If you have ever wanted to sit down and enjoy a relaxing time improvising beautiful melodies on piano, this lesson is for you. Learning how to play this Relaxing Piano Improvisation and enjoy some time at the piano!
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If you have ever wanted to sit down and enjoy a relaxing time improvising beautiful melodies on piano, this lesson is for you. This process is simple and truly customizable based on your skill level.
The Premise:
We are going to improvise using the notes of the major scale, while harmonizing these melodies with the diatonic chords from that same scale.
Prepare to improvise with a quick theory moment
Here I have taken the C major scale and harmonized triads using those same scale notes. Notice the chord qualities for each degree of the scale - these will be the same in every key!
CLICK HERE for a lesson and free download on major and minor chords
Relaxing Piano Improvisation Step #1: Harmonize the Scale
Your first step will be to choose a key and harmonize the scale as I have above. I have included a cheat sheet for each key in the free printable (See the form to fill out at the top of this blog!)
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Relaxing Piano Improvisation Step #2: Explore the scale with each Chord
Take some time and play each chord in the Left Hand while you make up simple melodies using that scale. See what each chord sounds like with that melodic material.
Relaxing Piano Improvisation Step #3: Choose a Chord Progression
Once you have had some time to explore the chords, made a chord progression of 4 bars and experiment with improvising over that.
In this tutorial I use:
F - Em - Am - Am
and
Am - G - C - C.
Relaxing Piano Improvisation Step #4: Explore some accompaniment strategies
Move the notes of the chord around in your Left Hand to change the mood of your improvisation. Here are some ideas:
Improvisation Accompaniment #1:
Improvisation Accompaniment #2:
Improvisation Accompaniment #3:
Once you have tried a few of these, you can experiment with different keys. Let your mind relax and your ears and hands take over!
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Piano Improvisation for Everyone is a course designed to get you improvising satisfying music at the piano.
Learn how to explore different HARMONIC material, melodic ideas, ACCOMPANIMENT TECHNIQUES and starting points for creating IMPROVISATION COMPOSITIONS. In addition, we cover how to improvise pop piano solos and jam on the blues!
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