Harmonic Improvisation / In this collection we show exercises that slowly build up skills to improvise over chords and harmonic progressions. Starting from a single chord with chord tones only, to chord tones and embellishments, to a pendulum and finally a circle of falling fifths. Some of the videos offer 'play along' sections.

5 - I and V with embellishments.  We incoporate the neighbor notes of each chord in the improvisation. The same rule applies as in the one-chord video: embellish chord-tones by using half steps below the chord-tones and steps from the scale above. 

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is D major). (Special Play Along section from 02:02)

1 - Playing over a single chord. In this video we practice the basics of improvising over chords. The first exercise is to improvise melodies and logical sounding phrases on a single chord, using only chord tones.

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is C major)

6 - The circle of falling fifths.  We incoporate the neighbor notes of each chord in the improvisation. The same rule applies as in the one-chord video: use half steps below the chord tones and scale steps above. 

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is d minor). (Special Play Along section from 08:03)

2 - Embellishing chord tones. Each of the three chord tones has two neighbor-notes. In the classic-romantic style the lower neighbor-notes are half steps and the upper neighbor-notes are notes from the scale. In case there is no half step below the chord tone (like in C major below E and G), the scale step will be chromatically altered (to D# and F#). 

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is C major)

4 - I and V: chord tones only. In this video we practice the basics of improvising over a pendulum of 2 chords, I and V. We start using only chord tones, thereby trying to make logical phrases. Take beginning and ending notes of the phrases into account.

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is C major)

3 - Incorporating embellishments more freely. We distinguish a few types of embellishments, the main of them being neighbor-notes, passing notes, appoggiatura's and anticipations. It helps to realize that all these have a stepwise relation to the main notes of the scale. An appoggiatura or suspension is in fact a neighbo-note which is accented in time. Passing notes are neighbor-notes that do not return to their main note, but connect either to a note a third away, or another neighbor-note.

Practice: play along with this video and learn with the students! (the key is C major)