2 Tonal improvisations

[reaper978]

I've been experimenting with a more tonal sound these days, but the chromaticism is still a bit harsh.

-Colin

[quantum]

Hi Colin, thanks for posting these.

The first one sounds like you were playing a lot with gestures.  Using various pianistic techniques to create different moods or colours.  The second one sounds atmospheric with flowing lines. 

You say your chormaticism is a bit harsh.  Maybe try looking for counterpoint within your harmony.  In the same way a G7 chord resolves to a C, you can still have the same tension and resolution exist within more chormatic and complex harmonic structures.  See which chords tend to move forward, and which ones feel like a resting place. 

I thought the ending to the second rec was interesting.  It sounds like a penultimate chord and I though you were going to resolve it, but you instead ended there. 

[Derek]

Hi Reaper, I haven't been on the site for a while. This improv has now been added to the list. Thanks!

[Derek]

In the same way a G7 chord resolves to a C, you can still have the same tension and resolution exist within more chormatic and complex harmonic structures.  See which chords tend to move forward, and which ones feel like a resting place. 

I've always felt this way. From the very beginning of my improv hobby. I think someone should write a new treatise on music theory which talks about it in more general terms like that, so we don't have all of these "musical commandments" about dominant fifths and what not that make improv/composition/music in general seem inaccessible to normal people. I do use the traditional stuff as well as the non traditional now, just due to knowing so many scales and chords, but I'd never think of ONLY using one or the other.