Pentatonic scales for improvisation - piano tutorial
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- My book: www.billspianop...
Pentatonic scales are useful things to know if you want to learn how to improvise on the piano, and especially if you're interested in jazz and blues.
In this piano tutorial I take a quick look at both major and minor pentatonic scales, and look at how you can use them to improve your improvisation.
The great thing about pentatonics is how universal they are, and one of the points I make here is that they usually sound "right" whenever you play them against a given chord progression (as long as the scale is in the same key as the progression, obviously!)
That means when you're improvising on the piano you can use pentatonic scales as a kind of safe haven. They will almost always sound good, irrespective of the chords you are playing underneath.
By the way, if you're not sure how to get started with basic improvisation, have a look at my playlist of blues piano tutorials. These feature the basic techniques you need to get started with improvisation. In the near future I'm also going to post some videos that approach basic improvisation using other styles of music.
It's also worth saying that a thorough knowledge of basic piano scales will help you here. It may seem strange, but having a regular run through of the major and minor scales that your piano teacher taught you will help you master both pentatonic improvisation and more elaborate forms.
The pentatonic improvisation exercise I've included in the tutorial uses the chord sequence from the verse section of Georgia on my Mind (by Hoagy Carmichael, made famous by Ray Charles, of course). I'm not playing the tune here - just using that section of the progression because it uses several chords that are outside the natural key (F major). This is useful, because it illustrates how you can use pentatonic scales against more or less any chord to get a good (and often quite jazzy) effect.
Remember to check out my books - How To Really Play The Piano, Seven Studies In Pop Piano and An Introduction To Cocktail Piano! Links here:
www.billspianopages.com/how-to-really
www.billspianopages.com/cocktail
www.billspianopages.com/seven-studies
As a classically trained pianist I have never really been interested in improvisation, but this video on the value of the pentatonic scale in improvisation was an eye-opener! Many thanks! I am now experimenting - to the astonishment of friends and family. I wish I had seen this twenty years ago!
10 years, still golden 🔥
Thank you - I'm really glad you like it!
You are a self-less dude Bill. Teaching the masses to better themselves. Thank you.
Pentatonic Scale
Generally speaking it’s:
Major: 1 2 3 5 6
Minor: 1 3 4 5 7
C major
C D E F G A B C
C major Pentatonic
C D E G A C
E major Pentatonic
Eb F G Bb C Eb
A minor Pentatonic
A C D E G A
F major Pentatonic
F G A C D F
Blue improvisation thingy
Increase amount of notes alongside with self-confidence in playing
Georgia on my Mind by Hoagy Carmichael
ua-cam.com/video/5k0bKSJOywc/v-deo.html
Chord sequence(F major Pentatonic):
F | A7 | Dm7 Bb Bbm |
F E7 | Gm7 C7 | F D7 | Gm7 C7 |
9 freaking years and this is still gold.
Thanks Dave!
i know. i'm back too after all this time.
In case anyone wants the chords written out / transposed to C
(key of F):
F | A7 | Dm7 | Bb , Bbm
F , E7 | Gm7 , C7 | F , D7 | Gm7, C7
(key of C):
C | E7 | Am7 | F , Fm
C , B7 | Dm7 , G7 | C , A7 | Dm7, G7
faux I don't understand...Why THESE cords? And why in this order? :(
Weronika Antczak that is good question. Hoagy Carmichael wrote goeorgia on my mind . It is one of favorite songs. It follows a 1 36 2 5 pattern basically. F a d g c. .. if you want more I can explain more. I know a small amount and it is growing steadily.. I have not been to school but I play about 10 instruments and many thousands of hours playing and studying and lessons as I could afford them. So I have a descent background and will try to help.. I've been there.
Your comment was as useful as the video itself. Thanks.
I was inspired by my jazz guitarist friend to play jazz piano and your tutorials are very helpful and inspirational. I hope you continue what whatever you are doing.
You have inspired me to teach vocal improvisation to my community using the pentatonic scale! I am a song leader, helping people free their voice and find creative expression in singing. Very much on the same wavelength as you in terms of using improvisation rather than following the written music. Thanks for the inspiration!
That's great to hear, Sylvia - glad to have been of help!
I've been watching your videos for about a week now and they are very helpful. I'd really want to see a video demonstrating how to improvise a melody.
