{"id":9356,"date":"2022-11-11T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=9356"},"modified":"2023-01-11T14:43:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T22:43:23","slug":"pentatonic-scale-improvisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pentatonic-scale-improvisation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sound Beautiful on the Piano With Pentatonic Scales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Beginners can sound beautiful on the piano. Using just a few ingredients, I\u2019ll teach you how to improvise a heavenly melody in this simple improv exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch the video if you want to start playing, or keep reading if you want to understand the theory behind this exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#chord-progression\">Chord Progression<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#pentatonic-scale\">Pentatonic Scale<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#more-tips\">More Tips<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\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\" id=\"chord-progression\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Chord Progression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chords are the foundation to music. Think of chords as the scaffolding that holds up a song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this exercise, our scaffolding will be the chords<strong> Dm &#8211; Cmaj &#8211; Bbmaj<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is how these chords look like on the keyboard. If you\u2019re a beginner and are still learning to get comfortable with chords, you can play shell chords first: <strong>D-A<\/strong>, <strong>C-G<\/strong>, and <strong>B\u266d-F<\/strong>.<\/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\/Dm%20Pentatonic%20Improv\/Pentatonic%20Chord%20Progression.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re in D Minor, and these are the chords built on the first, seventh, and sixth notes of the scale. Together, they build a <strong>i &#8211; VII &#8211; VI<\/strong> progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more info on these topics, check out these lessons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/diatonic-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Diatonic Chords, Explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All About Chord Progressions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pentatonic-scale\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Pentatonic Scale<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A pentatonic scale is a five-note scale. This type of scale is popular in music around the world, especially Eastern music. You can also find the pentatonic scale in modern jazz, blues, and rock music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>D Minor pentatonic scale<\/strong> we\u2019ll be working with includes these notes:<\/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\/Dm%20Pentatonic%20Improv\/D%20Minor%20Pentatonic%20Scale.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now, try playing this scale on top of each chord: <strong>Dm &#8211; Bbmaj &#8211; Cmaj<\/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\/Dm%20Pentatonic%20Improv\/MIN%20Dm%20Pentatonic%20Scale%20Over%20Chords.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>Play it up, play it down. Get it comfortable under your fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, pick a few notes out of the scale and play around with them. For example, try rocking between F and C, D and A, and G and C.<\/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\/Dm%20Pentatonic%20Improv\/MIN%20Pentatonic%20chord%20over%20chord%20progression.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>You can also try three-note patterns like F-G-C and A-G-D.<\/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\/Dm%20Pentatonic%20Improv\/MIN%20-%20FGC%20over%20chord%20progression.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>And playing all the notes at once sounds surprisingly good too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"more-tips\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>More Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you feel comfortable with the basic notes and chords, explore further. Just some ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Play full chords. <\/strong>Play entire triads in place of shell chords and experiment with oscillating between the notes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use chord extensions. <\/strong>Go a further level by learning substituting in seventh chords to create a jazzier, fuller sound.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Explore chromatic passing tones. <\/strong>Experiment with sliding into your pentatonic scale notes from neighboring keys, especially those a half-step above or below.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Explore other D Minor and F Major notes. <\/strong>F Major is the relative major key and has a lot in common with D Minor. Remember that D Minor and F Major both have a B-flat!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us know what you come up with in the YouTube comment section. Or share your music with us on Instagram (@pianoteofficial).&nbsp;<\/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><p>As a Pianote Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists and learn whenever you  want, wherever you want, and whatever you want.<\/p><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>Beginners can sound amazing on the piano. Try this simple improvisation exercise using the Dm pentatonic scale and let your imagination go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110,1108,1114,510],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-improvisation-musicianship","category-musicianship","category-scales-keys","category-theory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9356","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=9356"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10643,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9356\/revisions\/10643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}