Piano Grooves

PIANO GROOVES

Rhythm patterns for piano accompaniment in
pop, rock, blues, funk, reggae, soul, Latin, jazz and more!

By Dr. Richard Niles

Acclaimed Composer/arranger Richard Niles has spent a lifetime writing for some of the most acclaimed artists in music (Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Pat Metheny). As an arranger in pop and jazz, Niles has to instantly create a groove and define a style with his piano parts. ‘Grooves’ or rhythmic ‘feels’ are created by a composite rhythm of both hands. The listener must instantly know they are listening to funk or country or rock or a ballad.

This book gives the keyboard player and the arranger a useful library of 131 short patterns. Whether you are writing an arrangement for Paul McCartney or playing a gig tonight with a cover band or just getting together for a jam, this book gives you what you need.  And each pattern can be expanded in different ways.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

  1. Learn the patterns at the suggested tempos and transpose to all keys.
  2. Try them faster and slower than the suggested tempos.
  3. No dynamics are indicated here. Try playing them at different dynamics. Different dynamics change the emotional effect of the rhythm pattern.
  4. Change the chords to anything you like. Try different voicings. Try them with lots of other chord progressions.
  5. If the pattern is marked ‘swing’, try playing it ‘straight’ – and vice versa. If it is a straight 16th note groove, try it with a swing 16th feel.
  6. Try playing the rhythmic pattern backwards.
  7. Try switching hands (play the L.H. with the R.H. and vice versa).
  8. In a two-bar pattern, play the rhythm of the 2nd bar in the first bar, and the rhythm of the 1st bar in the 2nd bar.
  9. In a two-bar pattern, play the rhythm of the 2nd bar in bars 1 AND 2, Then try playing the rhythm of the 1st bar in bars 1 AND 2.
  10. In patterns with a significant bass line, imagine you have a bass player (or practice with a friendly bassist, or program the bass line on a loop!) play the R.H. rhythmic pattern with your L.H. and use your R.H. to play the melody, arpeggiate the chords or take a solo.
  11. Write your own songs with these patterns.
  12. Write your own patterns with these patterns! Create your own library of grooves!
  13. Re-arrange hit songs with these patterns. Use them at your next band practice, wedding, or hotel gig.
  14. Practice with a drum loop, a good drummer or a click track. This will force you to hear your time in relation to ‘absolute time’.

 Get into the groove HERE:  https://archive.richardniles.com/piano-grooves-music-examples/