Watch Oscar Peterson play our 8th note technique 🎹

Reader,

After we wrapped up our workshop last Friday, I was listening to a few different performances of Oscar Peterson playing our tune, Someday My Prince Will Come.

There were some great moments, but this phrase below really stuck out to me as a perfect representation of what we've been practicing. Streams of eighth notes, chord tones on the strong beats, handing over smoothly from one chord to the next.

I wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it too.

Oscar Peterson on Someday My Prince Will Come

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Credit to Cornelius Tsen who did the hard work transcribing this tune.

Take a look at this brief excerpt from Oscar's solo.

Let me point out a few things:

• Look at each measure and compare the notes on the beat with the tones of the chord. Almost every beat is a chord tone.
• On the dominant chord measures, notice how Oscar uses the alterations as the target chord tones. This is a key to how Oscar creates such colorful tension and release in his lines.
• Notice how the lines are primarily strings of 8th notes (🍕) with 8th note triplets thrown in for rhythmic variety. But even those triplets ensure the chord tones stay on the beats.

I find it so inspiring to see an artist I admire so much using the same techniques that I do, but wielding them in such a masterful way. It makes me feel like, perhaps someday, I could transcend to his level and play like this too. (With a few hundred more years of practice)

Friday Workshop: We're continuing our work on improvising. We'll break down more examples like this one and practice building your own fluid, authentic-sounding solos over Someday My Prince Will Come.

See you this Friday, Dec 5, at 1:00 Eastern.

Happy Practicing.

Josh Walsh

P.S.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Black Friday sale last week. I'm so grateful for your support, and I look forward to working with you this year.

🙏🎹