Piano Improv: Easy As 1, 2

1. Easy As 1,2 Intro: Hello, friends and welcome to class. I am so glad you are here today because today we're going to talk about improvisation. Now I know. For many, improvising seems to be magic. It seems to be like something only a select group of people have access to tapping into. But just like anything else with playing music, there is a system. There is a method on, and there are some tips and strategies that you can learn to help assist you, Teoh improvise easier and with better comfort. So today we are going to talk about a couple chords that will help you as you just sit down to play in, Just noodle around on the piano. We are going to introduce you to an unlocked the power of 12 chords. And hopefully, by the end of this class you will see that improvising can be easy as one to Are you ready ? Let's go 2. Easy As 1,2 Inversions: All right, everybody, here we are at the piano, and we're going to get started with learning how to improvise Easy as 12 This theory is based off of a previous class that I gave talking about scale degrees in scale numbers, assigning numbers to each notes in a scale. I suggest if you have not taken that class, I suggest you taking a moment to go back and review that or at least become familiar with it. So you'll be better able to understand what I'm about to say. For those of you who already know about scale degrees or already took the class, let's go ahead and get started. We're going to talk about 12 chords will be in the key of C and of course we remember 12345671 And here is our one chord. When you're in the key FC. That one chord is a C. First thing we need to do is learn all the inversions of this court. An inversion is basically how you spell the cord. So here we have see on the bottom E in the middle, G on top. That's the root position OK, but there's another way you can spell this. You can take this, see on the bottom and put it up top. So now you have E g. C. There's still another way you can spell this. Take that on the bottom. Put it on top. Now you have G c e. And then, of course, you can go back to the original route position where you take this G from the bottom. Put it on top. And now you have See e g once again. Hi. Let's do that again. Way have root position. We have first inversion thing. We have second inversion way. Have root position again, an octave higher. So you should start becoming familiar with inverting these cords, no matter what major chord you have. Even if you're on Dean, you should become familiar with inviting these whores. Used to feel fingers s so on and so forth. All right, now we're back in the key of C Now, instead of looking at the one inversions, we're gonna look at the two inversions. Here is our two chord way. Let's build at a different way taking it up to the first inversion with the D on top. Now we have a way. Now let's go to the second inversion will take this. We have a Then finally, take a Put it on top to go back up to the roof Position in octave higher that today once again become familiar with this inversion bouncing back and forth through 1st 2nd 2nd 1st route Here is where the magic begins. All right, so we're gonna go from a one chord, and we're gonna go to the to your next. We're going to go to the first inversion of the one chord right there. I remember seeing goes on top. Then we're gonna go to the first inversion of the two chord, which is right here because the deal go to the second inversion of the one chord. Remember room 1st 2nd 2nd inversion of the two chord Remember route for a second and then back up to the root position of the one court and not fire. So that way we can go up and down just playing 12 chords in their different inversions. 1 to 1 first and version two. First inversion. One second inversion two second version one group position, but not defined. You can also go back down 12 in the second inversion one in the second inversion to in the first version one in the first to root one in the root. So what I want you to start doing is I'm sitting a metre new and one thio thio 1 to 2 one. Then you can gradually take it a little faster. One Thio thio All right, And then eventually over time and I suggest you pause and take a moment to do that so you don't rush go too fast. It's the whole idea of everything, but eventually over time will be ableto way back and forth between different way and another exercise. You can try after you master. Just going straight up eyes very rhythm. Okay, in the direction that you play Ugo, there so many different variations that you can come up with. So we've talked about building the 12 chords we talked about variation. Now let's put it all together are improvising. This is the beauty of it. When you're playing 12 chords, you cannot mess up. No matter what you play, it's gonna be good. Is gonna sound all right in the left hand if you're playing 12 chords over £1 over 23 way , get to seven, which is a little different. Um, some people like that sounded a little more dissonant. I avoid playing seven in the base when I'm doing what, two chords on the right hand, but it's just a personal preference. So in general, if you want to make sure you're in good shape when you're improvising with the 12 chords in the right hand, if you stick with 145 and six in the left hand, you'll be in pretty good shape. All the other ones to three and seven can work as well. But if you stick with playing 145 or six in the left hand, you will be gold. Right now, I'm just gonna play 12 chords in the right hand, an alternate my left hand between the 145 and six different variations. All right, 3. Easy As 1,2 in Action: I think it is one way way you noticed that breaking up the court is a good way to keep it nice and smooth. You can work with just blocking cores way, but if you break up, the courts are Peggy ate. It kind of gives it a nice, smoother feel. If that's what you're looking for. Just 12 cores way, way I e. You could go on and go on in several different styles. If you want something. I mean, there's lots of stuff you can do. You can basically adjust the field whatever you're going for but still using those 12 4. Easy As 1,2 Student Project: So your assignment for today become familiar Going up with those 12 chords. Start with the key of C or whatever key you're familiar with. But then, beyond that booth, so get used to going up and down the scale in a couple of your favorite keys used a very the cords that you're playing in different sequences and then just sit down and start playing. Just have fun with it. Because, after all, that's what music is all about. Thank you for coming to class today. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a comment. Please invite a friend. Also. Please send me a note to let me know what subjects you'd like me to tackle later on. Thank you so much for being here today and enjoy making some music. Take it.