Exactly How To Practice Jazz Piano Improvisation

When it involves ending up being a great jazz improviser, it's everything about learning jazz language. So unlike the 'half-step below approach' (which can be outside the range), when coming close to from above it sounds far better when you maintain your notes within the scale that you remain in. That's why it's called the 'chord range over' method - it stays in the scale.

So instead of playing two eight notes straight, which would last one quarter note ('one' - 'and'), you can split that quarter note right into 3 '8th note triplet' notes - where each note of the triplet is the same size. The very first improvisation method is 'chord tone soloing', which means to make up melodies making use of the 4 chord tones of the chord (1 3 5 7).

For this to work, it needs to be the next note up within the scale that the songs remains in. This offers you 5 notes to play from over each chord (1 3 5 7 9) - which is plenty. This can be related to any note size (fifty percent note, quarter note, eighth note) - yet when soloing, it's usually related to 8th notes.

It's great for these rooms to find out of range, as long as they end up resolving to the 'target note' - which will typically be just one of the chord tones. The 'chord scale over' strategy - come before any type of chord tone (1 3 5 7) with the note above. In music, a 'triplet' is when you play three equally spaced notes in the room of two.

Now you could play this 5 note scale (the wrong notes) over the very same C small 7 chord in your left hand. With this method you simply play the same notes that you're already playing in the chord. Chord scale above - half-step below - target note (e.g. E - C# - D).

Most jazz piano solos feature a section where the tune quits, and the pianist plays a collection of chord expressions, Bookmarks to a fascinating rhythm. These include chord tone soloing, method patterns, triplet rhythms, 'chordal textures', 'playing out' and much more.