Uploaded November 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Cocktail piano is a really popular style that I get a lot of requests for. So in this tutorial we're going to take the bare bones of a the verse section of a song - melody and chords - and look at the ways we can adapt it to this particular piano style.
My book on cocktail piano: billspianopages.com/cocktail
We'll look at the basics of chord extension, basic chord substitution, arpeggiated runs, chordal and melodic improvisation and a few other useful tips.
This kind of lounge piano style is, as you might know, pretty closely related to jazz, and uses a lot of jazz piano techniques when it comes to messing around with chords and using different scales like pentatonic and blues for melodic improvisation. In actual fact, working on the cocktail style can be a very good way into jazz, as it uses many of the same techniques but within the context of a much freer and easier tempo: you don't have the pressure of a solid metronome beat.
+++LINKS+++
Jazz for beginners playlist: goo.gl/NQoxci
Piano for complete beginners playlist: goo.gl/5UqKP2
CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOOKS AND DEALS
30% off bundle deal on my ebooks: billspianopages.com/bundle
All six of my Piano Packs for £16.95: billspianopages.com/pianopacks
Support me on Patreon (great benefits): patreon.com/billhilton
Facebook: fb.me/billhiltonpiano
Twitter: twitter.com/billhilton
Cocktail piano is a really popular style that I get a lot of requests for. So in this tutorial we're going to take the bare bones of a the verse section of a song - melody and chords - and look at the ways we can adapt it to this particular piano style.
My book on cocktail piano: billspianopages.com/cocktail
We'll look at the basics of chord extension, basic chord substitution, arpeggiated runs, chordal and melodic improvisation and a few other useful tips.
This kind of lounge piano style is, as you might know, pretty closely related to jazz, and uses a lot of jazz piano techniques when it comes to messing around with chords and using different scales like pentatonic and blues for melodic improvisation. In actual fact, working on the cocktail style can be a very good way into jazz, as it uses many of the same techniques but within the context of a much freer and easier tempo: you don't have the pressure of a solid metronome beat.
+++LINKS+++
Jazz for beginners playlist: goo.gl/NQoxci
Piano for complete beginners playlist: goo.gl/5UqKP2
CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOOKS AND DEALS
30% off bundle deal on my ebooks: billspianopages.com/bundle
All six of my Piano Packs for £16.95: billspianopages.com/pianopacks
Support me on Patreon (great benefits): patreon.com/billhilton
Facebook: fb.me/billhiltonpiano
Twitter: twitter.com/billhilton