@heccubah Glad you like it! To get started, just pick the pentatonic scale of the key you're playing in, and it should sound OK over any of the "natural" chords of that key. So, for example, in F major, the F major pentatonic would sound OK over F (Fmaj7, Fmaj9...), Gm (Gm7..., Gm9...), Am (Am7, Am9...), Bb (Bbmaj7, Bbmaj9, Bb7...), C (C7, C9...), Dm (Dm7, Dm9...) or Edim. Over chords that are not natural to that key, it'll still sound good, but perhaps jazzy.
I finally understand what to do with a pentatonic scale. Thank you!
God Bless you man. You have true talent, both in playing the piano and teaching it. I've been playing piano for quite a while but have become rusty in the applied theory of it all. Thanks much for the refresher. Officially a subscriber.
+Kofi Ansah-Brew Thanks for the kind words, Kofi - it's always good to know when tutorials are working! :)
Never in all of my years have I seen this explained so well, well done!
+Max Ryan Thanks Max!
Bill, I just purchased The Keyboardist's Picture Chord Encyclopedia by Leonard Vogler and was shocked to see he failed to include this set of scales in the book. You are a life saver and my new instructor; whether you like it or not.. THANK YOU!
Wayne R Brown if ever forget the notes of the major pentatonic.. I hear I saw mommy kissing Santa clause.. the major pentatonic scale.
Wayne R Brown I have a book .. that made a typo .. I couldn't believe that the editor had not caught it . It is a great book. They said notes of a lydian flat 7 we're c d e f# g a b c . That's wrong . Lydian is the fourth mode of some scale. G a b c (d ) e f# g.. so straight lydian is just c to c using notes of g c d e f,# g a b c. Put the flat 7 in .. c d e f# g a bb c.
You are honestly so talented and so inspiring! Thank you for the awesome lesson im going to go practice now :)
Cool, thank you!
It would still be C or C7 (not Cmaj7) - a pentatonic is a particular scale played within a key, not a key in itself. There are other chords that have dominant-like effects. So, e.g., the D7 you mention resolves to Gm7 (D7 is non-diatonic to F, so resolves on to the chord a fifth below) and Gm7/C has a dominant-like effect (resolving to F, like C or C7 would). We're getting into music theory rocket science here - it all makes much more sense on the piano keyboard :)
THIS IS AWESOME! I'm so learning most of what your vids have to offer! The pentatonic scales and the walking bass have helped me so much so far!
For those of us who are not classically trained and play by ear, simply playing the black keys is a really easy way to show what pentatonic sounds/looks like. But this was very helpful as well and I thank you.
This knowledge is empowering. As others say, there's some excess in talking but the excellent explanations are still there.
I love the way you fingers dance across the keys.. like two dancers meant to be on a ballroom floor
more like ten
If it was just fingers dancing around a ballroom without a person attached to them...that would be pretty weird, honestly.
I'm late finding your channel, but I'm happy that I did. I just subscribed!
Thank you for such excellent tutorials.
You're welcome, Aaron, and welcome aboard - thanks for the sub!
Your hands are ever so captivating! Very nicely explained as well 👊
Thanks Moofy!
Very "minor" correction, but I'm pretty sure at 2:33 you meant you were playing the natural minor scale, and were referring to the harmonic scale when you stated the melodic scale had a sharpened 7th.
Yes indeed - well spotted! I was a lot more slapdash back in the early days of the channel...!
Yale Yang to have your brain...some people(sigh)
I echo these sentiments. I just started playing piano six months ago and have been struggling with many of the same issues you not only cover, but thoroughly, and with plenty of concept to legitimize it to aspiring professional musician. I am definitely plugging your business to all of my associates who are interested in piano.
Harmonic has a sharp 7th. A harmonic minor is a b c d e f g# a. If it is a natural 7th, then it's called a natural minor.
Yep, you're exactly right - this is quite an old tut from the days when I was a lot more casual about editing out and re-shooting mistakes...!
Bill Hilton
It was quite obvious you didn’t mean it. I just made this comment for those who are new to theory.
Hi Bill, I like your explanations and improvisations. Sounds very cool and easy to play. Just two corrections. When you are playing A - minor harmonic it is not actually harmonic, it is natural A minor. What you call A minor melodic, this one is harmonic with 6 diminished.
