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:

How to Transcribe Licks Effectively

Should you transcribe?

I hear this question asked all the time, and the answer isn't quite as simple as you would think.

In today's lesson, I'm going to leave you with a simple, 4-step process that is going to make transcribing 100% worthwhile for you.

Here's a breakdown of the most efficient way to transcribe in four easy steps:

1. Choose your favorite lick(s) from your chosen recording.

2. Internalize that lick by visualizing and hearing it in your head, note for note.

3. Learn to play the lick on your instrument.

4. Practice molding the lick to fit different chord changes and progressions.

I've spent countless hours transcribing not only through memorization, but also through writing down transcriptions as sheet music. The above is what I have found to be by far the most effective method for truly integrating new jazz vocabulary into your playing, and it will save you a TON of time.

Whether you're working on bebop, modern jazz, neo soul, or really any genre of music, this method will work for learning to really hear what you're working on and it will greatly speed up the vocabulary integration process.

Check out the full video tutorial here

The Right Way to Use Diminished 7 Chords for Jazz Piano

How do you use diminished chords & harmony in a way that actually sounds good?

In this jazz piano tutorial, we answer that question.

Using the diminished sound can be a surprisingly tricky piece of the jazz piano equation. Here are some exercises that will help you quickly improve and advance your chord progressions and technical skills!

So how do you feel about your confidence with diminished chords and improvisation?

I have to admit— it took me a really long time to get it down.

Let's put an end to that lack of confidence! Check out the full lesson here:

P.S. I've been having a blast chatting with you all on strategy calls!

These are short zoom calls that you can actually book completely free with either myself or one of our Neo Jazz Coaches (who I trained and are awesome musicians and people).

If you need a little help clarifying your next steps for how to improve your skills, you can schedule a quick call with us and we'll discuss your goals, what's holding you back, some next steps you can take, and whether it makes sense for you to join any of my programs.

Worst case scenario, you'll leave the call with more clarity about what you need to work on and how to approach it. Best case scenario, maybe we can work together in some capacity!

Schedule your free call here.