Using thirds

Tom Seals

Lesson time: (1min 41sec)

Tom takes a look at using thirds along with the melody line just like Billy does.

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Lesson transcript:

Music Lesson: Working on the Left Hand

So you can take your own time to work on the left hand.

Starting Simple

Originally, just to start with, you could really just use the nice simple chords and eventually add in this really slow stride.

The Clever Use of Melody

Now, one thing that we need to look at is, I think, again, really clever from Billy Joel, is that the melody he plays utilizes thirds.

"Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood."

But how Billy plays this is with just a really simple but effective method of adding the third.

Practical Application

So watch this.

I'm playing octaves here as well on the E, which gives you this.
And then he goes off and does his own thing here.

But all of these thirds just reinforce, I think, the familiarity of the tune. Additionally, it reinforces the chord because we're constantly hitting those nice major chords.

Exploration

So explore that!

You don't have to add the octave to start; just explore it like this.
Then, of course, when you get a bit more confident, add in your thumb just to give it a bit more dynamic.

Part of:

Course

Become The Ultimate 'Piano Man'

with Tom Seals

21 lessons (1h 47m)

About the instructor

Tom Seals

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

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The Clever Use of Melody

Now, one thing that we need to look at is, I think, again, really clever from Billy Joel, is that the melody he plays utilizes thirds.

"Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood."

But how Billy plays this is with just a really simple but effective method of adding the third.

Practical Application

So watch this.

I'm playing octaves here as well on the E, which gives you this.

And then he goes off and does his own thing here.

But all of these thirds just reinforce, I think, the familiarity of the tune. Additionally, it reinforces the chord because we're constantly hitting those nice major chords.

About the instructor

Tom Seals

Meet the guru