Inverting right-hand thirds ideas to play them in sixths

Lesson Six: Syncopated Left Hand and Right Hand Variations

In this sixth lesson, we're going to focus on the following concepts:

• Syncopated Left Hand: We will explore a variation on this technique.
• Right Hand Upgrade: We'll upgrade the right hand five-finger positions from thirds to sixths.

Right Hand Technique

If you've completed part one, you should be familiar with the five-finger positions. Upgrading from thirds to sixths is easy!

• How to Upgrade: Simply flip the notes over:
  • F and A becomes A and F.

Fingering Tips

Fingering may be a little tricky if you're not used to it:

• You might want to jump with fingers 1 and 5.
• For legato playing, it's more efficient to use the second finger and sometimes the fourth as well.

This technique can lead to a crab-like motion, for instance. In B flat, this will become:

(Insert Example Here)

These are good exercises for developing legato fingering. Remember, you are just using the first five notes of the scale, no seventh.

Introduction of the Pickup

We will add a little pickup by starting on the fifth and third, with a pickup on B and G sharp (the flat five and the flat three).

• I'll play this with the same bass line we used earlier in Happy Blues sa.

You may notice I'm using some chromatic notes in the C and B flat bars:

• Approaching the starting point for the C from the tone below.
• Going up in semitones and placing one in between the two chords.

Short Famous Lick

The last phrase includes a very short, famous lick resolving onto the third. Notice how it looks like it's going down, but G minor 7 rises up to the third of the chord.

Variation on the Left Hand

Now, I'm going to show you the variation on the left hand:

• It's still syncopated in the same way but a little busier.
• I've added a blue third which I am sliding off. This should be quite a quick motion using some arm weight.

You could leave it out and simply play it like this if you want.

Introduction with a New Orleans Flavor

There's also a little introduction that gives a very New Orleans-y flavor:

• It features a sixth chord in the right hand, played in second inversion.

The introduction sounds like this: (Insert Example Here)

This section is four bars long with a break, which allows for a smoother pickup.

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With these techniques, you'll be able to add more depth and complexity to your playing. Happy practicing!