Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Discover the 4 best jazz chords ever with Tom Donald in this practical and musical jazz piano tutorial built around Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock.
In this lesson, Tom breaks down the essential piano chords that define the sound of modern jazz piano, focusing on rich, expressive minor 7th chords and how they’re used in Maiden Voyage. You’ll learn how these iconic Maiden Voyage piano chords work together, how the harmony is structured, and why this piece is a must-know for any jazz pianist.
Tom also explores:
- How to approach jazz improvisation and piano improvisation using scales piano concepts like Dorian mode and pentatonic scales
- How to develop groove through effective left-hand bass patterns
- Practical ideas for piano practice that build confidence and musicality
To bring everything together, Tom finishes with a one-take performance of Maiden Voyage.
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VIDEO BREAKDOWN:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Maiden Voyage chords and structure
08:21 Inversions
11:21 Adding structure when improvising
13:00 Adding scales to improvisation
17:10 Dorian scale improvisation
19:30 Bass paterns
23:07 Maiden Voyage performance
—————————————————————————
👇 If you would like learn how to improvise over jazz chord progressions, watch this tutorial next:
youtube.com/watch?v=rC7Sbkh3hcE&list=PLDqNslPG6e1IwVxeyIiIdbKZR_iOG3nZw&index=42
🎁 Claim your FREE gift - RESOURCES PACK - by getting in touch with us at London Contemporary School of Piano so that we can help you solve your challenges and accelerate you progress at the piano:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com
🎓 Get Your GROOVE COURSE to access all the resources you need to master piano grooves and expand your piano groove vocabulary:
lcsp.samcart.com/products/groove-mastery-everyday
🎓 Join our Flagship Course, THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN COURSE with Tom Donald:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com/the-complete-musician
🔔 If you enjoyed this Maiden Voyage piano tutorial and would like to get more top tips on learning piano, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel right here:
youtube.com/channel/UCZWqaBf6VLuD0cSKF4cukPg?sub_confirmation=1
Credits:
Filmed by Josh Adams.
Edited by BUBI Productions & Caleb Hartley.
youtu.be/ObP-mK5lVkA
#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #maidenvoyage #jazzchords #pianotutorial
Discover the 4 best jazz chords ever with Tom Donald in this practical and musical jazz piano tutorial built around Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock.
In this lesson, Tom breaks down the essential piano chords that define the sound of modern jazz piano, focusing on rich, expressive minor 7th chords and how they’re used in Maiden Voyage. You’ll learn how these iconic Maiden Voyage piano chords work together, how the harmony is structured, and why this piece is a must-know for any jazz pianist.
Tom also explores:
- How to approach jazz improvisation and piano improvisation using scales piano concepts like Dorian mode and pentatonic scales
- How to develop groove through effective left-hand bass patterns
- Practical ideas for piano practice that build confidence and musicality
To bring everything together, Tom finishes with a one-take performance of Maiden Voyage.
—————————————————————————
VIDEO BREAKDOWN:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Maiden Voyage chords and structure
08:21 Inversions
11:21 Adding structure when improvising
13:00 Adding scales to improvisation
17:10 Dorian scale improvisation
19:30 Bass paterns
23:07 Maiden Voyage performance
—————————————————————————
👇 If you would like learn how to improvise over jazz chord progressions, watch this tutorial next:
youtube.com/watch?v=rC7Sbkh3hcE&list=PLDqNslPG6e1IwVxeyIiIdbKZR_iOG3nZw&index=42
🎁 Claim your FREE gift - RESOURCES PACK - by getting in touch with us at London Contemporary School of Piano so that we can help you solve your challenges and accelerate you progress at the piano:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com
🎓 Get Your GROOVE COURSE to access all the resources you need to master piano grooves and expand your piano groove vocabulary:
lcsp.samcart.com/products/groove-mastery-everyday
🎓 Join our Flagship Course, THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN COURSE with Tom Donald:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com/the-complete-musician
🔔 If you enjoyed this Maiden Voyage piano tutorial and would like to get more top tips on learning piano, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel right here:
youtube.com/channel/UCZWqaBf6VLuD0cSKF4cukPg?sub_confirmation=1
Credits:
Filmed by Josh Adams.
Edited by BUBI Productions & Caleb Hartley.
youtu.be/ObP-mK5lVkA
#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #maidenvoyage #jazzchords #pianotutorial