Oh My Gosh, just playing the Georgia chords and variations (i.e. messing about with them) is a dream come true. The question is: how did Hoagy come up with this kind of sequence? Did he write the chords or were they filled in by other folks based on his tune? What kind of music study gets you into this magic?
Mr. Bill Hilton--thank you so much for your very clear explanations and demonstrations. You are a terrific teacher. Thank you again.
Wow mate. Here in the US and have been playing for 15 years..... For SURE learning from your vids. Wellllllll done ;)
15 years and you're learning from a tutorial like this? 15 years not well spent. In 8 years I completed History and Harmony one two and three, with counterpoint, analysis and rudiments... Don't lie about something that doesn't make sense
Thank you for explaining this. I hadn't clue about a pentatonic scale before, but after watching this video and using some of your chords I found my self playing a dance piece from "Holiday on the buses" the bit when wilfred bramble dances with i think its olives mum. Awesome
No problem at all! This comment is also something of a first: I often get questions like "how do I play theme from Star Wars/Harry Potter/Indiana Jones" or "teach me the song from [Disney movie]". This is the first time, ever, I've helped someone to play something from HOTB (easily the greatest of the OTB franchise, btw), and I'm bursting with pride.
It was so helpful thankyou so much.. advanced tutorials.. are vry hard to get in this platform
Glad it was helpful!
Incredibly useful and instructive.
Thank you!
Wow....really practical and useful tips....gives me the impetus to play the same progression and improvise in my favourite keys....thanks so much
Hey Bill thank you so much for that lessons!! I really like that chords progression and i have so much fun using the penta!!!! Greeting from Québec !!!
No problem, Dominic - glad it was helpful! Hello from North Yorkshire!
Nice video Bill. Trick to remembering the major pentatonic. I'll use the most familiar chord C6. Notes. C d e g a. 1 2 3 5. 6 . The scale in just a c6 chord with an added 2 or d in the scale. This is the way I remember the sixth chord.. .
This is a great explanaton on Pentatonic scales, I find this very usefull thanks Bill.
@bluefire544 Sure thing - I'll have a go.
The comps I've focussed on in vids so far have been fairly basic and chord based. Thing is - and you're putting your finger on it here - there's a big grey area between soloing and comping. So watch this space, and thanks for the suggestion :)
hi
Great tutorial, had to come here before posting my own pentatonic song (A Black Key world) just to ensure I was doing it right!
thanks pal..it was very helpful for newbies like me..God bless..
@Damrod05 That's the one - I think the terms are interchangeable. Doubtless some harmony geek will be along shortly to tell us. I've sent you that link.
I use the Kanakangi scale to improvise. Its alot more fun than any boring pentatonic scale. It has more notes to fool with.
Cool! I'm not sure how much of a formal music education HC had, However, many songwriters pick up the basics of harmony just from playing and studying other people's work. Many songs use common chord progressions and structures. He will have written the chords himself, probably by coming up with a tune first and then harmonising it (although sometimes it works the other way around...)
Really nice videos. I come from years of classical training (both piano, theory and other instruments) and I've been wanting to play jazz for a long time, but always felt improvising melodics was out of my grasp for some reason (no problem with rythm though). You're one of the only two UA-cam teachers I found really insightful! Now I guess I just need to get used to the notations as most books and videos have these notations which are literally foreign to me (everything is different in French, I not only need to translate the notes all the time but also the chords >.< so much for learning all that, though it does help once I translate, and I think I'm getting quicker with the letters system, so there's hope!)
+Claire Ribiere Merci bien, Claire! Yes, the notation system used for pop/jazz is quite tricky if you're coming from an exclusively classical background. However, the classical piano training is still *incredibly* useful, as you'll be able to do things that self-taught players have to learn from scratch. Bonne chance!
Thank you so much! It was explained so well. This will help with my playing AND my music GCSE. Super helful
When I did Music GCSE (in 1991...) we had to look everything up in Grove's Dictionary of Music and submit our composition coursework handwritten in pencil on manuscript paper. How times have changed....! Anyway, glad to be of help :)
Bill Hilton Bill I handwrite important things. I don't always remember but I try to carry a pencil and notebook with me to the piano. I use a small index bound notebook. When I write things down in longhand I remember them much better. . It's expecially good for watching videos and making notes.
