Piano - Blues Improvisation for Teachers

Name: Piano - Blues Improvisation for Teachers
Rating: 4.5 (1 reviews)

Mastering E-flat

Created byAdam Cole

Last updated 3/2026

English

What you'll learn

Students will be able to play a blues solo in E-flat
Students will be able to improvise a bass-line in E-flat
Students will be able to combine a solo with an improvised bass line in E-flat
Students will know key musical terms related to the blues.

Course content

11 sections • 83 lectures • 1h 25m total length

Introduction0:37
Welcome to the Course! If you've taken our "Getting Started" series, you're ready to go. If you missed it, you might want to check it out to get a foundation for what we're doing.

We'll review the previous course in this one, so if you're ready, dive in!
What You Should Know2:58
Students who take this course should already be familiar with the 12-bar blues pattern in E-flat. They should also feel comfortable improvising on the black keys with the right hand, and should be able to add a couple of color-note white-keys as well. This video will cover everything you need in order to move forward.
For the Teacher: What the Student Should Already Know2:17
A more detailed explanation for the teacher about what the student should know before beginning this course.
For the Teacher: Why the Pinky?0:36
Why is it so important to use only the left pinky at this stage?
For the Teacher: How Steady is Steady?1:19
Should students be "metronome steady" in the left hand?
For the Teacher: The Importance of the Left Hand0:21
Which hand should we prioritize at this stage?
For the Teacher: What are the Color Notes?0:34
What do we mean by "color notes?"
For the Teacher: Can I Teach the Other Color Notes?0:52
A and D are the two white-key "color notes" we teach at this stage. If your student is curious about using the other white keys while playing Blues in E-flat, should we include them?
Practice Quiz 1

The Single Note Bass Line0:38
What is the name of the bass line we've been using up to this point?
Introducing the 1-3-5 Bass Line2:05
What is the 1-3-5 bass line?
A Closer Look At 1-3-50:45
Here's a closer look at the 1-3-5 bass line and how it's related to the earlier bass line we already know.
Adding Right Hand to 1-3-5 Bass Line1:12
What happens when we add the right hand on black keys to a 1-3-5 bass line?
Start-Stop With 1-3-5 Bass Line1:11
What can we do if combining the hands with a 1-3-5 bass line is too difficult for us?
Color Notes with 1-3-5 Bass Line1:05
What happens when we add color notes in the right hand over a 1-3-5 bass line?
Assignment: Play a 1-3-5 Blues0:37
It's time to get good at a 1-3-5 blues!
For the Teacher: What Do the Numbers 1-3-5 Refer To?1:19
Why is this bass line called the 1-3-5?
For the Teacher: Does It Matter What Fingers They Use to Play a 1-3-5?0:39
There are lots of ways to play the 1-3-5 bass line. Is there a compelling reason to stick with one fingering?
For the Teacher: Is Start-Stop an Option for the 1-3-5?0:54
What are the options regarding "start-stop" playing around a 1-3-5 bass line?
For the Teacher: What If They Just Can't Do It?0:19
What do we do if they just can't play a right hand solo over a 1-3-5 bass line?
Practice Quiz 2

The Game: 1-3-52:36
If a student is having a lot of difficulty keeping the right hand going while playing a 1-3-5 bass line, or is making mistakes in the left hand while soloing with the right, "The Game" is the best tool they have to overcome their difficulties!
Assignment: Win the Game!2:11
Your assignment is to win "The Game!"
Adam Loses the Game1:17
What does losing "The Game" look like?
Adding G to Your Color Notes1:44
If desired, we can add a third color note in the right hand to color notes A and D.
For the Teacher: How Do I Set the Right Level For the Game?0:50
How can teachers help students determine the right level of difficulty for The Game?
For the Teacher: What Exactly Does The Game Teach Students?1:13
How does The Game teach finger independence? What's the actual skill here?
For the Teacher: Should I Add "G" to the Color Notes?0:56
Is it wise to add a third color note?
Practice Quiz 3

