With Chuck Leavell as our founder, irocku has exclusive access to some of the greatest songs in rock and roll history and this week’s keyboard lesson stands out as one of the most iconic songs ever put down on wax. Recorded in 1973 and released later that year on the Allman Brothers Band’s, “Brothers and Sisters”, album, “Jessica”, represents a song of instrumental mastery.
How huge is this song? So huge that the Wall Street Journal called it “a national heirloom” in 2006 and twenty plus years after it was first recorded it received a Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance. The Allman Brothers Band, was reeling from the death of slide-guitar master, Duane Allman in 1972 and the subsequent death of bassist, Berry Oakley a year later when they entered the studio to record the “Brothers and Sisters”, album in 1973. Enter keyboardist, Chuck Leavell who was brought on board as an additional soloist to complement the guitar playing of Dickey Betts, who wrote this rock instrumental masterpiece. The song opens with Les Dudek on acoustic guitar and is soon accented by Betts, Allman, and Leavell who give the song its trademark bounce and melodic sound. Betts launches into his solo nearly 4 minutes later only to return again to the song’s signature riff. Additionally, Lamar Williams who replaced Oakley on bass duels it out with Chuck Leavell who plays a scorching solo on the grand piano and gives the song a musical foundation that lends itself to an extended jam when played in the concert setting. “Jessica”, gives the listener a great sense of what it must be like to be in love. You can feel the heart swell as the notes of each solo climax into a blissful imagery of emotion and happiness, the true expressions of love unbridled in its exploration. The “Brothers and Sisters”, album reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1973, and “Jessica”, along with another chart topper from the album, “Ramblin’ Man”, epitomize the reason why many consider the Allman Brothers Band, to be the best live rock band of all-time. So warm-up those fingers and pony-up to your piano for one of the best musical experiences you will ever have, once you master this song the rock and roll possibilities will become endless.
“Jessica” uses both the A major pentatonic and the A blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in the history of rock. “Jessica” is on the list of top rock piano songs of all time and a song you must include on your playlist.
Written by Dickey Betts
Administered by Warner/Chappell
All Rights Reserved Used by Permission
Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
Practice Schedule
Second Week: Add the Exercise and Improvisation to your practice. “Jessica” uses both the major pentatonic and the blues scales. Master these and you will have all the tools needed to play one of the most famous piano leads in rock history.
The above video is a preview from the lesson. Every lesson includes a groove chart that teaches how to play the song with a rock band, a rock theory and dexterity exercise, an improvisation, and a full arrangement of the song itself. All lessons include instructional videos as well as the sheet music.
I purchased Jessica and now it will not let me into the lesson
Thank you for the question. All purchases are available via the web for one year. During that period you are free to view any video lessons or download the sheet music onto your computer for permanent access.
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I’m working on the Jessica solo. Is there a good way to count out the cross rhythm section of the solo (beginning at 1:45 on the lesson preview demonstration)? Any suggestions for breaking that section down or how to think about it would be really helpful.
You should check out the IROCKU Piano Tip- Improvisation Exercise. This is essential to the process of learning complex rhythm patterns.
Here it is in words:
1. First start with the left hand and MASTER it. USE A METRONOME!!!!
2. Once you have a groove working smoothly in your left hand do the following in your right hand, while continually looping the left hand groove. ALWAYS WITH A METRONOME.
• Play the section you are trying to learn using the left hand groove as written and play whole notes in your right hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes.
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the left hand groove as written and play half notes in your right hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes.
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the left hand groove as written and play quarter notes in your right hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes(things might start to get challenging at this point).
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the left hand groove as written and play eighth notes in your right hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes.
• If the rhythm is swung, play the section you are trying to learn using the left hand groove as written and play triplets in your right hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes.
3. Next repeat what you did in steps 1 and 2 but switch the roles of your hands. First master the right hand melody or improvisation. ALWAYS WITH A METRONOME. Once you have the right hand mastered:
• Play the section you are trying to learn using the right hand melody as written and play whole notes in your left hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your left hand as the chord changes.
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the right hand melody as written and play half notes in your left hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your left hand as the chord changes.
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the right hand melody as written and play quarter notes in your left hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your left hand as the chord changes.
• Next, play the section you are trying to learn using the right hand melody as written and play eighth notes in your left hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your left hand as the chord changes.
