Pianists · Gospel Beginner course
Gospel Piano — Beginner
Six lessons: gospel by numbers and the Cycle of Fifths, major and minor pentatonic scales, slash chords and passing notes, the blues scale and blues licks, passing chords, and gospel licks — because improvising doesn't mean guessing.
Gospel Piano — Beginner
Six lessons: gospel by numbers and the Cycle of Fifths, major and minor pentatonic scales, slash chords and passing notes, the blues scale and blues licks, passing chords, and gospel licks — because improvising doesn't mean guessing.
One device at a time. Your course can only be active on one device at a time — you can't be on a laptop or tablet and a phone at the same time. To switch, log out and log in on the other device: all your progress is saved to your account, not the device, so you carry on exactly where you left off.
Suggested practice schedule
One lesson a week finishes the course in 6 weeks. Little and often works best: 15–30 minutes a day, six days a week.
Sun · New lesson
Work through the next lesson and its play-along (20 – 30 mins).
Mon · Practice
Warm up, then the lesson's practice steps: five-finger warm-up, scales with both hands and reading the grand staff (20 mins).
Tue · Theory
Check-yourself quizzes and Music Terms flashcards (15 mins).
Wed · Play along
Loop the tricky bars at a slower tempo, then speed up (20 mins).
Thu · Review
Re-read the lesson's music without stopping and retake the knowledge check (15 mins).
Fri · Record
Record a take of the play-along and send it to Jason (15 mins).
Sat · Rest
Rest day — or a relaxed 10 minutes playing something you enjoy.
Busy week? Do Sunday's lesson and two practice days, and move on when you pass the knowledge check.
Jason in action
Jason on keys — live, in church and on stage
See all 12 videosIncludes play-along & sing-along backing tracks in every course, with tempo & key control, a live score and record-yourself feedback from Jason.
Tip: press the light/dark mode button (sun/moon) at the top if it's easier to read in the room you're in — or open Accessibility (bottom left) for bigger text, captions and read-aloud.
Melody first. The melody is the most important part of any song — it's what people remember and sing along to. Every lesson in this course shows you how to read, hear and support the melody, whether you're singing it, playing it or accompanying it.
Log in to unlock the Gospel courses: £300 per course, or any two Gospel courses for £500 (mix levels or instruments).
Lesson-by-lesson breakdown
Exactly what each of the 6 lessons covers — free to read before you enrol.
Gospel by Numbers & the Cycle of Fifths
Numbers, the 1-4-5 and the Cycle of Fifths
Gospel players think in numbers, not letter names, so they can follow any worship leader in any key. Learn the 1, 4 and 5 chords, see how the Cycle of Fifths drives gospel progressions, and play Amazing Grace by numbers.
Major & Minor Pentatonic Scales
The five-note scales behind gospel melodies
Pentatonic means five notes. The major pentatonic (1-2-3-5-6) and the minor pentatonic (1-♭3-4-5-♭7) have no awkward semitones, so they fit over almost anything — and many spirituals are built from them.
Slash Chords & Passing Notes
Bass notes that walk and notes that link
A slash chord tells you which bass note to play under a chord. Passing notes link one chord note to the next by step. Together they make the bass line walk smoothly — the sound of a gospel band moving between chords.
The Blues Scale & Your First Blues Licks
The blue note and two licks every gospel player knows
Add one 'blue note' to the minor pentatonic and you have the blues scale — the gritty sound behind gospel, blues and soul. Learn the scale and two licks, then answer the melody of a spiritual with them.
Passing Chords
Chords that link the main chords
Passing chords are quick chords between the main ones. They keep the harmony moving and lead the ear to the next chord. Start with chords from the scale, then add your first diminished passing chord.
Gospel Licks & Improvising Isn't Guessing
Rehearsed licks, practised scales and the melody
Improvising sounds free, but it is built on preparation. Learn three gospel licks, see how they come from the scales you know, and use them around the melody of When the Saints.