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Quizzes > Performing Arts

Advanced Jazz Piano Quiz

Free Practice Quiz & Exam Preparation

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 15
Study OutcomesAdditional Reading
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Boost your mastery of Advanced Jazz Piano with this engaging practice quiz designed specifically for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level students. Cover essential themes such as jazz idiom, improvisation techniques, harmonic analysis, and advanced rhythm concepts to deepen your understanding and performance skills. This dynamic quiz is perfect for music majors aiming to refine their expertise and prepare for challenging auditions.

What defines a dominant seventh chord in jazz harmony?
Root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh
Root, minor third, diminished fifth, and diminished seventh
Root, major third, perfect fifth, and major seventh
Root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth
The dominant seventh chord is characterized by a major third and a minor seventh, which creates the tension necessary for resolution in jazz progressions. This structure is fundamental for many harmonic movements in jazz.
Which description best defines the swing feel in jazz?
A rigid, even division of beats without any rhythmic variation
A rhythmic feel where the beat is divided into a long-short pattern creating a 'triplet' feel
A slow, free-form rhythmic structure with no pulse
A loud, accented approach without any subtle timing differences
Swing feel involves dividing the beat into uneven long and short durations, often approximated by a triplet subdivision. This creates a bouncing, propulsive rhythm that is essential in jazz music.
What does the term 'comping' refer to in jazz piano playing?
Performing solo improvisations without any harmonic support
Accompanying soloists with chords and rhythmic patterns
Playing scales in a linear, non-harmonic fashion
Strictly following written classical chord progressions
Comping, short for 'accompanying', involves playing supportive chords and rhythms behind a soloist. This technique provides harmonic and rhythmic depth, and is a critical aspect of ensemble performance in jazz.
In jazz improvisation, what is the primary function of chord-tone soloing?
To create dissonance by avoiding chord tones
To outline and emphasize the underlying harmony using key chord tones
To focus solely on scale patterns regardless of the harmony
To imitate the melody without regard to the chord structure
Chord-tone soloing emphasizes the vital notes within a chord, often the 3rd and 7th, to reveal the chord's character. This method ensures that the improvisation remains grounded in the underlying harmonic structure.
Which jazz standard is renowned for its fast tempo and advanced harmonic progression, challenging even experienced pianists?
Autumn Leaves
Body and Soul
Giant Steps
Summertime
Giant Steps, composed by John Coltrane, is famous for its rapid tempo and complex chord changes, making it a formidable challenge for improvisers. Its innovative harmonic structure requires advanced technical and theoretical skills in jazz improvisation.
Which reharmonization technique involves substituting a dominant chord with another dominant chord a tritone away?
Modal interchange
Tritone substitution
Voice exchange
Parallel motion reharmonization
Tritone substitution replaces a dominant chord with another dominant chord located a tritone away, sharing similar guide tones. This substitution not only creates smooth voice leading but also adds a sophisticated harmonic color to the progression.
What is a common method for modulating between keys during a jazz improvisation?
Abruptly shifting to a completely unrelated key without preparation
Using pivot chords that are common to both the current and target key
Maintaining a static tonal center regardless of chord changes
Ignoring harmonic context in favor of scale repetition
Pivot chords function in both the original and new key, allowing for a smooth modulation during improvisation. This technique enables a seamless transition between tonal centers while maintaining harmonic integrity.
Which scale is most commonly applied over dominant seventh chords in bebop improvisation?
Lydian scale
Mixolydian scale
Aeolian scale
Phrygian scale
The Mixolydian scale includes a flattened seventh which aligns naturally with the dominant seventh chord. This mode provides a balanced blend of chord tones and passing tones, making it ideal for the bebop style.
When voicing extended chords on the piano, what is a primary consideration to achieve effective comping?
Using the densest possible chord voicings to fill every pitch range
Ensuring smooth voice leading between successive chords
Relying solely on root movement without inner voices
Focusing exclusively on the outer voices while omitting inner intervals
Smooth voice leading minimizes awkward leaps between chords, resulting in a more connected and expressive harmonic progression. This is crucial for creating effective comping in jazz, where each chord transition must sound seamless.
What does the term 'inside/outside playing' refer to in advanced jazz improvisation?
Alternating between adhering strictly to the chord changes and completely disregarding them
Simultaneously playing two separate melodies
Switching between scale tones that fit the current chord (inside) and those that intentionally create dissonance (outside)
Layering bass lines while soloing on top
Inside/outside playing involves moving between notes that naturally belong to the current chord and those that introduce tension by being outside the chord scale. This approach adds an element of surprise and complexity to improvisation, challenging both the performer and the listener.
What are guide tones in jazz harmony?
Notes that are played at the very beginning of a piece
The essential chord tones, typically the 3rd and 7th, that define a chord's quality
Any notes outside the scale that create dissonance
Fast scale runs used to connect phrases
Guide tones, usually the 3rd and 7th of a chord, are pivotal in establishing the chord's identity and ensuring smooth voice leading. They are integral to both comping and improvisation, providing a clear harmonic foundation.
How does incorporating polyrhythms enhance a jazz performance?
It simplifies the rhythmic structure by unifying all instruments
It introduces subtle dynamics without affecting overall texture
It adds rhythmic complexity and creates interplay between contrasting rhythmic patterns
It reduces the need for articulative phrasing in solos
Polyrhythms layer multiple rhythmic cycles, creating a richer and more intricate texture in the performance. This complexity challenges both the performer and listener while adding a distinctive dynamic quality to the music.
Which of the following best exemplifies the use of upper structure triads in jazz piano voicings?
Playing a triad that conflicts with the underlying chord to create dissonance
Overlaying a major triad atop a dominant bass to imply extensions like the 9th, 11th, or 13th
Using minor triads exclusively on major chords
Stacking triads in parallel motion for a classical effect
Upper structure triads involve playing a simple triad over a more complex chord, highlighting extensions that add color and tension. This technique enriches the harmonic palette while maintaining clear voice leading.
Why is intensive ear training paramount for advanced jazz pianists?
It allows pianists to replicate written music without improvisation
It fosters the ability to quickly recognize and adapt to complex harmonic progressions during performance
It is a substitute for music theory knowledge
It solely improves the technical speed of finger movements
Intensive ear training enables pianists to identify intricate chord changes and progressions on the fly, facilitating spontaneous improvisation. This skill is essential for real-time interaction with other musicians in a jazz setting.
Which improvisational strategy focuses on developing a solo through repeated and varied motifs?
Scale-based improvisation
Chord-tone soloing
Motif-based improvisation
Random note selection
Motif-based improvisation centers on a short, recurring musical idea that is gradually developed throughout a solo. This approach creates thematic coherence and allows the improviser to build a narrative within the performance.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze complex harmonic structures and jazz compositions.
  2. Apply advanced improvisational techniques and chord substitutions.
  3. Evaluate performance practices specific to the jazz idiom.
  4. Demonstrate expressive interpretation and technical proficiency on the piano.

Advanced Jazz Piano Additional Reading

Ready to jazz up your piano skills? Here are some top-notch resources to elevate your playing:

  1. Harmonic Development and Contrapuntal Techniques for the Jazz Pianist This companion website offers audio and video examples to complement Gary Motley's book, focusing on counterpoint in jazz improvisation.
  2. Jazz For Piano A free educational resource that delves into jazz compositions and solos, providing analyses and insights to enhance your understanding of jazz piano.
  3. No Bull Guide To Jazz Piano™ (Advanced) This course takes your jazz playing to the next level, covering rootless chords, comping, and improvisation over complex blues progressions.
  4. Advanced Jazz Theory Deepen your understanding of jazz harmony with lessons on melodic minor harmony, dominant bebop scales, and upper structure triads.
  5. Jazz Piano Resources A collection of downloadable PDFs covering various voicings and transcriptions to aid in your jazz piano studies.
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