Stride piano - basics of the left hand stride

http://bit.ly/billsbook

Stride piano technique is really useful for pianists who are playing quite traditional or mainstream jazz, blues, show music and other stuff from the middle of the twentieth century. It basically involves "striding" between a bass note and a chord, creating rhythm, bass line and harmony all in one. You can also incorporate scale runs, block chords and tremolos to add depth and character.

One important thing to remember is not to play chunky left hand chords too far down during the stride sequence - or they'll sound muddy. Also, stride doesn't work very well for more modern piano styles (though it's great for the styles I listed above) and you don't want to get "trapped" into playing it and no other left hand style!

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[mechflesh]

Honestly how the hell do you keep the bass hand going and incorporate it with the right hand!?! I've been jamming piano for almost three years and i never learned how to do this. I don't understand mentally and I'm not capable physically to do this and it is really irritating. All i can do is keep 4/4 timed bass in blocked chords.

[billhiltonbiz]

@mechflesh Ahahaha - good question! There's a really good exercise you can do - give me a few days, and I'll make a short vid on it :)

[chizzadbc]

hahaha oh no no i just meant like rootless voicings ive heard him use? To practice this techinique do you recommend (for a beginner) practising a blues or rhythm changes using the stride style?

[billhiltonbiz]

@chizzadbc Ah, right, yes - sorry, misunderstood! Yes, rootless voicings work very well on the off-beats, though you need a strong root at the start of the bar on beat one, at least in classic stride. When you're getting started, do what feels comfortable in the right - which probably means starting with rhythm changes until your left hand is really secure down that end of the piano :)

[chizzadbc]

very nice! So with the left hand are you play the root and then jumping up the octave and playing the chord? Does this work with Bill evans type voicings? (spec at faster tempos, im a drummer so i cant play very fast yet!)

[billhiltonbiz]

@chizzadbc You've got it - actually, there's another stride piano video uploading as I write :) Hmmm - Evans wasn't massively into stride (it's more a technique of early jazz), but it keeps cropping up in all kinds of jazz playing.

[localpm]

Great Thank You.

[tatripp]

great video. you got a new subscriber

[volvot5se]

Thanks for these great vids what would be the most common key signatures used is there any need to learn them all Regards Colin

[Killuh751]

that was a FANTASTIC take... and you sounded a bit like Doctor Who too ! so that made it a bit easier!.......Come along Pond!

[chizzadbc]

@billhiltonbiz hahaha oh no no i just meant like rootless voicings ive heard him use? To practice this techinique do you recommend (for a beginner) practising a blues or rhythm changes using the stride style?