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Two improvisation in C major

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There are two improvisation scores as a set for lesson 6.

  • Two improvisations in C major.
  • Eash set costs you US$3.50.
  • Or you can buy the whole set of scores that are quoted in this video series for only US$27.50.

Scores may be diturbing if you are just to tease around with lessons though, they are quite helpful if you really are wishing to acquire the essence of Jazz Piano. Besides it is measley $27.50, right? Click whichever the button so that you can watch video with scores on your side.

Scores for Lesson 6

Click Below Paypal "Buy Now" button for a set of scores for Lesson 6 Two improvisations in C major.
You'll be guided to the download page right after the payment is completed.

Scores for All lessons

Click Below Click Bank "Buy Now" button for the whole set of scores for all Lessons.(You can pay with Paypal at Click Bank.)
You'll be guided to the download page right after the payment is completed.

Lesson 6: Improvisation 1


Now we start to talk about improvisation.
In this lesson we will learn that you can use all notes that are in scale of the key.


There are two fators that are very important to play improvisation;
  1. Chord progression
  2. Melody line
Those two factors plus two music foundamental build up the improvisation.
  1. Rhythm
  2. Tempo

Now let's recall the scale of C major.
You have tried once during this lesson how to play C major scale. I showed you how you turn your fingers so that your scale sounds smoothly.


According to the principle I have put at the beginning of this lesson ,we are suppose to follow the chord progression of the original melody.
let's close look at the chords that are assigned for C major. If you play them you'd know that the three chords cover the all notes that are included in the C major. If you watch my thumb you'll find it traces C major scale.
EGC(chord c), GBD(g), GCE(c), ACF(f), BDG(g), CFA(f), DGB(g), EGC(c)


So basically you can use all of the white keys for improvisation of melody with C major scale.


OK then, you may think: I can play anyway I want as far as I don't touch black keys.


Unfortunately, it is not so. Otherwise you don't need the original melody and you are creating music instead of playing improvisation, right?


You have to follow certain rules.
  • First, You have to follow the original chord progression.
  • Second, you have to obey the tempo, well, most of the case.
  • Third. you have to resolve to the tonic chord that has tonic note in it.　Tonic for the C major key is C. Remember the prime note for a certain key is called tonic.
Yes, chord F has tonic C in it though, we do not resolve to chord F. Because F is subdominant chord in C major key. So you have to resolve to chord C when you are playing a tune in C major.

I have cut out following message from video to make fit the video for uploading to server
You can watch video where I play Score 5, improvisation with syncopation at below address.


I have attached Score 5 and 6. With score 5 I arranged the melody a little bit. If you check score, you'll find that the improvisation is composed of only the sound used at original melody. This could be good example of syncopation. Yes, I have cut quaters into half, mostly.


Yes, of course, you can cut or connect quaters anyway you want. But don't forget that there are only 4 quaters allowed in a Bar. And for now, I want you stay in the BAR. (I mean, don't connect quaters that are residing neighboring bar)


On the other hand, on Score6, I have inserted notes available in the C major scale. Athough the score is written with eighth notes mostly, I want you to play it as the combination of dotted eighth and sixteenth notes. It can be the other way around, namely sixteenth and dotted eighth notes. I play it dotted eighth & sixteenth combination. It is not that great improvisation like Oscar Peterson. But it is one of the improvisation for sure.


Yes, there is one set of two notes bass line to each bar.
So, it should not be difficult to play if you are total novice. If you cannot, you need practice. I can do nothing as far as your technicality is concerned.
I supply the easiest way that has minimum requirement. But the requirement is requirement. You have to practice till you can do it. After all, you cannot walk till you accumulate enough muscle for the purpose right?

That's for lesson 6. Enjoy it till I come back to you within one week. Good day.


Assignment for Lesson 6:

  1. Try every concievable combination of syncopation arrangement for your first level improvisation
  2. Try to write score of the one you think the best. By doing so, you'll learn how to read music score all by yourself.
  3. There's score 6, improvisation with C major scale, has been uploaded and you can watch it.

 
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