{"id":7541,"date":"2024-03-29T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=7541"},"modified":"2024-06-06T11:57:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T18:57:54","slug":"how-to-improvise-on-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-improvise-on-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improvise on Piano: A Beginner&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you want to learn how to improvise on piano, but don&#8217;t know where to start? You&#8217;re not alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But improvising isn&#8217;t random. Just like speech isn&#8217;t random. We improvise every time we speak. And it feels second-nature because we&#8217;re so familiar with the <strong>tools<\/strong>: words, grammar, phrases, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the same thing with music. Improvisation is a <em>skill <\/em>that you can learn by mastering its tools. This article will walk you through some basic tenets of improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#basic-improvisation-tools\">Basic Improvisation Tools<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#basic-improvisation-techniques\">Basic Improvisation Techniques<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-improvise-on-piano-exercises-for-beginners\">Exercises for Beginners<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-improvise-on-piano-take-it-to-the-next-level\">Take It to the Next Level<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#final-tips\">Final Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Get exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><small><i>By signing up you\u2019ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don\u2019t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.<\/i><\/small><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"basic-improvisation-tools\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Basic Improvisation Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start improvising, make time to understand the tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key signature:<\/strong> If you haven&#8217;t already, learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/circle-of-fifths-useless\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">find what sharps or flats appear in a given key<\/a>. You&#8217;ll know exactly what notes to work with when you know the key.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scales: <\/strong>After you learn key signatures, practice the scales in those key signatures. Scales are the foundation to memorable and impressive runs in your improvisations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chords:<\/strong> A basic knowledge of chords goes a long way. Make sure you&#8217;re familiar with the concept of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/diatonic-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diatonic chords<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The number system:<\/strong> While understanding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/the-number-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">number system<\/a> is not required per se, it can certainly help you make sense of chord theory and to transpose songs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Need some extra help? Check out our favorite resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Types of Scales &amp; How to Apply Them<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Play ALL Piano Chords (Major, Minor, 7ths)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-symbols-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-symbols-piano\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chord Symbols, Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"basic-improvisation-techniques\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Basic Improvisation Techniques<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a pro-tip: improvisation doesn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our video lesson, Justin Stanton uses the jazz classic &#8220;Autumn Leaves&#8221; by Joseph Kosma as an example. Here&#8217;s the melody we&#8217;ll work with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142238\/autumn-leaves-melody-1-1024x128.png\" alt=\"Autumn Leaves melody in standard notation.\" class=\"wp-image-16843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142238\/autumn-leaves-melody-1-1024x128.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142238\/autumn-leaves-melody-1-300x37.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142238\/autumn-leaves-melody-1-768x96.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142238\/autumn-leaves-melody-1.png 1195w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rhythmic-variations\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Rhythmic Variations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142646\/autumn-leaves-rhythmic-variation-1024x128.png\" alt=\"Autumn Leaves melody with rhythmic variation in standard notation.\" class=\"wp-image-16844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142646\/autumn-leaves-rhythmic-variation-1024x128.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142646\/autumn-leaves-rhythmic-variation-300x38.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142646\/autumn-leaves-rhythmic-variation-768x96.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26142646\/autumn-leaves-rhythmic-variation.png 1216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"embellishments\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Embellishments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let&#8217;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 <strong>enclosures<\/strong>\u2014that&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26143029\/autumn-leaves-phrasing-1-1024x122.png\" alt=\"Autumn Leaves melody in standard notation with embellishments.\" class=\"wp-image-16845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26143029\/autumn-leaves-phrasing-1-1024x122.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26143029\/autumn-leaves-phrasing-1-300x36.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26143029\/autumn-leaves-phrasing-1-768x92.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26143029\/autumn-leaves-phrasing-1.png 1223w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some more examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"978\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26144440\/target-notes-and-enclosures.png\" alt=\"Example of enclosure to target note.\" class=\"wp-image-16846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26144440\/target-notes-and-enclosures.png 978w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26144440\/target-notes-and-enclosures-300x66.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26144440\/target-notes-and-enclosures-768x170.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"put-it-all-together\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Put it all together!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do a lot with just these two simple techniques. Try mixing things up and putting things together. See what you can create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"123\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26150159\/autumn-leaves-melodic-line-1024x123.png\" alt=\"Embellished Autumn Leaves melody in standard notation.