comment.
Actually, I really enjoying making these videos, so it’s not as much of a selfless effort as you think — it’s fun for me :) I only wish I had more spare time to put more out. Soon, though -
17. December 2008 at 04:17
Absolutely LOVE your work. Been playing since I was 5 (I’m even older than you – have less hair and a more beat up piano – your Yamaha upright records nice and clean). I’ve learnt some nice new licks and variations. You are a very generous man and very talented.
It’s a funny thing to me – pianists and musicians (in general) tend to keep there licks to themselves – yes they share a few but as you said in one of your videos, “this is a nice one to pull out when you want to show off”. I guess for old gits like myself it was all learned off LP’s and later CD’s. It made it hard to progress – and all the licks I managed to learn were hard won!
So how great is it that you spend the time and effort to share and break it down for us – thank you…
17. December 2008 at 07:21
You know, I think there was a time, (when I was younger), when I dreamed that I would acutally make my living doing music that I was more possessive of tips and tricks of playing. But now that I’m older, and have a ‘day job’ to pay my bills, I think it lets me enjoy music much more, without any ‘competitive’ worries. A huge part of that is the collaborative part of it.
At any rate, I’m glad you’re getting some value from the vids. I quite enjoy making them, so it’s not really work. I only wish I had more time for it. We humans have decided to be busy creatures…
11. March 2009 at 16:21
hi Jonathon,
thanks so much for your videos and this site. I stumbled across you on YouTube while searching on “how to play rock organ solos…”. I am learning…thanks for teaching.
trrish
12. March 2009 at 06:27
Hey Trrish! Thanks for the comment — I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. I also enjoyed your blog posts. I’ll bet that concert was awesome :)
Keep in touch, and keep playing!
17. March 2009 at 11:45
Hi Jonathon,
Thanks so much for the Blues licks – your videos have been really helpful!
Is it possible you could send me your original Finale file in C?
Thanks,
Karl
18. March 2009 at 06:04
[...] “30 Must-Have Blues Piano Licks” [...]
20. March 2009 at 09:13
[...] whole 30 part blues piano series is available free on his blog, along with a clip where Jonathon demonstrates the effect of putting [...]
25. May 2009 at 15:00
Hey,
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve now taken all of the licks on both the blues lessons and the funk lessons and put them in all 12 keys (it was a long month in the shed for me). I’ve been playing jazz for about a year and half now (formerly a classically trained pianist who fell in love with Oscar as we all do) and I realized that I completely missed out on the roots for all of this stuff. The funk got my left hand separation together, and the blues kept my licks fresh, and I can’t thank you enough for those lessons.
However, I’d love to see you do a couple things.
1. As a pretty huge theory buff I’m always interested in impressing the cats with some tasty modern stuff, so I’d love to see your takes on Melodic Minor applications to the blues, and a more advanced vocabulary (which I know you have, thanks to the Zoom test run.)
2. A blues bass line/left hand techniques lesson would be great. I trust you wouldn’t come up with all the left hand cheese I’ve been trying to use.
Thanks for the music,
Dave
26. May 2009 at 06:15
Hey Dave! Thanks for the words and suggestions. Minor blues — cool idea, and the first request I’ve had for such. Excellent sugg. on the left hand/bass too — I distinctly remember a particular lesson from my uncle on bass lines that completely changed the way I played at the time (some 20 years ago…). I’ll see what I can do :)
15. August 2009 at 23:11
Hi, Jonathon. I’m a teenager in south korea. I can’t type such a long writing, so don’t upset by my short writing.
I saw your lesson video, It was so great. I’m learning ’bout funk groove and blues.
By the way, I felt that I need some backing. Because I don’t have any digital piano and I don’t have any backing or else.
Could you give me your blues video’s backing in this page?
And if you don’t mind, please give me how to play funk groove’s backing in this page : http://www.groovewindow.com/2007/11/17/how-to-play-a-funk-groove-on-the-piano/
Have a nice day, jonathon.
4. October 2009 at 04:48
Jonathon
I just want to thank you for the 30 blues piano licks. I have been trying to play the blues for years and they helped me a lot. Great playing and recording.
Best,
Benjamin (France)
17. January 2010 at 01:49
thank you sooooo much …….i really love ur teaching …. i ve ben learning so much…….
god bless d internet
23. January 2010 at 22:20
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks so much! Really appreciated!
Any chance of a lesson on getting our left hand dancing too?
Also do you have the backing tracks in different keys?
Andrew (UK)
19. February 2010 at 08:36
Many thanks from South Caro! This series has greatly enhanced my ability to flow with the band… a great ‘daily vitamin’ for keyboard musicians.
7. March 2010 at 12:03
Hi! thanks a lot for the nice groovie 30 must have blues licks. keep doing your thing XD
gunnar ( Norway )
26. March 2010 at 15:35
hi jonathon!
your dad is tuning a harp in renee westlake’s office right now… i thought i’d say “hi” i graduated a year behind you… amy nelson… hope you are well! congrats on your amazing web site-i will have to check it out later! take care!
13. April 2010 at 20:18
hi jonathon!
i just learned about your site and i must say it’s really amazing and so nice of you to share without anything in return. you truly are blessed. the next thing imma do is i will check out all the links from the beginning because i really want to learn how to play blues. i am a singer but i dont wanna limit myself on singing that’s why i bought a simple keyboard so i could practice. ive been searching for instructionals online and i guess today is my lucky day! unfortunately youtube is blocked here in china (im not chinese) but ill find a way to see the links you posted. once again thank you very much and more power to you!
noodles0421
2. May 2010 at 13:30
hi, thk u so much for the licks, and your professionel website.
marc
13. May 2010 at 09:39
thanks so much for the free pdf sheet music, love your piano playing and this site,only wish there was more pdf’s
goshawk
n.ireland
22. May 2010 at 11:47
Thanks so much for the site and for your generosity. Can you tell me which licks are for turnarounds? Thanks!
Peggy
22. May 2010 at 13:07
Hey Peggy! You can probably use any of these in a turnaround position, but you’d have to modify slightly and some probably work better than others. For others reading, a “turnaround” is generally a lick you play to get from the end of one chorus into the next one. Perfect when playing with singers/instrumentalists, and they’re done singing — you drop a tasty little “turnaround” in at the end of their chorus to lead them nicely into the next chorus or verse.
Turnarounds are typically on the V chord, — so if we’re in the key of C, that means your turnarounds are going to be loosely centered around G7. There are two approaches:
1) Play any of these licks in the main key, but be sure that any natural 3rds (such as E natural when playing in the key of C) are flat. I do this in a couple of the videos when I’m on the V chord.
2) Just transpose the lick right into the key of the V — if we’re in the key of C, for a turnaround, literally play the lick in the key of G.
Hope this helps — it’s a little vague and general, I’m afraid…
27. June 2010 at 13:51
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21. July 2010 at 09:03
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29. July 2010 at 11:44
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