Piano Method Madness

Exercise 14 is a minor variation of exercise 13 where the right hand approaches oncoming chords from below. The left hand plays a slow single finger bassline and the right hand plays seventh chords. As before, the biggest challenge appears in measure 12 with the closing of the song. With the exception of the hops and leaps, this lesson is not complex, so it shouldn't take long to master. Keep playing and don't! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers. 
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

Exercise 13 introduces a new bassline and melody. It feels more like the old school traditional blues you have come to know. The left hand plays a smooth single note bassline, and the right hand switches finger patterns to cover the chords it plays. Once again, students will face technical challenges in measures 1 & 12. This lesson is not hard, so it shouldn't take long to work through. This lesson piece was me to be played slow. 

 If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.


Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers. 
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

Exercise 12 is a slight variation of exercise 11. The left hand plays a double bassline and the right hand is being forced to stretch the fingers over an octave span. The same technical challenges still exist in measures 1 & 12. The melody is inverted in comparison to exercise 11. Happy playing and practicing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers. 
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

Exercise 11 introduces new concepts for the left and right hands. The left hand plays a doubled bassline and the right hand is being forced to stretch the fingers over an octave span. Students will face technical challenges in measures 1 & 12. This lesson is not overly complex, so it shouldn't take long to master if being practiced by a novice. Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Exercise 10 is very similar to Exercise 9. It also contains challenging finger techniques. Techniques such as fingers being spread an octave apart; fingers two and three crossing over the thumb to play lower keys, and gracing of fingers two and three as well as fingers three and five. Exercise 10's bassline is pretty straightforward and can be played with little to no difficulty.  It WILL take a while to successfully complete if being practiced by a novice, but repetition will make way for success. Keep playing! If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Exercise 9 is the exercise that you've been waiting for. It introduces a real blues song filled with good, challenging finger techniques. Techniques such as fingers crossing over another to stretching the thumb and pinky to play keys an octave apart are introduced in it. The exercise makes a slight alteration to Exercise 8's bass line and includes notation for foot pedal incorporation. This exercise is both fun and challenging. It will take a while to successfully complete. But keep at it and you will see results. If you need a copy of the book, please use the information below to get yourself a copy.


Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Exercise 8 reintroduces an old bass line and right hand finger patter. The pattern in this exercise helps builds finger strength of all fingers on the right hand. There are very few melodic notes played in this exercise, however, playing them helps the player gain finger independence as the speed of play is increased. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Exercise 7 continues with a minor variation to the stepping pattern introduced in exercise 6. The pattern in this exercise is repetitive and builds finger strength. The level of difficulty is not as challenging as in exercise 6. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Exercise introduces a stepping pattern involving the pointing finger instead of the grace note introduced in exercise 5. Again, this exercise takes a little time to learn because of the focus of strengthening the second (pointing) finger on the right hand. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC 

Basic Blues for Piano: Exercise 5.

Exercise introduces a new grace notes melody and bass patterns. This exercise takes a little bit to learn because of the incorporation of the grace note as well as other fingers on the right hand. The narrator identifies where the problem areas lie for newcomers.

Basic Blues for Piano
By Ron Payne
Copyright (c) 1984 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved
Item# 00240075 - US$24.99 - Available for purchase from local music retailers.
Used by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC