Intro to 'Hallelujah I Love Her So'
Lesson time: (1min 0sec)
Tom Seals introduces Ray Charles' Hallelujah I Love Her So, previewing the blues-scale licks, walking bass and dramatic intros you'll learn.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Become The Ultimate 'Piano Man'
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Ray Charles Lesson: "Hallelujah I Love Her So"
And now we're going to look at Ray Charles' classic, "Hallelujah I Love Her So."
I've started my set with this song for the past 10 years. It's one of my favorites. I know it inside out, and I know that no matter what situation I'm walking into, if we're on a gig where we've never played there before, and we don't know what the sound's going to be like, this is my safe song. I know it's going to be okay.
Key Areas of Focus
I want to show you some of my favorite things. Here's what we will explore:
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Typical Ray Charles Lines:
- Using the chord chart in its simplest form to make it your own.
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Improvisation Techniques:
- Working with blues scales to enhance your improvisation.
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Using the Piano in a Big Band Context:
- Comping if there's a singer.
- Left-hand walking bass patterns.
- Using your right hand as almost a horn section.
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Dramatic Intros:
- How to use them to your benefit, whether you're just playing solo piano or collaborating with a singer.
There's so much to get on with with this tune. Let's get started!
About the instructor
The mantle of UK Piano Man has long been held by Elton John, Jools Holland and Jamie Cullum. Over the past five decades no one else has come remotely close - until now! Fresh from his sell-out "Let The Good Times Roll" tour, Tom Seals - "quite possibly the future of jazz and blues" - has the world at his fingertips. His virtuoso soloing, excellent improvisation skills and distinctive voice have led top industry figures to hail him as the UK's finest boogie woogie and blues pianist and vocalist. Still in his mid-twenties, Seals has already played sold-out shows across the globe, including London's legendary Ronnie Scott's, a stunning performance at Birdland Jazz Club on Broadway in New York, and work alongside Jools Holland. Notable appearances include: Cheltenham Jazz Festival's 'Gregory Porter & Friends' Jools Holland's 'Boogie Woogie & Blues Spectacular' Birdland Jazz Club, New York City British Summer Time - Hyde Park Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club Gisburne Park Pop-Up Montreux Jazz Festival Cropredy Festival The Steinway Two Pianos Festival Glastonbury Newark Showground "Drive-In" Blenheim Palace In his course, Tom throws open the secrets behind his playing - showing you how to swing standards at the piano, build authentic boogie woogie and blues lines, and find the freedom to improvise, so you can become the ultimate Piano Man yourself. You can read Tom's full biography at www.tomseals.co.uk. read more