{"id":222,"date":"2019-10-29T06:45:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-01-10T14:49:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T22:49:50","slug":"beginner-improvisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/beginner-improvisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Beginner Piano Improvisation (Only 3 Chords)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be a scary concept. Improvisation involves creating music as you go. You’re not playing something that someone else has written, you’re just — making it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s daunting! Especially for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t have a good understanding of the theoretical or technical skills required to play the piano, improvising can seem like a lofty goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it doesn’t have to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone Can Play This<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This lesson is for all the beginners out there who don’t think improvisation is possible. Or you might have been playing for a little while, but don’t know how to actually practice improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, it’s important to know….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Improvisation Is NOT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I think this is where a lot of people get stuck. Improvisation is NOT just playing anything at any time. You don’t just mash a bunch of keys and hope for the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best improvisation uses a framework. Think of it like a blueprint — or building blocks that you start with and add your own flair to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For music, this is most often in the form of a key signature and chord progression (although there are always exceptions – thanks jazz!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This framework is going to be 3 chords and 3 notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laying the Foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So let’s build your 3 chords. The chords you’ll use are F, G, and A minor — but the names aren’t important for what you’re doing today, so if you don’t know them, don’t worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how you build an F chord. Find the spot on the piano where there are 3 black keys grouped together. The white key immediately to the left of them is an F. And that is true for EVERY group of 3 black keys on the piano. The white key next to them is always an F, it’s just at different pitches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you’ve found F, count up 5 white notes. That’s C. Those are the two notes you’ll be playing. They look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That’s the F chord for today. Pay it with BOTH hands until you get comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you’re comfortable playing the F chord, move everything up one white key. That’s a G chord and it will look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can see you’re just one note higher with both hands. Easy right? Now do it one more time. Move up one more white note. That will be A minor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And those are the only chords you’re going to be using today. Just 3 chords!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice playing those chords in order. F, G, and A minor. Play them over until you’re comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now Start Improvising<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep playing the F chord with your left hand. But with your right hand, take any finger you like, and play the note in-between F and C. That note is an A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you play the chord progression in your left hand (F, G, A minor), you’ll just be walking that single note up in your right hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the beginning of our improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repeat this pattern, and then try changing it up and experimenting with those 3 chords in the left hand, and those 3 notes in the right hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change the order, change the timing, change anything you like. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because that’s how you will learn what sounds good and what doesn’t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that — is improvising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is just the start, but hopefully, it’s given you a good introduction and shown you that improvisation does NOT have to be scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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