Reddit reviews Jazzology: The Encyclopedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians

Cool stuff man.

I started taking jazz and the piano both seriously at the beginning of this year, so definitely know how you feel. Here's what I did to help me:

• Learn all the major scales (with correct fingering)
  
• Learn the 251 progression in all keys
  
• Brush up a bit on Modal theory and how to apply it to your playing.
  
• Learn the basics of Jazz harmony ie chord function. Tritone substitution. The tonic-subdominant-dominant relationship. Secondary Dominants.
  
• Learning about the different types of chords I could play was a big breakthrough for me. Take C Major 7 for example. You can turn that into: C maj7 sus 2/4. C maj7 half diminished/whole diminished. Cmaj7 augmented. C Dom7. Although take note you might have to make some adjustments or subtle choices in your right hand improvisation when you play these chords to help boost their total effect. Ie new scales even.
  
  Most especially, learning all your major scales will help you in ways you'll be thankful for later. Knowing the things mentioned above will give you more creative ability on the piano. To the point where you know how to play chords outside of the ones in the base standard (when playing that standard. Tritone substitution and secondary dominants helps with this. So does something called Modal Interchange, which I didn't mention before). And, to some extent, you'll be able to know the number of scales you can use to solo on each chord (which is a step above improvising on one scale along the whole song).
  
  Judging from your playing, begin just messing around and just practicing with your right hand improvising. Passing tones are a fun thing I liked to do when I first started improvising (and I still use them a lot in my playing today).
  
  Its great that you're starting to experiment with 2 hand voicings, so continue learning the general practices for those. Ie the function of the 3rd and 7th in the chord, and also rootless voicings.
  
  You said that you're also a beginner on the piano, and honestly exercises help a lot. I just got this book and its been helping me feel a lot more comfortable as I've gone through it: https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Technique-Exercises-Etudes-Building/dp/1423498151
  
  This book is also something that helps a lot with all round jazz knowledge: https://www.amazon.com/Jazzology-Encyclopedia-Jazz-Theory-Musicians-ebook/dp/B00FJ6BYWI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1504177798&sr=1-1&keywords=jazzology
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  Try to begin your practices with technique (for however long you like), then practicing over standards you know already and applying knew things you've learnt to them (if you feel comfortable), and then practicing new standards or whatever other song. At the least, thats what my usual practice routine is like.
  
  Hope that all helps!