• If the rhythm is swung, play the section you are trying to learn using the right hand melody as written as written and play triplets in your left hand using the root of the chord. Change the note in your right hand as the chord changes.
Keep rockin!
I had seen the linked video, but I never thought to be doing the same with the right hand melody. It’s a great exercise! Noticing some improvements right away just in feeling more comfortable playing both hands.
Thanks for sharing! Always great to learn some more ways to practice efficiently.
Thanks for the note.That’s great to hear. That type of exercise is useful for any scale or lick you are learning, so try it on other scales and melodies.
Keep rockin!
Hi! This is my version of Jessica. Don´t expect great solos. I just love this song! Greetings from Spain.
Great job…Thanks for sharing. It’s hard not to love this song. Keep rockin!
For Chuck’s recorded solo on Jessica, did he write that out before he played it, or was it improved? Same with the solos on Clapton’s Unplugged?
We apologize for the delayed response. A few years back when Chuck was in town the IROCKU team went out to dinner and one of the guys asked Chuck that exact question. For Jessica, before the session, he and Dickey Betts agreed that the solo section would start with the pentatonic scale, then the blues scale, and then back to the pentatonic. That was the only planning that went into it. It was definitely not rehearsed. If we recall correctly, Chuck said they did it in three takes. We don’t know about Unplugged but can almost guarantee that Chuck didn’t write it out. He doesn’t read music let alone write it! That’s why we bring in the IROCKU instructors to prepare the lessons. Here’s a link to a talk that Chuck did for the NYC music teachers. It sheds some additional light onto his improvisations:
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What metronome setting should I use when practicing The scales and improve for Jessica? I’ve been using 184 BPM. Thanks.
Great question. For the irocku lesson a metronome setting of 195-200 would be appropriate. The Allman Brothers play it slightly faster on the Brothers and Sisters album. A range of 205-210 would work if you want to play at the speed of the original. Keep rockin!
Why did you leave the last few bars of the solo out of the improv transcription (the ascending octave line)?
Also, why not include a version with the actual left hand part (although it’s mostly triads), given that some folks will likely be playing this with a band?
Thanks for the question. We ended the piano solo right before the band comes back in on the recording with the ascending octaves. To play the ascending octave line, run up the A pentatonic scale for two octaves.
For the solo, we added the bass line to make the solo stand alone for students who don’t play with a band. This does make the solo more difficult than what Chuck is actually playing on the recording. To simplify the solo, you can alternate the left hand between the A major triad and the D major triad for each measure. If you learn the solo as we’ve transcribed it, you can simplify it accordingly depending on what other instruments you are playing with.
Hello irocku rockers! I just performed Jessica at my schools Student/Faculty concert. I just love this song as it is so much fun to play, and I am always learning something new about the tune. Thanks Collin, Chuck and irocku for teaching this fantastic song. Here is the link:
What a beautiful version. Thank you for sharing. Keep rockin!
Hi,
I can’t find the piano solo. Where is it located?
Thank-You,
Arthur
We include a portion of the solo in the Improvisation section for every level. You’ll find the complete solo that Chuck plays on the ‘Brothers and Sisters’ album at Improvisation > ‘Download Sheet Music” for level 7. Have fun with it!!
Justin…man, great job on “Jessica”….are you trying to get my job??!! Seriously, congratulations and keep on radiatin’ the 88s….YOU ROCK!!
All the best, Chuck Leavell
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO OF JUSTIN (AGE 12) PLAYING “JESSICA” BY THE ALLMAN BROTHERS (MEMORIZED WITHOUT SHEET MUSIC & INCLUDING THE FAMOUS “JESSICA” SOLO BY ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAMER CHUCK LEAVELL @ http://www.irocku.com)
Justin- this is awesome. Great job. That’s one of the most respected keyboard solos in rock and you’re shredding it. Keep at it and now it’s time to make the song your own. Lock in the left have groove ( always with a metronome!) and try improvising on your own using the A and D chords and A pentatonic and A blues scales.
Great job, Justin! Keep going and keep learning new songs! We love seeing and hearing your playing so be sure to post more videos as you learn more songs. You’re inspiring to watch and it’s great to have you as a member of the irocku family.
I think the site and lessons are great here. The volume is low on the lessons and videos. My computer volume and the one on the site are up to the max, but still hard to hear. I would think/ hope this is fixable on your end.
Thanks for letting us know. We’ll increase the volume on all our new recordings and look into increasing the volume on the older recordings also.