{"id":8315,"date":"2022-07-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=8315"},"modified":"2023-01-13T09:58:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T17:58:20","slug":"motivational-piano-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/motivational-piano-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Piano Ideas When You Don&#8217;t Feel Like Practicing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>TL;DR: Feeling stuck? Play something. Anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all have days when we don\u2019t feel like practicing. Days like these can feel frustrating because we all understand how important practice is. But we\u2019re human! So it\u2019s inevitable that you\u2019ll have days you won\u2019t want to practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>YouTube piano star and Pianote Coach Sangah Noona has an easy-to-remember solution in situations like these: \u201cPlay something. Anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Five minutes. Ten minutes. 30 seconds. It ALL counts.<\/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 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Improvise With Just a Handful of Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When we think of improvisation, we tend to think of jazz experts like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/melody-improvisation-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jes\u00fas Molina<\/a> who can pull incredible melodies out of thin air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And while that\u2019s a noble goal, you don\u2019t <em>need<\/em> to be a virtuoso to improvise something beautiful. Just pick a small handful of notes and get creative. For example, try <strong>F-G-A-C-A-G<\/strong>. Then, try <strong>C-A-G-F-C-A-G-F<\/strong>.<\/p>\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 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\"\u201c\u201d\" autoplay=\"\u201c\u201d\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Piano%20Motivation%20Ideas\/Lisa%20Improvising%20With%20Sangah%20-%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily spend <em>hours <\/em>getting creative with a small handful of notes. If an exercise like this inspires you, check out these other beginner-friendly improvisation lessons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/create-emotion-4-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Create Emotion With Only 4 Notes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/easy-piano-improvisation-exercise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Easy piano improv exercises for solo-ing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-improvise-on-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Improvise on Piano: A Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Remember: All Scale Notes Are Fair Game<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A common question beginner improvisers ask is: \u201cHow do I know what notes will sound good together?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The golden rule is, if you stick to the scale of the key you\u2019re into, you\u2019ll sound good. So, if you\u2019re in F Major, stick to the notes <strong>F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E<\/strong>. If you\u2019re in B-Flat Major, use the notes <strong>Bb-C-D-Eb-F-G-A<\/strong>.<\/p>\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\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<video playsinline=\"\u201c\u201d\" autoplay=\"\u201c\u201d\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Piano%20Motivation%20Ideas\/Lisa%20Plays%20Scale%20With%20Sangah%20-%20min.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick a key that you know well and play a scale over some chords. Then, mix up your scale notes. Again, don\u2019t forget about rhythmic variety!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want ideas on what chords to use to accompany yourself, check out our lesson on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/diatonic-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diatonic chords<\/a>.<\/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><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 The Pianote Course in Musical Freedom \u2728<\/b><\/h3><\/center><p>Learn the tools and skills that will get you playing the way you want. Taught by world-class pianist Jes\u00fas Molina, our Improvisation and Musical Freedom course includes nine video lessons covering several genres, from classical to bossa nova. There\u2019s also a six-month practice plan and homework assignments for every lesson. Available with your Pianote Membership.<\/p><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/improvisation-with-jesus-molina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CHECK OUT THE COURSE<\/a><\/center><br><\/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\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Experiment With Tensions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Using common chords like C, G, Am, and F is a solid start. But, you can experiment with your sound and style by adding some tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you watch the video that goes along with this article, you\u2019ll see Sangah use chords like Bbsus2 and Fadd2. Let\u2019s break these chords down&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\">Sus Chords (ie. Bbsus2)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSus\u201d means \u201csuspended.\u201d A sus chord is when you switch out (or \u201csuspend\u201d) one of the middle notes of your triad for something else. A sus2 chord means substituting the third in a triad with a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, here is a regular B\u266d major triad and a Bbsus2 triad:<\/p>\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<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>B\u266d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Piano%20Motivation%20Ideas\/Bb%20triad.png\" alt=\"Keyboard with keys Bb, D, and F highlighted in red and labelled.\"\/><\/figure>\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<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>B\u266dsus2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Piano%20Motivation%20Ideas\/Bbsus2.png\" alt=\"Keyboard with keys Bb, C, and F highlighted in red and labelled.\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can learn more about sus chords in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sus-piano-chords-101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this lesson<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\">Extensions (\u201cadd\u201d chords, \u201c9\u201d\/\u201c11\u201d\/\u201c13\u201d chords)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chord extensions are when you stack addition notes to a standard triad. For example, here\u2019s an F Major chord with extra notes added as extensions:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Sound%20Jazzy\/chord%20extensions.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We can play and write chords like these in different ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An F seventh chord with an added ninth can be written as F9 or Fmaj9 (depending on whether it\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/#dominant7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dominant<\/a> or major seventh chord).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we play the G an octave lower, right next to our F, and don&#8217;t add any other extensions, we can name this chord Fadd2 because G is also the second note from the F root.<\/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\">\ud83e\udd2f <b><i>OVERWHELMED BY CHORDS?<\/i><\/b> We get it, learning chords can feel like a lot. If you need some help, you can download <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this poster<\/a> and tape it to the wall close to your piano. Or better yet, grab a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/chords-scales-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Piano Chords &amp; Scales: The Ultimate Guide<\/a> (while supplies last\u2014it\u2019s quite a popular cheat).<\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>More Ways to Stay Motivated<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Pianote, we want to equip you with skills and tools to find your own voice. Many traditional approaches to learning piano don\u2019t include improvisation, but you\u2019ll find plenty of free improv lessons <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-theory\/improvisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">right here<\/a> on our blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning piano can be an uphill battle. How else can you stay motivated? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-stay-motivated-at-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Remembering your \u201cwhy\u201d<\/a> is a big one. As is setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound) goals. And remember: even five minutes of practice counts! You\u2019ll probably end up playing for more than five minutes anyway \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you\u2019re looking for a supportive community to cheer you along, a flexible and modern learning approach, and world-class piano players as your instructors, consider a free trial of Pianote.<\/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><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>Master the Piano YOUR Way \ud83d\udd25<\/b><\/h3><\/center><p>Learn piano on YOUR terms. Whenever you want, wherever you want, and whatever you want.<\/p><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Don&#8217;t feel like practicing? Just play something. Anything. Sangah Noona and Lisa Witt offer some creative ideas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":8470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108,1112],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-8315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-musicianship","category-practice-musicianship","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8315","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\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8315"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10865,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8315\/revisions\/10865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}