Music

Herbie Hancock’s Jazz Piano Improvisation Tips & Tricks

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Aug 9, 2021 • 4 min read

If you want to learn jazz piano improvisation, first learn the rules—then break them. The truly great jazz pianists, like Oscar and Grammy-award winner Herbie Hancock, are the ones who take the time to learn and practice their craft.

Herbert Jeffrey (Herbie) Hancock was born on April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. He was named after the singer Herb Jeffries. He started playing classical piano at age seven and switched to jazz in his teenage years after being amazed at watching a classmate improvise. He is credited with introducing the use of synthesizers into serious jazz playing. Herbie has collaborated with a diverse group of musicians, from jazz greats like Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea, to Joni Mitchell, Christina Aguilera, and Flying Lotus.

As a classically trained pianist, Herbie has a lot of respect for formal piano technique. He believes in the importance of scales, drills, and lessons, and he thinks learning to read music can be a tremendous advantage. The jazz standards provide a great starting point for beginner jazz musicians, as they’re available as either full sheet music collections or as fake books which separate chord progressions by right hand and left hand.

However, you need to balance those structured forms of engagement with a personal and childlike relationship with your instrument. Don’t be afraid to spend time just messing around. That’s where the magic of piano and jazz improvisation starts to appear—in the moments were you let yourself let go of the rules and play.

Follow these three tips and exercises for learning jazz and piano improvisation.