Introducing the 1 #4 5 Bass Line0:41
What is the 1 #4 5 bass line?
The Sharp-Four1:05
What do we mean by "sharp four?"
Playing a 1-#4 5 Bass Line1:49
Here's a closer look at the 1 #4 5 bass line and how it's played!
Assignment: Play a 1 #4 5 Bass Line0:49
Your assignment is to play a 1 #4 5 bass line.
Adding the Right Hand to 1 #4 51:16
How do we add the right hand over a 1 #4 5 bass line?
Assignment 2: Add the Right Hand Over 1 #4 50:14
Your second assignment is to play a right-hand solo over a 1 #4 5 bass line.
Color Notes With 1 #4 50:27
Can you play color notes over the 1 #4 5 bass line?
For the Teacher: Why Do We Teach the 1 #4 5 Bass Line?1:06
Why do we teach the 1 #4 5 bass line to students?
For the Teacher: How Should We Teach 1 #4 5?0:26
What special considerations should teachers be considering when teaching the 1 #4 5 bass line?
Practice Quiz 4

Review of Three Bass Lines0:33
So far we know three bass lines. What are they?
Left Hand Fingers0:26
A review of the fingers we should be using to play our bass lines.
Intro to 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line0:50
Introducing our first four-note bass line, the 1-3-#4-5!
The 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line Never Stops0:47
The 1-3-#4-5 bass line is a four note bass line. How does that make it different to play?
Dealing With the Special Challenges of 1-3-#4-50:24
Start-Stop is a great way to deal with the non-stop bass line 1-3-#4-5!
The Notes of 1-3-#4-50:44
A quick review of all fingers and notes used in the 1-3-#4-5 bass line in E-flat.
Adding Right Hand to 1-3-#4-51:03
It's time to add the right hand again, this time over a 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line!
Assignment One: Play a Steady 1-3-#4-50:22
Your assignment: Play a steady 1-3-#4-5 bass line
Assignment Two: Right Hand Over a 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line0:26
Your second assignment: Play a solo in the right hand over a 1-3-#4-5 bass line.
Color over a 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line0:42
Can you add color notes A and D over a 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line?
For the Teacher: What's Special About the 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line1:35
Why do we teach the 1-3-#4-5 bass line? What's special about it?
Practice Quiz 5

Introduction to the 1-2-3-5 Bass Line0:58
What is the 1-2-3-5 bass line?
Notes of the 1-2-3-5 Bass Line0:53
What are the notes of the 1-2-3-5 bass line in the key of E-flat?
Assignment One: Play a Steady 1-2-3-5 Bass Line0:13
Your assignment: Play a steady 1-2-3-5 bass line
Black Keys and 1-2-3-50:33
Is it possible to play a right hand black-key solo over a 1-2-3-5 bass line?
Assignment Two: Solo over 1-2-3-5 Bass Line0:16
Your second assignment: Solo with the right hand over a 1-2-3-5 bass line
Assignment Three: Color Over a 1-2-3-5 Bass Line0:36
Your third assignment: Add color notes A and D to your right hand solo over a 1-2-3-5 bass line
For the Teacher: How is the 1-2-3-5 Bass Line Different?0:34
How is the 1-2-3-5 bass line different from the other bass lines?
For the Teacher: How is the 1-2-3-5 Bass Line the same as the other bass lines?0:23
What characteristics does the 1-2-3-5 bass line share with the other bass lines we have learned?
For the Teacher: Should We Go Beyond Five Bass Lines?0:26
Should we teach other bass lines besides the five we've already covered?
Practice Quiz 6

Review: The Five Bass Lines2:40
This is our opportunity to review the five bass lines we have learned, one after the other.
Assignment: Solo Over All Five Bass Lines0:39
In order to prepare for the next, important step, students should be comfortable soloing over each bass line we have learned.
For the Teacher: What Does My Student Need To Know At This Point?0:50
What should our students know and be able to do before we introduce them to the next step?
For the Teacher: Should My Student Be Playing Color Notes?0:28
Should we as teachers insist our students play color notes in their solos?
For the Teacher: How Can I Help My Students More?0:18
Remember that "The Game" is a great resource to help firm up bass lines that students are finding it difficult to solo over.
Practice Quiz 7

