7 MORE Sick Runs & Arpeggios Every Jazz Pianist Should Learn

In today's post, I want to take one of me previous video topics one step further by outlining seven more modern jazz piano runs and arpeggios. These selections come from my PDF bundle "20 Sick Modern Jazz Piano Licks" which you can find here for downloadable versions of these licks.

In this video, I'm going to highlight a few more of my favorite examples from this collection. These licks really focus on expanding your right-hand modern jazz vocabulary while also providing some great left-hand voicings and progressions to follow.

You might be asking yourself: What makes a lick modern? In my definition, these licks are going to include more intervallic structures as well as dissonance formulas (formulaic ways to play "out"). I really like to break these licks down into small building blocks so that you can not only learn the vocabulary, but understand why these patterns work. That way, you are more equipped to implement the theory and structures rather than simply reuse and duplicate these exact licks each time you play.

Check out the full video below to learn all seven of these licks:

6 Must-Learn Neo Soul Improv Licks

Have you ever listened to artists like Robert Glasper or Cory Henry and wondered how to get that modern, neo-soul sound in your playing? While these players have had years of playing and experience, one of the fastest ways to achieve this sound is to learn some jazz vocabulary that fits the genre. Not only will this give you ideas to draw upon during your own improvisation, but it will attune you to the different patterns and inflections involved in the captivating neo-soul style.

In today's featured video, I'm highlighting a few of my favorite excerpts from my jazz piano PDF guide, 20 Neo Soul Improv Exercises: Exercises for Mastering Neo Jazz Improv and Harmony (super clever name, I know!). If you want to check out the full PDF, you will find the exercises transcribed and written out in all keys.

These licks are going to help you focus in on all aspects of neo-jazz influenced harmony and improvisation. They are heavily inspired by the current greats of the neo-jazz style. Here are a few aspects of your playing that will be strengthened by practicing these exercises:

1. Technique

2. Improvisational right-hand vocabulary

3. Sense of harmony

Check out the video to hear the licks and practice alongside me:

7 Sick Jazz Runs and Arpeggios You Should Learn Today

In today's featured video, I'm going to be sharing with you seven incredible runs and arpeggios that you can apply immediately in your jazz vocabulary. Not only do these exercises help you utilize the entire keyboard, but they are also helpful ideas that you can draw upon during improvisation.

In order to learn these runs and arpeggios, I recommend sitting down at your keyboard with the video open and really getting each exercise in your fingers before moving on to the next. A helpful tip is that you can actually slow the video down by clicking the settings button and choosing a slower speed to help you follow along. To further ingrain these patterns in your brain I also recommend trying them in a few different keys aside from the example I play in. This will help you commit the sound and feel of these different arpeggios to memory, rather than simply learning a couple of licks that you just end up repeating during solos. By practicing in other keys, you also may be more inclined to vary the exercises and notes within the run based on the context you are playing in.

These runs and arpeggios are my personal favorite selections from my 30 Sick Runs and Arpeggios digital PDF booklet, which you can find at jazzpianoconcepts.com/store. This PDF is full of high intensity arpeggio exercises for adding modern shapes to your vocabulary, fast.

If you have any questions about how or when to integrate these licks into your playing, feel free to leave me a comment and I'd be happy to help you out!

Check out the full video to learn the arpeggios and practice alongside me: