How to Quickly Improvise from the Chord
How to improvise from the chord depends on chord construction knowledge and knowing some basic patterns. Building on the last weeks’ articles, here are some accompaniment patterns that are basic and widely used. The examples are for a C chord in a measure of 4 beats:
1. Improvise from the chord using octave-chord pattern
2. Improvise from the chord using octave-chord-octave 5th-chord pattern
3. Improvise from the chord using broken single notes of one time value
Here the chord is C; the notes are C – G – C – E – G – E – C – G for one measure of 4 beats, with each eighth note getting a half beat. The notes in relation to the C chord are:
Root C (played low on the keyboard) –
The chord 5th G higher –
The Root C higher still –
The 3rd E higher –
The “peak” of the ascending eighth notes is the chord 5th G –
Descending left comes the 3rd E –
Descending left then the Root C –
The measure ends with the 5th G.
The pattern to learn is low root chord 1 – 5th – R1 – 3rd – 5th descending 3rd – R1 – 5th
A good fingering pattern is 5 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 1 – 3 – 1 – 2
4. Improvise from the chord using broken single notes of mixed time value
Here the chord is C; the notes are C – G – C – E – C – G for one measure of 4 beats.
Beat 1 is quarter note C
Beat 2 for eighth notes G and C
Beat 3 is quarter note E
Beat 4 for eighth notes C and G
The pattern to learn is low root chord 1 – 5th – R1 – 3rd – descending R1 – 5th
A good fingering pattern is 5 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 3
These are basic patterns for the left hand. Use these chord accompaniment patterns with different chords until you are comfortable improvising. Try the chords of G, then, F, and D. The G7 is widely used also.
In the near future, we’ll add notes of the chord to the right hand, with the melody on top to carry the tune!
If this seems difficult, remember – you do not have to read any of these notes – just take them from the chord!
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Leslie Young is the author/composer of the Revolutionary Piano Method. She co-founded a K-12th grade charter school in Texas and has been a piano teacher for about 40 years. She has had experience teaching a variety of students tackling piano for the first time or as returning student
Leslie believes that “learning to play the piano is more about diligence and perseverance” – but would add that just as critical to success is the method that is used, the encouragement of critical thinking, and the instructional principles that promote immediate success.
She states: “In teaching piano to students of varying ages, what also varies is a commitment of time and the amount of dedication. Children of certain ages may do very well with a parent as teacher; others may need someone who is not family to instruct them. Some older children and adults prefer to make progress on their own, and this method is designed to act as a meticulous guide through new material. Some adults and teens insist on professional teachers, which also encourages continuity. Because these books are self-explanatory, a new or experienced professional teacher will have no trouble using the Revolutionary Piano Method with students. It is an easy way to learn piano.”