Intro to Combined Bass Lines0:27
What are "combined" or "improvised" bass lines?
How To Create A Bass Line0:57
Using elements from the five bass lines, students can create an entirely new bass line from scratch!
More About Bass Lines0:59
Here are some ways to make the process of learning to combine bass lines a little easier...
Assignment One: Create a Bass Line0:23
Your assignment: Create a bass line out of the five available bass lines you know.
Adding the Right Hand to a Combined / Improvised Bass Line1:01
Now it's time to play a right hand solo while improvising or combining bass lines with the left.
Assignment Two: Solo Over an Improvised Bass Line0:14
Your second assignment: play a solo in the right hand while improvising a bass line in the left hand.
Using Color Over an Improvised Bass Line1:10
Do color notes still work over an improvised bass line?
For the Teacher: What Have We Taught Our Students?0:51
We're getting our students ready to do something incredible!
For the Teacher: What Should I Tell My Students About Two-Handed Improvisation?0:25
Should we tell our students what they have accomplished?
For the Teacher: Which Hand Is More Important?0:38
When we help students improve, which hand should we focus on first?
For the Teacher: What Should the Students Prioritize?1:12
Are there things we can remind the student to focus on as they improve in this skill of soloing over an improvised bass line?
Practice Quiz 8

Other Bass Lines2:06
There are other bass lines besides the five we've learned. Should we begin to learn them and include them?
Other Color Notes1:35
There are lots of other color notes besides A and D. Should we be learning about them now?
What's Next?0:38
Once we've gotten good at soloing over an improvised bass line in E-flat, what's next?
For the Teacher: Should I Teach Other Bass Lines?0:58
When should we as teachers introduce new bass lines beyond the five they know?
For the Teacher: Should I Teach Other Color Notes?0:51
When should we as teachers introduce other color notes beyond A and D?
For the Teacher: What Do I Teach Next?0:32
What will we learn in the next Piano Blues Master course?
Practice Quiz 9

Requirements

Students may wish to take "Piano Blues Master - Getting Started." For students with no playing background, we recommend you take that course first!
Students who have some familiarity with the piano may begin at this course, as there is a review of previously learned concepts included.

Description

Now that you've found freedom, it's time to get secure on your feet, as a player AND a teacher!

With easy steps, the Piano Improvisation Series takes you deep into the fundamentals of blues and piano technique. You'll be learning so gradually that you'll be amazed what you can do by the end!

In our "Piano Freedom" course, we introduced students to the power of the black keys. With a simple three-note bass line in the left hand, and the freedom to play any note on the black keys with the right hand, you can play music that sounds authentic and interesting, and which is an expression of your own self and musicality. Instead of playing formulas, you're really improvising, making up music on the spot, and it sounds good!

In "Piano Security" we give you more sophisticated tools to grow your improvisation abilities. You'll learn four new bass lines: The 1-3-5, the 1-#4-5, the 1-3-#4-5 and the 1-2-3-5. The best part is: You can solo over each of these bass lines just like you did over your first bass line, so by learning just a little, your range of sound will increase dramatically!

Once you know five bass lines, you can combine them into original new bass lines. That's right, you're making up bass lines! And when you add a solo on the black keys, you're improvising in two hands at once.

You'll see how incredibly fun it can be to get this kind of mastery in our Piano Security course. Best of all, you'll be set to go even farther in our next set of courses.

Our Teacher-Edition provides extra videos for piano teachers who want to provide powerful improvisation lessons to their students. Whether you know the blues or not, whether you've ever improvised before, these lessons are easy enough to get you going so that you can offer your students a whole new level of instruction.

Who this course is for:

This course is for beginning pianists who want to be able to play a convincing blues in e-flat at the piano, and who want to be prepared with the information and skill to play the blues in every key. It's also for teachers who want to teach blues improvisation to young and beginning learners.

Piano - Blues Improvisation for Teachers

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction8 lectures • 10min

A New Bassline11 lectures • 11min

"The Game" and the 1-3-5 Bass Line7 lectures • 11min

The 1 #4 5 Bass Line9 lectures • 8min

The 1-3-#4-5 Bass Line11 lectures • 8min

The 1-2-3-5 Bass line9 lectures • 5min

A Review of the Five Bass Lines5 lectures • 5min

Combined Bass Lines11 lectures • 8min

Extra Stuff6 lectures • 7min

Final Assessment0

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: