Have some fun before you go!
Try our piano personality quiz and get free, tailored lessons that will help you see faster results.
Do you want to learn how to improvise on piano, but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone!
If you’ve seen master improvisers play elaborate runs seemingly out of thin air, you might think that improvising is a magical power only certain musicians possess.
But improvising isn’t random. Just like speech isn’t random. We improvise every time we speak. And it feels second-nature because we’re so familiar with the tools: words, grammar, phrases, etc.
It’s the same thing with music. Improvisation is a skill that you can learn by mastering its tools. This article will walk you through some basic tenets of improvisation.
Table of Contents:
Get exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox.
Before you start improvising, make time to understand the tools:
Need some extra help? Check out our favorite resources:
Here’s a pro-tip: improvisation doesn’t have to be super fancy to count as improvisation. In fact, sometimes simple is best! Here are some easy-to-understand, beginner-friendly improvisation techniques you can start today if you know the basics of piano.
In our video lesson, Justin Stanton uses the jazz classic “Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kosma as an example. Here’s the melody we’ll work with:
Guess what? You can improvise without overthinking scales, keys, chords, and all that. Simply varying the rhythm can dramatically change the character of a song. So take a melody you know and simply try playing it with a different rhythm. Draw out some notes, shorten some other ones. Add some syncopation. You can even experiment with silence!
Now let’s try playing with the melody. We can add embellishments to the melody here and there to make it sound a little unique. For example, you can slide into a target note from a semitone above or below. You can also try enclosures—that’s when you go up and below before playing a target note (or down and above). Try not to overthink this. Just see it as adding little flourishes around an existing melody.
Some more examples:
You can do a lot with just these two simple techniques. Try mixing things up and putting things together. See what you can create.
Justin Stanton is a talented multi-instrumentalist known for his work as a trumpeter, keyboardist, and composer with the Grammy-winning jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. You can now access his challenge series, “5 Levels of Improvisation,” as a Pianote Member. Not a Member yet? Try it for 7 days!
The best way to learn how to improvise on the piano is not to read about it, but to practice with some intentional exercises. We recommend you start with these very simple ones:
> Create Emotional Piano Music (Just 3 Notes)
> Sound Amazing on the Piano in 5 Minutes
> Riffs and Fills Made Easy (or take the full course: Piano Riffs & Fills)
See? Improvising isn’t scary at all!
Once you feel comfortable with the beginner exercises above, see if you can add more tools to your piano improv toolbox. Learn some fancy scales, try solo-ing, and branch out into different styles. Borrow, mix, and match from different areas.
Expand your improv vocabulary with scales. Good scales to learn include the blues scale and the major and minor pentatonic scales.
If you’re up for a challenge, learn modes. Modes take some extra time to wrap your mind around, and there are a few funny words to memorize, but they’ll help you conquer the frequent key changes in jazz.
> Easy Piano Improvisation Exercises
“Reharming” is a more advanced technique that can dramatically alter the mood of a song. This is what arrangers use to create an upbeat version of a moody ballad or a moody ballad version of an upbeat bop! This is also what jazz musicians use to create lush, complex sounding music. Make sure you’ve mastered chord theory before you try reharming.
> How to Arrange a Song: Arranging & Reharmonization Tips
> You’ve Never Heard “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” Like This Before!
Classical piano lessons typically don’t teach improvisation. Case in point, I (the author of the article!) didn’t really know how to improvise until I started branching out into other types of music. I first learned chord symbols through playing guitar, and then later developed an interest in jazz. It’s been a challenging yet interesting journey; here are some things I’ve learned:
A common piece of advice is to “play whatever you like.” And while this sounds freeing, many people are overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities of playing “anything.”
Instead, it may be helpful to give yourself constraints to work within. Set some rules: use a limited number of notes, set a rhythm, or use a short set chord progression (like the 2-5-1).
Research now suggests that rules, limits, and constraints are more conducive to creativity than total freedom.
Listen to top musicians and the language they use. Listen widely and deeply. Your own style will develop as a result.
Improvising means taking risks, and ideally, you want to take risks in a nonjudgemental safe space.
If you can, practice improvisation in a place where you have privacy. If you have a digital piano, wear headphones. And if you live with other people, take advantage of times when everyone else is out of the house.
Need inspiration? Check out these practice space tips.
Expert improvisers like Jesús Molina sing along to what they’re improvising, and you’ll notice this among many musicians.
Singing or humming along to your playing forges a physical connection between your mind and your instrument. After all, thinking up notes is easy, but translating that into an instrument can be difficult. Singing—using the instrument we’re all born with, our voice—is the bridge between the brain and the keyboard.
You don’t need to be an amazing singer. Just try it!
If you’re stumped for ideas, use a song you know as a jumping-off point.
In this video, Lisa teaches a classically-trained pianist (me!) to improvise using chords from Bach’s “Prelude in C Major.”
We took the chords, then used Bach’s patterns to create new ones. Then we added a new chord! I was stunned by what a few minutes outside my comfort zone could do.
Dizzying runs. Dreamy arpeggios. Complex chords. These all sound impressive but at the end of the day, complexity isn’t necessary for a successful improv performance.
In fact, worrying about being intricate can stifle your creativity. Too much ornamentation can also sound busy. If you’ve just started learning how to improvise on piano, try not to overthink. Keep it simple. And don’t forget to have fun!
The best way to learn piano is with real teachers, but not everyone has the time and money for a private instructor. At Pianote, you can get real feedback from real experts…all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.
TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYSCharmaine Li is a Vancouver writer who has played piano for over 20 years. She holds an Associate diploma (ARCT) from the Royal Conservatory of Music and loves writing about the ways in which music—and music learning—affects the human experience. Charmaine manages The Note. Learn more about Charmaine here.
By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
We use cookies for traffic data and advertising. Cookie Policy »
Have some fun before you go!
Try our piano personality quiz and get free, tailored lessons that will help you see faster results.