Groove Starter #1: Open Fifths

I’m happy to present the first in a new set of free original piano lesson video tutorials: Groove Starters. These are easier than the more advanced Funk Grooves and will help improve both your technique and your music theory knowledge.

It’s hard to define a genre for this piece — it’s not blues, jazz or funk. It could be considered fusion, since that catches everything else. Listen for yourself, and let me know what you think the genre is.

Technical skill level required: Intermediate.

Videos

  • Groove Starter #1, Part 1/4
  • Groove Starter #1, Part 2/4
  • Groove Starter #1, Part 3/4
  • Groove Starter #1, Part 4/4


Supporting Files

4 Responses to “Groove Starter #1: Open Fifths”

  1. bernie
    11. March 2011 at 03:57

    Thanks a lot. Very nice tune. And absolutely brilliant from a didactic point of view – that intermediate level is exaclty what I (and presumably many other people) was looking for.

    I’m currently trying to recreate the backing track in my sequencer via you midi file so I can practise at a slower tempo. I wonder what drum tool did you use (I guess it’s a vsti). If it happens to be Addictive Drums, may I ask you to also provide the preset file for that specific drum sound.

    Thanks

    Bernie

  2. Jonathon
    11. March 2011 at 07:20

    Thank you Bernie!

    For the real backing tracks I used a VST called “MyDrumSet” from http://www.bluenoise.no/mydrumset.html. The good news is that it’s a free VST, with really nice drum sounds, but it has a non-standard MIDI mapping.

    So, in making the MIDI file here, I had to ‘adapt’ it a bit and consolidate it down for General MIDI. If you’re interested, I could post the “real” MIDI file for the drums with MyDrumSet — then you could use that directly, or remap the notes to your AddictiveDrums kit of choice.

    Thanks for the link, by the way — I’ll have to check Addictive Drums out, it seems like a nice VST!

  3. Schmurze
    12. March 2011 at 11:44

    Nice easy tune, I think it should help a lot of people. I could advise to those who have learned your previous grooves to elaborate a funky bass for the left hand. I’m trying to create one but now I must go to work ^^

    Well done man, and thanks =)

  4. bernie
    16. March 2011 at 09:38

    Thanks, Jonathon, for the link to MyDrumSet. It’s really amazing, even more considering it’s free. Yes, I’d really appreciate the original midi file with the non-GM mapping.

    Thanks, Bernie.

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