The Contemporary Keyboardist by John Novello is a highly regarded 576-page comprehensive guide, often referred to as a "bible" for modern piano and keyboard players. Originally published in 1986 and later expanded, it is designed to take keyboardists from intermediate to advanced levels across various genres. Key Features of the Book Comprehensive Structure:
Divided into four main sections: A Philosophy of Music, Mechanics (theory, improv, rhythm), The Business Scene, and Interviews. Technique & Theory:
Covers in-depth exercises on harmony, improvisation, "A and B" voicings, tensions, and the "constant structure" drill. Genre Variety:
Covers techniques for jazz, rock, funk, Latin, country, stride, blues, pop, and gospel. Interviews & Insights:
Includes expert advice from artists like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Henry Mancini, and Keith Emerson. Associated Materials Stylistic Etudes:
A companion book with 86 studies that includes audio and MIDI files for play-along practice. Basics Video/PDF: the contemporary keyboardist john novello pdf
Groove3 offers a video tutorial "The Contemporary Keyboardist: The Basics" which includes a PDF booklet covering fundamental drills and exercises. Amazon.com Availability Physical Book: Available through Sheet Music Plus Digital Formats: E-book versions are available, including a Kindle edition. Internet Archive: The original book is available for borrowing through the Internet Archive
Note: While many users look for PDF downloads, the legal and complete version is typically found via officially published, paid formats. Exercises from The Contemporary Keyboardist | PDF - Scribd
While you specifically mentioned a PDF, the review focuses on the actual content of the book, which is consistent regardless of format.
Here is a review of "The Contemporary Keyboardist" by John Novello.
While "The Contemporary Keyboardist" is exceptional, no single book does it all. Serious players often combine Novello’s method with: The Contemporary Keyboardist by John Novello is a
However, for the player who wants one book to rule them all—from a wedding band gig to a prog-rock session—Novello is the champion.
John Novello’s most enduring legacy may be his contribution to music education. His magnum opus, The Contemporary Keyboardist (published by Hal Leonard), is widely regarded as a standard text for intermediate and advanced players.
The book addresses a gap in music literature: while classical repertoire has centuries of pedagogy, the "contemporary" keyboardist (playing rock, jazz, fusion, or pop) often learns by ear or through fragmented resources. Novello’s method is holistic, covering:
Novello argues that modern proficiency requires a "chameleon-like" ability to adapt to any musical setting, a concept he terms "total keyboard awareness."
Searching for "the contemporary keyboardist john novello pdf" is useless without understanding the architecture of the method. The book is structured into distinct "parts," each attacking a different pillar of keyboard mastery. Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist (for raw finger speed)
This is where the book shines for non-classical players. Classical training often produces a left hand that is good at accompaniment patterns but not "groove."
"The Contemporary Keyboardist" is a widely used instructional series for jazz/pop keyboard players authored by John Novello (often credited simply as Novello) and published by Alfred Music. It's designed to develop practical skills for contemporary styles: voicings, comping, chord-scale relationships, improvisation, groove playing, reading, and stylistic approaches for pop, rock, funk, R&B, and modern jazz. Many players and educators reference these books for real-world, usable techniques—especially keyboard voicings, chord substitutions, and comping patterns.
Below I summarize the core contents, pedagogical approach, and practical value you’ll find when searching for or studying a PDF of The Contemporary Keyboardist.
The book dedicates massive sections to:
