Soul \ Neo Soul "how to" Piano books??

[gtsjames]

Does anyone have a good soul/neo soul piano book that they can recommend. I am trying to broaden my playing horizons and looking for any books/dvds that might be good from an instructional point of view. Definitely appreciate any recommendations.

[Cm9_Ed]

http://urbanworship.gospelkeyboard.com/Extreme.html

[gtsjames]

http://urbanworship.gospelkeyboard.com/Extreme.html

any suggestions outside of the extreme worship DVD?

[Cm9_Ed]

You won't really find much on this genre. It is relatively new and is not as big as other forms of music. You are gonna have to pick up some CDs. Some artist to look to are: Jill Scott, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Kem, Floetry, Jazzy Fat Nasties, The Roots, Angie Stone, The Brand New Heavies, and Meshell Ndegeocello. Some you've heard of and some you should learn about.

[gtsjames]

You won't really find much on this genre. It is relatively new and is not as big as other forms of music. You are gonna have to pick up some CDs. Some artist to look to are: Jill Scott, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Kem, Floetry, Jazzy Fat Nasties, The Roots, Angie Stone, The Brand New Heavies, and Meshell Ndegeocello. Some you've heard of and some you should learn about.

Yeah...was trying to avoid actually having to listening to stuff out there, books are typically neutral and give you some kind of meaning that you cant get from listening from. appreciate the response though

[Cm9_Ed]

I understand. A book isn't going to give you everything though. Its a secular style so you are going to have to learn some of those artist. Eventhough it is a popular style, I have not heard it much in gospel. If anyone out there knows some, please drop some names.

Other than that, you should listen to a lot of jazz piano. Alot of the neo soul is jazz piano and EP. Hit me with a private message and I will help you with what I've learned if you are interested.

[Cm9_Ed]

I have a mp3 of one neo soul type gospel song called "For His Glory" that I can shoot your way.

[sjonathan02]

I have a mp3 of one neo soul type gospel song called "For His Glory" that I can shoot your way.

Hook us all up, bro.

[Cm9_Ed]

Hit me with a PM and your addy

[DaNatiMaestro]

I have a book that I think can help..

Smooth Jazz Piano: The Complete Guide with CD by Mark Harrison

Now the book isn't about Soul / Neo Soul BUT the author does a very good job of showing you how to play and voice your chords to get that sound.

Soul and Neo Soul type music is all about that groove; if you're on the keys then you have to be in the pocket with the rest of the band.  This is what separates the great keyboardists from the ok keyboardists.

The ok keyboardists just play the chords in the groove with no regards for voice leading, inversions, openess, voicing with 4th chords, clusters or anything. As a result they sound bland and no life.

But the great ones have all of those things under their fingertips and you can hear the difference.. it sounds like they are taking you some where.

This is where the Smooth Jazz book comes into play.. if you listen to Jeff Lorber or Alex Bugnon they are very smooth but recently they've kinda crossed the lines into the whole Neo Soul genre too while still being Smooth Jazz.. how so?  The chords are the SAME.  Once you learn the techniques and formulas then playing on the Neo Soul level is not that much different from anything else.  But you will have to listen to that style to get the feeling and rhythms.. Neo Soul has alot of rhodes playing and grace notes.. both are explained in the Smooth Jazz book..

I have the Smooth Jazz book and it's helped out my playing ALOT.. the author made all of the theory very easy to understand so much so that I was able to use some of his tips and stuff right away and add it to my playing.

Plus there are plenty of examples fast and SLOW that you can listen to on the accompany CD that comes with the book.. he also talks about how to improv and how to use certain scales (blues, pentatonic, altered) while soloing.

Hope this helps!

[sjonathan02]

I have a book that I think can help..

Smooth Jazz Piano: The Complete Guide with CD by Mark Harrison

Now the book isn't about Soul / Neo Soul BUT the author does a very good job of showing you how to play and voice your chords to get that sound.

Soul and Neo Soul type music is all about that groove; if you're on the keys then you have to be in the pocket with the rest of the band.  This is what separates the great keyboardists from the ok keyboardists.

The ok keyboardists just play the chords in the groove with no regards for voice leading, inversions, openess, voicing with 4th chords, clusters or anything. As a result they sound bland and no life.

But the great ones have all of those things under their fingertips and you can hear the difference.. it sounds like they are taking you some where.

This is where the Smooth Jazz book comes into play.. if you listen to Jeff Lorber or Alex Bugnon they are very smooth but recently they've kinda crossed the lines into the whole Neo Soul genre too while still being Smooth Jazz.. how so?  The chords are the SAME.  Once you learn the techniques and formulas then playing on the Neo Soul level is not that much different from anything else.  But you will have to listen to that style to get the feeling and rhythms.. Neo Soul has alot of rhodes playing and grace notes.. both are explained in the Smooth Jazz book..

I have the Smooth Jazz book and it's helped out my playing ALOT.. the author made all of the theory very easy to understand so much so that I was able to use some of his tips and stuff right away and add it to my playing.

Plus there are plenty of examples fast and SLOW that you can listen to on the accompany CD that comes with the book.. he also talks about how to improv and how to use certain scales (blues, pentatonic, altered) while soloing.

Hope this helps!

First of all, good to read from you. I pray that all is going well over at GK.

BTW, I'm going to look for the book right now! 

[DaNatiMaestro]

The book is 12 bucks on Amazon.com.. regular is like 18 I think..

[sjonathan02]

The book is 12 bucks on Amazon.com.. regular is like 18 I think..

Already ordered, mah friend! 


$16 with shipping and handling.

[gtsjames]

I have a book that I think can help..

Smooth Jazz Piano: The Complete Guide with CD by Mark Harrison

Now the book isn't about Soul / Neo Soul BUT the author does a very good job of showing you how to play and voice your chords to get that sound.

Soul and Neo Soul type music is all about that groove; if you're on the keys then you have to be in the pocket with the rest of the band.  This is what separates the great keyboardists from the ok keyboardists.

The ok keyboardists just play the chords in the groove with no regards for voice leading, inversions, openess, voicing with 4th chords, clusters or anything. As a result they sound bland and no life.

But the great ones have all of those things under their fingertips and you can hear the difference.. it sounds like they are taking you some where.

This is where the Smooth Jazz book comes into play.. if you listen to Jeff Lorber or Alex Bugnon they are very smooth but recently they've kinda crossed the lines into the whole Neo Soul genre too while still being Smooth Jazz.. how so?  The chords are the SAME.  Once you learn the techniques and formulas then playing on the Neo Soul level is not that much different from anything else.  But you will have to listen to that style to get the feeling and rhythms.. Neo Soul has alot of rhodes playing and grace notes.. both are explained in the Smooth Jazz book..

I have the Smooth Jazz book and it's helped out my playing ALOT.. the author made all of the theory very easy to understand so much so that I was able to use some of his tips and stuff right away and add it to my playing.

Plus there are plenty of examples fast and SLOW that you can listen to on the accompany CD that comes with the book.. he also talks about how to improv and how to use certain scales (blues, pentatonic, altered) while soloing.

Hope this helps!

hehe, this is funny, you mention the book and I was looking at it this week on amazon. added it to my wishlist for when I can buy... I guess this is one to get