Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84298 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 262 pages

From the Author
More info about the book
Not to be confused with a book of the same title by M Mann, Improvising Blues Piano was written for the intermediate pianist and contains over 60 pieces including well-known standards such as Ain't No Sunshine, Bag's Groove, Blue Monk, Got My Mojo Workin', Honky Tonk Train Blues, How Long Blues, Pine Top's Boogie Woogie, St Louis Blues, etc.. along with pieces by the author, tips, assignments, licks, improvisation suggestions, etc...

All the pieces are included on the accompanying CD which also features some "play-along" tracks.

All styles of blues are covered from Boogie Woogie, Chicago and New Orleans, to Swing, Funk, Gospel and Jazz.

Each chapter focuses on a particular type of chord, beginning with major triads, and ending with 9th, 13th, and diminished chords, presented in a logical and easy to follow to fashion.

The book also contains 20 full page photos of blues pianists from Jimmy Yancey to Dr John, and a comprehensive discography.

Reviews have been very positive. Here is a selection:

JOOLS HOLLAND: "The essential book for all blues pianists"

BLUES REVUE (USA): "I highly recommend the book - it's the best I've seen yet"

MOJO: "The presentation is immaculate, the method is logical and friendly, with everything clearly demonstrated on the CD."

BRIAN PRIESTLEY - JAZZWISE MAGAZINE: "This book leaves any possible competition standing at the post."

MICHAEL GARRICK: "Beautifully presented, it has clarity, heart and comprehensiveness."

Customer Reviews

An excelent book/cd to help you play the blues
I was lucky enough to be taught by Tim Richards p/t at Goldsmiths and he wrote this book to help and accompany his students.It is simply but well written and uses great masters for example pieces such as Dr.John and Prof.Longhair. You do need to have some playing experience/knowledge and be able to play (a bit) both hands but I observed a guy on the course who had limited ability become a really good player in less than a year mainly by following the lessons in the book and listening. Unfortunately I didn't do all the things he suggests and still tend to just read the music rather than improvise (v. naughty as it's something the book strongly suggests you don't do)-This book however had a profound effect on my playing and appreciation of the blues and probably would for most people that applied themselves to it.

Learning to improvise
I must disagree with the reviewer who thinks that this is simply learning by rote. If you actually work through the book, it gives you a number of exercises where you do have to use your own creativity and understanding. For someone like me who came from a classical background, this book was an excellent way of helping me let go of the printed page.I still found it difficult, but each chapter in this book gives you something tangible to work on. It is not simply "go and do it by yourself"

Ignore the above review
The guy above reviewing the book obviously didn't give it the time of day and has written a potentially damaging review about something he knows nothing about.

The writer of this book instructs and encourages ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO IMPROVISE AND CREATE YOUR OWN PIECES.

Yes he gives songs and musical transcripts to play, they are simple at first and get progressively longer and more complicated once the principles have been well practised. But they are simply starting points for his instructions on the same page. You need a context to learn in and he has provided lots of them.

He teaches you to teach yourself, there is ample opportunity to learn and improvise and do your own stuff throughout right from the beginning. I was excited at my progress after th efirst two pages of the book and it never tapered off now I've worked through two and a half chapters.

He even teaches you how to create your own solos and gives well-used 'devices' to make something sound good, that starts right from page 1. These devices were used by professional blues performers even to this day.

The writer himself is a performer, and is a teacher at an established music school. He uses his teaching experience in the book that much is obvious. Don't buy any other book but this one because it's well deserved.

This book is something marvellous. I knew nothing before I started, I have learned more from this book in 7 months than I have in 8 years of tinkering around myself.