What to Practice as a Beginner

4 Minute Read


Starting your journey in jazz piano can feel overwhelming with so much to practice and what to focus on.


As a beginner, it’s crucial to focus on the most impactful areas to build a strong foundation. In this brief article, we’ll break down 3 essential aspects you should prioritize: Mastering swing feel and rhythm, working on the Blues and listening and practicing with backing tracks, actually improvising and trying things out, mistakes and all!


1: Swing Feel and Rhythm

One of the first things to master in jazz piano is swing feel and focusing on rhythm. Begin with right-hand scales (Blues scales and Pentatonic scales) and left-hand Shell Voicings (Root and 7th, Root and 3rd), ensuring you play in good time.


Practice two-hand shell voicings, which are fundamental chords that consist of just the root and the seventh or the root and the third. This simplicity helps you grasp the harmonic foundation without being overwhelmed by full chords.


Next, focus on left-hand comping patterns, starting with the Charleston rhythm. This pattern involves playing on beat 1 and the “and” of beat 2, which is a classic jazz rhythm. For the right hand, work on playing 8th notes and accenting the “off” beats, which means emphasizing every other note: 1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND. This practice will help you internalize the swing feel, making your playing sound more authentic.


Remember to play 1 or 2 bar phrases of a motif or line using your scale, and leave space in between your phrases.


2: Working on the Blues, Deep Listening

The Blues is a cornerstone of jazz music. Start by listening to blues recordings to internalize the 12-bar form. This form is the basis of many jazz standards, and understanding it is crucial. Listening actively to the Blues helps you absorb the language and phrasing unique to Jazz.


As you listen, try to keep track of the form in your mind. The goal is to internalize the form and feel of the Blues without losing the form / getting lost in it. Remember, listening is as crucial as playing. By immersing yourself in the language, you’ll naturally start to understand and replicate the nuances that make jazz unique in your own playing.


3: Playing with Backing Tracks, Improvising, Experimenting, Trying Things Out

Playing along with backing tracks is an excellent way to practice and get your feet wet. Start by using your right hand only, focusing on using the Minor Blues Scale and Minor Pentatonic Scale for the key you’re playing in. (F minor blues/pentatonic for an F blues) This practice will build your technical proficiency and key familiarity.


For the left hand, continue practicing shell voicings, such as root and 7th or root and 3rd. Use comping patterns like the Charleston (Beat 1 and the “And” of Beat 2) and Reverse Charleston rhythms (the “and” of beat 1 and the downbeat of 3). When you start putting hands together, keep it simple. Focus on motifs and try to experiment and improvise. Playing through mistakes is part of the learning process, so don’t be afraid to try new things.


In summary, focus on the fundamentals: Develop your swing feel and rhythm, work on left and right-hand coordination with scales and voicings, and practice accenting off-beats and your swing feel. Dive into the Blues by listening and playing along with simple tunes to internalize the 12-bar form.


Key tips:


  • Go SLOW and really focus on playing in time and getting into the pocket of the groove.
  • Do deep listening all the time! Beginners often underestimate the importance of listening.
  • Leave space between your phrases, don’t play the entire time. Get comfortable with leaving space.
  • Play LEGATO and connect your notes, sustain and hold the last note of your phrase.
  • Try and emulate a rhythm or phrase you hear on a recording that you like!


Call to Action


Put all of the above into practice. This will give you a solid foundation and help you apply what you’ve learned in a musical context.


For Listening: Here’s my Blues YouTube Playlist of some excellent and personal favorite recordings. Listen to and see if you can keep the 12 bar form without getting lost, just by listening. This will take practice if you’re not used to it!


You can even do the listening practice away from the piano; On the commute to and from work, taking the kids to school, while you’re cooking dinner.


Use the backing tracks (links below) to practice improvising with the Blue scale and left hand comping patterns. Don’t be afraid to experiment and improvise and try things out, even if you make mistakes. That’s what it’s all about!



For even more of a deep dive, download my FREE Practice Structuring Guide, for any level.