How To Improvise When Playing Piano & Keyboard
By Lee Gabor
4/5
()
About this ebook
You can learn to improvise by substituting 6th, minor, 7th, major 7th, augmented and diminished chords in place of basic chords. Graphics illustrate chords and voicings and all 12 Keys are shown as scales plus 2 chords probably used in a song (IV and V) plus "maybe" chord. Sample songs are included. One is "When You Need Me I'll Be There" and coupon code in book lets you obtain sheet music free.
Lee Gabor
I am first and foremost inquisitive, always wanting to know what goes on globally and locally and wanting to understand WHY! Being a newspaper reporter was the career with which I began. Then, as a pianist and vocalist, I spent a number of years entertaining throughout the U.S. I also owned a talent agency during that time. After those 25 years, my next career was in public education, which was something I never intended to do. Getting "drafted" into teaching and the time I spent as an Academic Coordinator were very interesting and I do so love the students and teachers, administrators, and staff members I met. I'm very proud of our students. After six years, I left teaching and moved near my son and his family. I became a Master Gardener and Master Composter, joined local organizations, and have been able to enjoy more time with my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I am thrilled that my professional focus now is limited to writing. I will be publishing both fiction and non-fiction works and begin that in new venture in 2012.
Read more from Lee Gabor
Two Parody Songs About Umpires Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music The Birthday Song Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClassroom Success Through Creativity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Tribute to The Cellar Door Piano Bar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTexas Bootstomp Boogie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Loco Lou Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Round On A Carousel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music You Make Life Better When You Give Your Best Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music (Two Guitars, an Old Piano) Hank and Elvis and Me Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music My Love, You're My Every Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music I Must Say Goodbye To A Lady Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music When You Need Me I'll Be There Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music How Can I Make It Through Christmas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Magic Lights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTexas Trilogy: 1.The Legacy, the Screenplay Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAstrology Fun Sun Sign Song Parodies with Birthdays of Famous People Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChicamauga: Battle of The Blue and The Gray Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPig Tales: Volume 2 - The Pigs Win the Contest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Black Creole Eyes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music All I Want For Christmas Is An Angel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Won'tcha Let Me Love You Baby Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Shirt Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSouthern Cooking: Recipes for My Favorite Fried Foods Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Sheet Music Old Fashioned Sunday Afternoon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTexas Trilogy: 1. The Legacy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music Love Never Dies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPig Tales Volume 4: Two Parties In One Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSheet Music All The Angels Aren't In Heaven Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSouthern Cooking: Recipes for Fried Foods I'll NEVER Prepare or Eat Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to How To Improvise When Playing Piano & Keyboard
Related ebooks
Piano for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf learning Jazz Harmony Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Scales and Chords: A Progressive Approach to Learning Major and Minor Scales Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Melodic Exercises for Jazz Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scales and Chords Ii: A Progressive Approach to Learning Major and Minor Scales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModalogy: Scales, Modes & Chords: The Primordial Building Blocks of Music Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gospel Riffs God Would Love To Hear for Piano/Keyboards: Gospel Riffs God Would Love To Hear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Training Notebook On Pop Music Special Chord Progressions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Blues Scale for Piano/Keyboards Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piano For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Improvisation Book I Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves for Piano/Keyboards: 100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ultimate Latin Riffs for Piano/Keyboards Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConnecting Chords with Linear Harmony Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Quick Jazz Practice Tips: for all instruments: Jazz & Improvisation Series, #3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Gospel Riffs God Would Love To Hear for Organ: Gospel Riffs God Would Love To Hear Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Play Piano: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning the Keyboard, Music, and Techniques Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPiano Chords One: A Beginner’s Guide To Simple Music Theory and Playing Chords To Any Song Quickly: Piano Authority Series Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Play Keyboards and Piano Instantly: The Book 4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearn How to Play Piano Keyboard for Absolute Beginners: A Self Tuition Book for Adults and Teenagers! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piano Solo Method For Beginners | A New Way To Play Any Song Within 6 Weeks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMusic Theory For Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Chord Progression Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJazz Improvisation Basic Training Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPiano Exercises For Dummies Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Essential Techniques of Jazz and Contemporary Piano Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5100 Ultimate Jazz Riffs for Piano/Keyboards: 100 Ultimate Jazz Riffs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Music For You
Easy Piano Songs for Beginners: Simple Sheet Music of Famous Favorites: Easy Piano Songs for Beginners, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Guitar For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piano For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Music Theory For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Guitar Theory For Dummies: Book + Online Video & Audio Instruction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Mixing Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Songwriting For Dummies Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Guitar Practice Guide: A Practice Guide for Guitarists and other Musicians Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Easyway to Play Piano: A Beginner's Best Piano Primer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn Your Fretboard: The Essential Memorization Guide for Guitar (Book + Online Bonus) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Circle of Fifths: Visual Tools for Musicians, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn Jazz Piano: book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Speak with Distinction: The Classic Skinner Method to Speech on the Stage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Learn Guitar A Beginner's Course Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/588 Piano Classics for Beginners Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory (Music Instruction): A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart Of The Hippie Dream Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Claude Debussy Piano Music 1888-1905 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Becoming a Great Sight-Reader–or Not! Learn From My Quest for Piano Sight-Reading Nirvana Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Open Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for How To Improvise When Playing Piano & Keyboard
13 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's the basic, open and easy approach one should have to teach whoever is willing to learn.
Basic, because it's everything you need to know if you want to play ballads or well-known songs. Or if eventually you want to go deeper.
Open, because it has an eye on the audience, and the satisfaction it brings to play in public.
Easy, because the theory is all there, now go practice... - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It was ok. I was a little to basic in contents.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5the author is very intuitive guide and easy learning...
with simpe song and then step by step example and summary - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ottima applicazione completa e esaustiva la migliore in commercio consigliata
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Maybe usefull if you want to learn the different chords, but it doesn't teach the process of improvisation, at all...
Book preview
How To Improvise When Playing Piano & Keyboard - Lee Gabor
Introduction
This book contains a lot of information. If you're extremely right brain-lobe oriented, feel free to skip all the text, print the graphics, and go to the summary chapter with the chords and learn those you want to learn and then just mess around using various chords in the songs you want to play and I suggest you use various voicings of the chords.
If you're comfortable with text and, especially, if you're just beginning, you will learn something in every chapter. And, every tiny bit helps one to become a better pianist.
The three things I hope you learn well in this book are 1) try some different chords and practice them in songs you like using various voicings; 2) enjoy playing the way you want to and don't get discouraged if, at first, you aren't extremely pleased with the sounds you're creating; and 3) take responsibility for yourself and don't allow others to discourage you or hold you back. God gave us many abilities we don't use. This book is to encourage you to try a skill that can bring you great enjoyment.
Obviously, the more you practice, the better you will play. The more you try new chords, the sooner you'll add those to your repertoire.
Although I took a few piano lessons when I was a child, I play primarily by ear. If you would like to see a video of me playing piano and singing (1987) with very little video of my hands at the keyboard, please go here. If you want to see my hands at the piano keyboard playing bits of a few various songs, go here. The videos are from a quarter of a century ago and I think I play better now, lol! At least, I hope so! BTW, the few minutes of hands at piano was copied from the Master tape on which the other songs were recorded. When I scheduled the recording session in Houston, I ordered two video cameras, one stationary and the other roving, so that a lot of tape could be captured of the musicians and me actually playing instruments. Unfortunately, the recording studio didn't follow through and there was only one camera. After recording whole songs during which time the camera was stationary, the videographer grabbed the camera and walked around the studio to videotape outtakes
that could be cut into the final recording. The video of my hands at the keyboard is one of those outtakes.
One other thought - in this book I mentioned stride
piano style and refer you to a video on YouTube that discusses this. In the video of me playing piano (hands on keyboard), I play Faded Love
in a stride manner.
I am very proud to be a member of ASCAP!
Since we will start our lessons using the Key of C major in this book, here is a graphic of the C major scale on a piano or electronic keyboard. If we played past that B and pressed the next note, we will play a C (invisible in the graphic) and that C makes the OCTAVE or 8 notes.
This next graphic adds the numbers we use when talking about the notes in the scale.
Finally, this next graphic adds the numbers, but in the format of Roman numerals, which are more commonly used to describe the notes in the scale.
Later, you'll learn all the black notes and other 11 Keys IF YOU WANT TO, but I really think to GET THE LESSONS I'm offering, you MUST understand C Major Scale to the first Octave: Therefore, if you aren't already familiar with the C major scale, please don't go further into the book until you know the notes by their letter designations, their number designations, and, if possible, their Roman Numeral designations.
What Is Improvisation
First thing I want to mention is that in the chapter titled Rock of Ages, you'll find lead sheet
music for the old hymn with melody and very simplified chords noted. These are simple triad (3-note) chords. After that, you'll find a sample of the song with full staff (treble and bass clefs). The song is played in an improvisational manner and using some of the chords you'll learn about in this ebook.
A lead sheet
is often used by musicians in place of full sheet music. Lead sheets typically show only the treble clef with melody lines and above that the chords listed. If the song has lyrics, they usually appear below the staff. The melody and chords offer enough information to professional musicians and vocalists, since these people improvise.
I can't emphasize enough that TO LEARN HOW TO IMPROVISE, the best thing you can do is to record yourself playing a song you like and then start messing around with it and recording your improvisation. Not everything will necessarily sound great. That's true for all of us, even for the greatest pianists. The more you work with expressing yourself, the better you'll get. We build what is called muscle memory as we play chords that are more expanded than the simple triad chords. Also, as we play three-note (triad) chords in various voicings,
we develop that muscle memory. These voicings
are explained a bit later. It is that muscle memory we want