| Can you talk to people without first memorizing | | | | the key of C-major. In it's basic form it looks like |
| what to say? Probably you can. Can you create | | | | this: |
| melodies and nice licks to chords on the spot. | | | | C: C3 E3 G3 |
| Many pianists find this harder. Let's try out a few | | | | We will end the melody by playing the note B4. |
| ways to improve your improvisations! | | | | This makes the whole ending to a Cmaj7 chords. |
| Put something in to get something out | | | | Sounds nice, doesn't it! |
| Piano improvisation is a form of composing. In | | | | We will continue this piano improvisation lesson by |
| other words you are creating music. | | | | trying out a few more possibilities with the same |
| In order to improvise in an intelligent manner and | | | | piano chord progression for your right hand |
| not only play random notes you have to listen to | | | | improvisations: |
| improvised music and practise on your piano in a | | | | Piano progression 1 |
| manner that will help you create music when you | | | | Dm: E5 C5 A4 F4 |
| improvise. | | | | G: D#5 B4 G#4 F4 |
| There are many ways to practise improvisation | | | | C: D5 |
| but let's start with playing a few licks over the | | | | Piano progression 2 |
| II-V-I progression in the key of C. | | | | Dm: F4 A4 C5 E5 |
| In this exercise you will improvise melodic | | | | G: F4 G#4 B4 E5 |
| patterns with your right hand and play chords | | | | C: D5 |
| with you left. | | | | Piano progression unlimited |
| The note C4 is the middle C on the piano and D4 | | | | Of course there are unlimited possibilities so now |
| is the D to the right of this C. B3 is the B note to | | | | it is time to jump into the unknown by |
| the left of C4. | | | | experimenting and inventing melodies with your |
| We will start with the Dm chord in the left hand. | | | | right hand as you play the progressions in the left |
| Dm is the II chord in C. We will play it in its basic | | | | hand. |
| form: | | | | What do you learn by practicing piano |
| Dm: D3 F3 A3 | | | | progressions? |
| With the right hand it's time to play patterns that | | | | You learn patterns that you can use in different |
| fit this chord. For example: | | | | contexts as you improvise. You learn different |
| F4 A4 C5 E5 D5 C5 A4 F4 | | | | chords that can be implemented in your piano |
| We will now play the V chord which will come | | | | playing. |
| next in the II-V-I progression. In C-major this will | | | | Most importantly, you learn to improvise. |
| be G. It can be played as follows: | | | | Improvisation is a bit of memorized fragments |
| G: B2 D3 G3 | | | | and a lot of just jumping into the unknown and do |
| An continuation of the melodic flow in Dm could | | | | something about it. |
| be: | | | | The end result is hopefully a bit of music to the |
| E4 F4 A4 C5 | | | | benefit of the people in the world. |
| We will now end on the I chord which will be C in | | | | |