A style of music that focuses on dance is called boogie-woogie piano.In the late 1800's, it was first developed in rural African American communities.The left hand plays the piano with a repetitive bass pattern while the right plays various counter rhythms and licks on top of it.It is a very physically demanding style of piano playing and can be compared to an athletic event.
Step 1: Listen to what the masters have to say.
You need to listen to the native speakers if you want to learn music.Listen to the old masters to get an idea of their styles and rhythms.Some good people to start with are Clarence "Pinetop" Smith, Cripple Clarence Lofton, Montana Taylor, Hersal Thomas, Albert Ammons, and Pete Johnson.If you want to get the true sounds of boogie-woogie in your ears, download their music and listen a little bit to them every day.
Step 2: There is a left hand bass pattern.
Without a steady bass pattern there is no hope of playing true boogie-woogie and the left hand is the most important feature.There are eight eighth-notes played in every bar, meaning that most left hand patterns are 8-to-the-bar.You should learn at least one left hand bass pattern and be able to play it on your own.
Step 3: Establish hand independence.
This is a good way to get your foot in the door to achieve left hand independence with any new bass pattern you learn.The boogie-woogie left hand pattern can be used for this example.If you want to introduce more complicated rhythms in the right hand, use a C6 for the first inversion.
Step 4: This technique can be practiced over a 12-bar blues.
The most common musical form for boogie-woogie songs is a 12-bar blues.The key of C is where the I, IV, and V are located.This will make an F9.Shift your fingers over to f-g-b-d.The hand independence exercise shown in the new keys of F and G can be practiced with the left and right fingers.
Step 5: You can learn a right hand lick.
In boogie-woogie piano playing, when the right hand is not playing a song, it plays licks.Arthur Migliazza states in his book that there are only 8 primary licks for the boogie woogie piano.Lick #1 is the most basic, and involves keeping the right hand in the C major triad.
Step 6: There are some variations of your first lick.
You have more material to work with if you learn some variations of the lick.
Step 7: While playing the left hand bass pattern, practice the lick and variations.
The next step is to play your boogie-woogie bass pattern with your right hand.There is separate practice for C, F and G.You can play these licks in C while the left hand changes, or you can transfer them to F and G.It still works!
Step 8: Put the licks in all three keys in the context of a 12-bar blues.
Step 9: You can learn an introduction.
There are different approaches to boogie-woogie songs.A very common way to start a boogie-woogie is by playing the left hand bass pattern for four measure by itself, and then introducing the right hand.This means that C7 and C diminished 7 in the key of C.Four measures in duration and consisting of going back and forth between the two chords is an introduction of this sort.Four measures count as the first four measures of the 12-bar form and when the left hand comes in with the bass pattern it is on the IV chord.
Step 10: It's a good idea to learn an ending.
The simplest way to end a boogie-woogie is to play this figure with the left hand.
Step 11: The bass pattern in the left hand should be combined with the licks of the right hand.
Now you are playing boogie woogie, use an introduction to start and an ending to finish.