\" class=\"wp-image-16847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26150159\/autumn-leaves-melodic-line-1024x123.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26150159\/autumn-leaves-melodic-line-300x36.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26150159\/autumn-leaves-melodic-line-768x92.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26150159\/autumn-leaves-melodic-line.png 1204w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"5-levels-of-improvisation-with-justin-stanton\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>5 Levels of Improvisation With Justin Stanton<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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, &#8220;5 Levels of Improvisation,&#8221; as a Pianote Member. Not a Member yet? Try it for 7 days!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR FREE<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"704\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26151503\/justin-stanton-portrait-704x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26151503\/justin-stanton-portrait-704x1024.jpg 704w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26151503\/justin-stanton-portrait-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26151503\/justin-stanton-portrait-768x1117.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26151503\/justin-stanton-portrait.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-improvise-on-piano-exercises-for-beginners\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>How to Improvise on Piano: Exercises for Beginners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"improvise-with-just-3-notes\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Improvise with just 3 notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Create Emotion With Just 3 Notes (Piano Lesson)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TZteV8UW3ds?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/create-emotional-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Create Emotional Piano Music (Just 3 Notes)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"now-try-4-notes\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Now try 4 notes!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Create Emotion With 4 Notes (Piano Lesson)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JgaJQnEe_ek?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/create-emotion-with-4-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Create Emotion With 4 Notes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"improvise-with-just-1-chord\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Improvise with just 1 chord<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sound Amazing On The Piano \ud83c\udfb9\ud83c\udfc6 (In Only 5 Minutes!)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DPILs8Ovk74?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-in-5-minutes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sound Amazing on the Piano in 5 Minutes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learn-some-riffs-and-fills\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Learn some riffs and fills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"From OK To AMAZING On The Piano: You&#039;ll Need To Watch This! \u2728\u2728\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4Z3ElzaurNo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/easy-riffs-and-fills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Riffs and Fills Made Easy<\/a> (or take the full course: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/riffs-and-fills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Riffs &amp; Fills<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"use-motifs-and-scales\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Use Motifs and Scales<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In this video, Jes\u00fas Molina shows you how to improvise with just a motif and notes from the same scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Improvise On Piano With Jes\u00fas Molina | Quick Piano Tips\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FJ-Y21kBkMk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>IMPROV CHEATS:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li>Notes that belong to the scale of the key you&#8217;re in are all fair game\u2014they will sound good.<\/li>\n<li>Lisa&#8217;s tip: If a note sounds bad, play the note next to it. That should solve the problem!<\/li>\n<li>Thirds and sixths harmonize\u2014they will sound good.<\/li>\n<li>My tip: Trills sound cool. For a classical feel, add trills!<\/li>\n<li>When in doubt, go back to the I chord. That&#8217;s home!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-improvise-on-piano-take-it-to-the-next-level\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>How to Improvise on Piano: Take It to the Next Level<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>See? Improvising isn&#8217;t scary at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learn-fancy-scales\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Learn fancy scales<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expand your improv vocabulary with scales. Good scales to learn include the blues scale and the major and minor pentatonic scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re up for a challenge, learn <strong>modes<\/strong>. Modes take some extra time to wrap your mind around, and there are a few funny words to memorize, but they&#8217;ll help you conquer the frequent key changes in jazz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Scales: Types of Scales &amp; How to Apply Them<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/intro-to-modes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Modes: A Friendly Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/blues-scale-formula\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Blues Scale Formula<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pentatonic-scale-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Mighty Pentatonic Scale<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"try-your-hand-at-solo-ing\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Try your hand at solo-ing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Notes Sound Good Together? Learn to Solo on Piano \ud83d\ude0e\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EaJ5AJp2dCA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/easy-piano-improvisation-exercise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Easy Piano Improvisation Exercises<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"learn-reharmonization\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Learn reharmonization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Reharming&#8221; 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&#8217;ve mastered chord theory before you try reharming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-arrange-a-song-reharmonization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Arrange a Song: Arranging &amp; Reharmonization Tips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"experiment-with-different-styles-and-moods\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Experiment with different styles and moods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1 Song, 5 Different Genres (Piano Lesson) \ud83c\udfb9\u2728\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DINpAsM1u0A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/twinkle-twinkle-5-styles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">You&#8217;ve Never Heard &#8220;Twinkle Twinkle Little Star&#8221; Like This Before!