Checkpoints

“Blues it Up!”

Download Printable Checkoff Sheet (PDF): C Blues Improvisation

*Checkpoints can be divided into daily, weekly or monthly lessons. Choose a speed that works for you.

Checkpoint 1 – The Right Hand Pattern

Keep your thumb in one spot and let your middle and pinky fingers do the rest.

1. Basic (watch all videos)
2. Intermediate (watch all videos)
3. Advanced (watch all videos)

Checkpoint 2 – The Blues Scale

It’s not enough to just know what the notes of this are…you have to know how to use them.

1. Basic (watch all videos)
2. Intermediate (watch all videos)
3. Advanced (watch all videos)

Checkpoint 3 – The Blues Shape

Now we will take the blues scale and use it in a different way. Using “drone” notes will change your life.

1. Basic (watch all videos)
2. Intermediate (watch all videos)
3. Advanced (watch all videos)

Checkpoint 4 – Shape 1 to Shape 2

Knowing these two landing spots will make moving up and down the piano very easy.

1. Intermediate (watch all videos)
2. Advanced (watch all videos)

Checkpoint 5 – The Mixolydian Mode Secret

This is fun because you can take a shape and move it up and down a simple scale.

1. Basic (watch all videos)
2. Intermediate (watch all videos)
3. Advanced (watch all videos)

Checkpoint 6 – Tremolos

Shake it!

1. Intermediate (watch all videos)
2. Advanced (watch all videos)