Great tutorial, much appreciated Bill
Great intro lesson, Bill. Thanks!
- Doug
You're welcome, Doug!
You make it look so easy!
Marc Whisman after thousands of hours or practice and studying
You're a great teacher! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Joey - glad to be of help!
2:25 unless terms are different, I believe you played the natural minor rather than the harmonic. As you described the melodic, that was actually the harmonic where as melodic raises the 6th and 7th while going up the scale and lowers them back to the natural 6th and 7th when going back down. sorry if that sounded nit picky.
+Bumbe Dynasty Nitpick away - looking back at it you're dead right. I'll add an annotation correcting myself when I have a moment. Thanks!
thanks for this kind of teaching throw Internet. God blesse u guys
@Damrod05 Well spotted and thanks - I'll add an annotation to that effect. Actually, my mistake is even worse than getting them the wrong way round, because what I should be talking about is the *natural* minor.
This is what I get for making unscripted videos and not switching my brain on!
Wonderfully explained, thank you so much!
Thanks Isabel - glad you liked it!
spot on explanation mate... never knew pentatonics were this useful on piano!
just move down an octave the 6th note from the major pentatonic and tadaaaa you have a minor pentatonic, and if you use the cromatic note between the 2nd and 3rd on the major or between the 4th and 5th on the minor you have a jazzy vibe
Excellent tip!
This was so helpful! Keep up the great work! You got yourself a subscriber!
For learners. The flat 7 is always 1 tone below the root or tonic. That's important info. So c> bb..I said I'd stay in c let me use some other keys. First at your piano put your fingers on the c and bb. Now lock them. Play f and eb. Notice that is in indeed the tonic and b 7. This works everywhere. New learners will not usually play in e. The flat 7 of e is extremely easy to find. I'll give to different methods.. first the easy put your finger on e.. now just go down a whole step. That's a natural d ...easy I'll do a few more just be through. Now with this method it is common sense all the way.. Now let's prove it. This is the reason what it works and we don't need to think this way. E f# g# a b c# d# e.. Now that's hard to memorize.. I think that's 4# s.. but I just want to find the flat 7. So instead of using the easy method.. I am proving why it works.. e down a half step or a semitone is d#..which makes sense. That note is the seventh note of the scale.. e f# g# a b c# d# . But we want a flat 7 not a 7 . Go down another half step and that is a full step. That would be the b7 a d note. See the long way proves it.. but the short cut always works... I want go into the scale of gb . The flat 7 is just e. Flat 7 of g no brainer , that's f . Flat seven of eb would be db.. see my comment short way to find the sixth.
Thank you,I don't feel stuck and lost now, I actually have place to begin that I understand. Good Teacher!
this is exactly what i was looking for and perfectly taught, great video!
im really glad i found your videos, cause what you explained in the video helped me A LOT !! :D
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I've noticed that hirajoshi and insen scale are also very easy to improvise from and they also seem to work every time.
Even alphabet pentatonic seems to work.
thank u very much sir keep on doing such good tutorials ...they are really helpful to those studying music
i've learned this, and this is really work.. i also try your jazz improvisation, and that was really easy to play.. thank you, i just subscribed!!
Thanks for another superb tutorial! I find them extremely helpful
fidsta
thanks so much for your teachings. I could listen to that wonderful accent forever !!!
Yes would like to learn more about pentatonic scales.I'm a novice in playing piano.
Thanks a lot sir, its really help me, greetings from indonesia..
Greetings from Yorkshire, Alfred - delighted to hear it's helping you!
thanks for this kind of teaching throw Internet. God blesse u guy's
Wow!! I just stumbled upon this channel and I'm so glad I did. So awesome. Will be buying your book soon. Cheers from California
Super cool. I'm a newb and picked up on your chords and tinkley part. Good to hear real sounds coming from my keyboard instead of Mary Had a Little Lamb, ugh.
Thanks very much - glad it helped!
It help me but i want to know more scales on key C major
Thank you man. Really thank you. Know I'll just practice that. In Avery scale. And that is gonna make me sound a little more professional.
Great tutorial as always Bill! I found this so very useful as it gives me a solid starting point to enjoy experimenting - Thanks Ness
You Got A Friend In Me
Very well explained. Thank you
Very usefull indeed. Thank you
Thanks for a great lesson
Loving this, thank you bill.