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>IMPROVISATION: A CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVE<\/b>\n<p>Classical piano lessons typically don&#8217;t teach improvisation. Case in point, I (the author of the article!) didn&#8217;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&#8217;s been a challenging yet interesting journey; here are some things I&#8217;ve learned:\n<ul>\n<li><b>Know your chord theory.<\/b> Review your chord types, chord symbols, the chord-scale relationship, and inversion shapes! This will make learning new standards way easier.<\/li>\n<li><b>Don&#8217;t worry about sounding fancy.<\/b> Fancy doesn&#8217;t always sound good. It&#8217;s better to play simple and confidently than fancy and haphazardly.<\/li>\n<li><b>Your musical background will help!<\/b> Even if you don&#8217;t know how to improvise, you won&#8217;t start from square one. You probably have a developed sense of musicality, an understanding of theory, and even a unique sound.<\/li>\n<li><b>Stay humble.<\/b> If you come to improvisation as a more advanced classical pianist, you&#8217;ll likely feel frustrated because you&#8217;ll feel like a beginner again. But be humble and embrace that! Learning jazz is almost like learning a related yet different language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/teaching-classical-pianist-to-improvise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Classical Pianist Learns to Improvise<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-tips\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Final Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"constraints-lead-to-creativity\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Constraints lead to creativity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A common piece of advice is to &#8220;play whatever you like.&#8221; And while this sounds freeing, many people are overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities of playing &#8220;anything.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/jazz-piano-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2-5-1<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/amyblaschka\/2020\/04\/20\/this-is-why-you-should-embrace-creative-constraints\/?sh=68b8882d7cb7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research<\/a> now suggests that rules, limits, and constraints are more conducive to creativity than total freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"listen-to-the-masters\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Listen to the masters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Improvisation with Jesus Molina (Piano Lesson + PDF included)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EFaDsmw_ycQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to top musicians and the language they use. Listen widely and deeply. Your own style will develop as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"find-a-safe-space\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Find a safe space<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Improvising means taking risks, and ideally, you want to take risks in a nonjudgemental safe space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need inspiration? Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/cozy-space-piano-practice-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">practice space tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sing-along\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Sing along!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expert improvisers like Jes\u00fas Molina sing along to what they&#8217;re improvising, and you&#8217;ll notice this among many musicians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Singing or humming along to your playing forges a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzadvice.com\/lessons\/3-reasons-why-you-should-sing-everyday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">physical connection<\/a> between your mind and your instrument. After all, thinking up notes is easy, but translating that into an instrument can be difficult. Singing\u2014using the instrument we&#8217;re all born with, our voice\u2014is the bridge between the brain and the keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to be an amazing singer. Just try it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"work-off-something-you-already-know-\ud83c\udfb6\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Work off something you already know<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Teaching A Classical Pianist How To Improvise \ud83e\ude84\ud83c\udfb9\u2728\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9NjLnKkZ1F0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re stumped for ideas, use a song you know as a jumping-off point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/teaching-classical-pianist-to-improvise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this video<\/a>, Lisa teaches a classically-trained pianist (me!) to improvise using chords from Bach&#8217;s &#8220;Prelude in C Major.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We took the chords, then used Bach&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"it-doesnt-have-to-be-complicated\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>It doesn&#8217;t have to be complicated \ud83d\ude42<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dizzying runs. Dreamy arpeggios. Complex chords. These all sound impressive but at the end of the day, complexity isn&#8217;t necessary for a successful improv performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, worrying about being intricate can stifle your creativity. Too much ornamentation can also sound busy. If you&#8217;ve just started learning how to improvise on piano, try not to overthink. Keep it simple. And don&#8217;t forget to have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano With Real Teachers<\/b><\/h2><p>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\u2026all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone can learn how to improvise on piano. You don&#8217;t need perfect pitch or inborn talent, just technique and practice!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110,1108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-improvisation-musicianship","category-musicianship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7541"}],"version-history":[{"count":71,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17584,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7541\/revisions\/17584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}