Die linke Hand des 'A'-Teils
Lesson time: (8min 9sec)
Tom Seals baut den Part der linken Hand für den A-Teil auf und verwandelt eine G6-Griffform in eine Walking-Bass-Linie, die bis zum D-Akkord hinaufsteigt.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Lerne Swing-Standards am Klavier mit Tom Seals
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Left Hand Walking Bass Pattern
Okay, so the right hand is done. As simple as that. Now let's look at the left hand.
First Four Bars
For the first 1, 2, 3, 4 bars, it's just a G.
Starting setup:
- Little finger on the G
- Third finger, middle finger on the B
- Second finger on the D
- Thumb on the E
Together, we have G, B, D, and E, which forms a G6 chord. While we won't play it as a chord, these notes create the chord:
Notes breakdown:
- G
- E
- D
- E
This arpeggiated pattern leads us into a walking bass.
Chord Progression
We will start with the first chord being G, played four times:
- G (4x)
- A minor 7 chord
Instead of playing the chord this time, we will walk up to the D chord, as shown on the chart.
Walking up:
- A
- B
- C
- C sharp
- D
So, altogether, that makes:
Notes Sequence:
- Four bars of G
- A, B, C sharp, D
Finger Placement:
- Third finger on the A
- Second finger on the B
- Thumb on the C
- Second finger moving to C sharp
- Thumb lands back on D
So we pivot on the thumb, and then this finger exercise will help in moving down the piano.
Transition to D
We will go back to D after reaching G:
- Start at D
- Move thumb to G
Progression note movement:
- Thumb (D)
- Third finger (E)
- F
- F sharp
- G
Notes sequence (slowly):
- A
- B
- C sharp
- D
- E
- F sharp
- G
Now, let's speed this up:
Speed sequence:
From A to D, down to G.
Moving Forward
From the top:
- Four bars of G
- To A minor (up to the D)
- Down to G
This takes us to bars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and we start bar seven.
Last Two Bars of the First Section
The last two bars go like this:
- G
- E minor
- A minor
- D
1-6-2-5 Progression
This chord progression is known as 1-6-2-5, and while it sounds complicated, it's simply a counting exercise.
- G is the 1 (root note).
- Count 1-6: E (6 becomes E minor 7).
- 2: A (A minor).
- 5: D.
Hence, the progression:
- 1 = G
- 6 = E
- 2 = A
- 5 = D
Practice Sequence:
Sequence:
- G, E, A, D
- G, E, A, down to D
- G, E, A, D
Now, let's add passing notes in between.
Passing Notes:
- From G to E, add F sharp.
- From A, we could use G sharp down to D.
Revised Sequence:
- G, F sharp, E, A flat (or G sharp) down to E flat to D.
In simple form:
- G, E, A, D
- And again G, E, A, D.
With passing notes:
- G, F sharp, E, A flat, A, E flat, D.
Putting It All Together
This may seem complicated, but it flows smoothly once we integrate the right hand.
Loop Example:
- G, F sharp, E, A flat, A, E flat, D, back to G.
Finger Placement for the Left Hand of the Entire A Section:
- Thumb, second finger, third finger, second finger, thumb, third finger, fourth finger, second finger, thumb.
I will now play it all the way through, showcasing both versions: one with the simplified 1-6-2-5 progression and one with the additional passing notes.
First Version:
- Four bars of G, A minor to D, down to G.
Now with Passing Notes:
- Start with 4 bars of G.
About the instructor

Den Titel des UK Piano Man haben lange Elton John, Jools Holland und Jamie Cullum getragen. In den vergangenen fünf Jahrzehnten kam ihm sonst niemand auch nur ansatzweise nahe – bis jetzt! Frisch von seiner ausverkauften Tour "Let The Good Times Roll" hat Tom Seals – "möglicherweise schlicht die Zukunft von Jazz und Blues" – die Welt in den Fingerspitzen. Sein virtuoses Solospiel, seine hervorragenden Improvisationsfähigkeiten und seine unverwechselbare Stimme haben führende Branchengrößen dazu bewogen, ihn als besten Boogie-Woogie- und Blues-Pianisten und -Sänger Großbritanniens zu feiern. Noch Mitte zwanzig, hat Seals bereits ausverkaufte Shows rund um den Globus gespielt, darunter Londons legendäres Ronnie Scott's, ein umwerfender Auftritt im Birdland Jazz Club am Broadway in New York und Arbeiten an der Seite von Jools Holland. Bemerkenswerte Auftritte: 'Gregory Porter & Friends' beim Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jools Hollands '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 seinem Kurs lüftet Tom die Geheimnisse hinter seinem Spiel – er zeigt dir, wie du Standards am Klavier zum Swingen bringst, authentische Boogie-Woogie- und Blueslinien aufbaust und die Freiheit zum Improvisieren findest –, damit du selbst zum ultimativen Piano Man wirst. Die vollständige Biografie von Tom findest du unter www.tomseals.co.uk. read more