This was very helpful. Thank you, Bill!
very very clear thank you
Brilliant explanation, many thanks!
U r a gr8 person..May god bless u..
@Damrod05 It's basically what you get when you play exactly the same notes as the relative major, but starting on the minor note. Found a link to explain it, but YT won't let me post (natch). Will email to you.
6:07 i love that, would you be able to put up a tutorial on how YOU play Georgia on my mind?
Thanks again Bill, your wonderful.
Very helpful...! Wish I got piano lessons from you!
To the new learners.. when you read more. It is about 200 plus words.. it is written in simple language for the beginners. We all were at once. Did earlier comment on quick way to find the flat 7. If you know your key board no need to remember scales for this short cut. Once we've found the b7 it's just a half step down to the 6 . First find the flat 7 then drop it half step. c to bb to a .. g to g to e... Db to cb to bb.. more examples bb to ab to g.. you do not have to know your scales .. just go to keyboard and look at it closely. Let's look at a .. I don't have to know the scale of a. .just know a to g f#. F# is the sixth which is part of the major pentatonic scale of a. I'll do it out the long way. Pentatonic scale is just the 1 2 356 of the scale. Let's do a as it is not for beginners but if it works in the key of 3 #s it will work anywhere. A b cc# d e (f#) notice we proved it. F# is indeed the sixth of the a scale. Now having said all that , this will start to ingrained what the sixth note is... also no need to know the scales.. I texted this. So there may be some typos.
Hey quick question: What you did starting at minute 7:22 is basically taking a chord progression in the key of F. You played the chords in the left hand and improvised using the pentatonic scale in the right hand ?
If this is true i got some minor questions :)
1) Do you use a specific chord progression or a standard progression which always sounds nice and can be transferred to other scales too ?
2) It is in Fmaj but some chords are outside of the Fmaj scale to make it sound more special and better I guess ?
3) Also sometimes u use the inversion of a chord. Is this learning by doing to feel that some inversion just sound better here or do u just inverse them so you don't have to jump so often with your right hand ?
Thanks so much for your video. I saw many many videos on this but your are on of the best !!! thanks again
Kilian Dahlem :(
Matrixar yeah he never replied huh...
Kilian Dahlem some really good questions . did you get answers.
Kilian Dahlem this is old post.. .but they were good questions. The f Maj 7 was used f (a ) c e because e was used in the a7 dominant a c# e g.. that's a 1 3 progression. . . .very common progression is a 1 3 6 2 5. If you are still interested I can explain more.
I absolutely love the part at 4:35, could you show us how to improv like that? If I learn that my life will be complete ^_^
harmonic and melodic are the other way round. Great vid, tks :)
Has anyone figured out what's that cool rhythm he's doing in the base around 8:00, like F, jump to F first inversion, jump to something else. Sounds super cool, is there a word for this style?
Sure thing, Jad - it's called "stride". I have some tutorials specifically on it - I've put them in a little playlist for you: ua-cam.com/play/PLpOuhygfD7QnFGtAblxQRtccKDxMa3HF2.html
Bill Hilton youre the man bill!
Just awesome, cant wait to try
Nicely explained, thanks!
Thx Bill
very very helpful!!! thank you so much. im so happy for this knowledge. Im from a classical piano learner but im very interested in modern stuffs. im very new , but my theory is strong. I'd be in touch w your updates! thank you ~~
hellow adlina tasya
bill, u r very good ....it is taught so well....!
thanks alot
people complaining about him showing off I walked away from this video not only knowing both scales, but having the ability to play Georgia on my mind while improvising utilizing the scale. Any one who is butt hurt about this guys chops is clearly jealous.
Good of you to say so Andrew - thanks very much. And I'm glad you found it useful!
I love the arpeggiated scales you just throw in there hahah
gosh you are so good! Where do I begin? I can read music and probably am hovvering around grade 4/5 ... my son can 'scribble' at the piano beautifully - I can't .... I onerous of m very literal! and learning a grade 5 piece - Sweet Mister Jelly roll... Valerie Capers .... and its getting the muscular memory going and timing aint my thang either - send me to your first few videos. Its so generous of you to do this. Thank you - give me your address and I will send an ebook of my paintings xx
Yes this exactly what i was lookin for
Excellent tutorial, thanks!!