MasterClass

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Herbie Hancock’s jazz career started in his family’s living room, listening to his favorite records and trying to play along. Now, he’s one of the most celebrated musicians in the world. Join Herbie at the piano as he shares his approach to improvisation, composition, and harmony. Gain access to 10+ original piano transcriptions, including 5 exclusive solo performances.

Where to Watch Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

25 Episodes

Introduction
E1
IntroductionMeet your instructor, legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. For Herbie, music is more than the notes you play. Learn how to open your mind—and ears—to the real story.
A Human Approach to Music
E2
A Human Approach to MusicFor Herbie, music is more than the notes you play. Learn how to open your mind—and ears—to the real story.
Improvisation
E3
ImprovisationDon't let improvisation intimidate you. Herbie’s approach starts with the simplest of ideas: Listen, then react.
Learning by Listening
E4
Learning by ListeningHerbie taught himself to play jazz by playing along with his favorite records. Learn how to use his methods to accompany the music you love.
The Two Basic Jazz Forms
E5
The Two Basic Jazz FormsCountless jazz tunes are built around one of two simple harmonic patterns. Practice Herbie’s licks and improv ideas, and discover new opportunities to use them.
Listen and Learn: "Oleo"
E6
Listen and Learn: "Oleo"Listen, practice, and play along with Herbie’s solo performance of Sonny Rollins's standard, a classic example of rhythm changes.
Piano Basics
E7
Piano BasicsHerbie breaks down the fundamentals of piano playing.
Piano Exercises
E8
Piano ExercisesBuild speed and strength in your fingers with the exercises that have helped Herbie most.
Improvising Alone
E9
Improvising AlonePlaying alone means you’re free to play any way you want. Learn how Herbie breaks the rules of melody, rhythm, and harmony to infuse his solo performances with creativity.
Expanded Improv Techniques
E10
Expanded Improv TechniquesHave you ever thought about music as a series of images? Herbie shares techniques that will push the boundaries of your improvising.
Jam Session: Improvising Together
E11
Jam Session: Improvising TogetherHerbie brings some guests to help demonstrate how musicians communicate while playing.
Composing
E12
ComposingWhere do songs come from? For Herbie, they start to take shape in life experiences. Here’s how he turns memories, impressions, and emotions into music.
Recomposing, Rearranging, Reinventing
E13
Recomposing, Rearranging, ReinventingA song is never finished. Even after you’ve recorded it, there’s still room for it to evolve. In this chapter, Herbie challenges you to give old compositions a contemporary edge.
Jam Session: Two Approaches to “Watermelon Man”
E14
Jam Session: Two Approaches to “Watermelon Man”Herbie brings in a rhythm section to break down two versions of his classic tune. They also accompany a synthesizer solo steeped in the sounds of funk and the blues.
Working As a Composer
E15
Working As a ComposerHerbie shares advice from his years of composing and collaborating with the icons of jazz.
Chord Voicings
E16
Chord VoicingsThere’s a near-infinite number of ways play chords on your instrument. Learn some of Herbie’s go-to approaches, and let them spark your own experimentation.
Case Study: Reharmonizing “’Round Midnight”
E17
Case Study: Reharmonizing “’Round Midnight”Playing a new set of chords under a classic melody is one of Herbie’s favorite ways to study harmony. Explore the new possibilities he finds in Thelonious Monk’s classic tune.
Ravel's Creative Harmonies
E18
Ravel's Creative HarmoniesJazz players don’t just learn from other jazz players. One of Herbie’s harmonic touchstones is the French composer Maurice Ravel. Learn how to add some of Ravel’s sounds to your bag of harmonic tricks.
Expanding Your Harmonic Horizons
E19
Expanding Your Harmonic HorizonsHerbie’s approach to harmony was built over years of experimentation. Let these ideas inspire your own harmonic exploration.
Listen and Learn: “Maiden Voyage”
E20
Listen and Learn: “Maiden Voyage”Herbie performs one of his most famous compositions alone at the piano. Listen and practice along to learn about how to play ballads and use the sus4 chord.
Rhythmic Musicianship
E21
Rhythmic MusicianshipHerbie has tips for grooving deeper and feeling more comfortable playing in strange and complex rhythms, from swing to funk.
Jam Session: Rhythm in “Actual Proof”
E22
Jam Session: Rhythm in “Actual Proof”Herbie brings the rhythm section back to break down the groove of one of the Headhunters’ most complicated numbers. Play along and find the downbeat for yourself.
A Musical Life
E23
A Musical LifeHerbie followed an unlikely path to jazz, and it’s been a wild ride ever since. His story serves as an inspiration and a testament to what you can accomplish when you let passion be your guide.
Listen and Learn: “Watermelon Man”
E24
Listen and Learn: “Watermelon Man”For his final solo performance, Herbie chooses one of his most popular compositions. A study in bluesy playing, it showcases the possibilities you can find in simple structures if you stay open to the moment.
Closing
E25
ClosingHerbie offers his parting words and a bit of music as a thank-you for joining him.