"This is on Cm" - First try of improvisation.

[countrymath]

I have just recorded my first improvisation. But i warn you, it sux, is has a lot of mistakes and the harmony is awfull

[Derek]

I thought it was really good. You're way ahead of where I was when I started! Keep it up! I like the minor key feel---this is similar to how I started off, myself. 

[ongaku_oniko]

This doesn't sound like an improv at all!!! (take that as a compliment)

I really wonder how you guys can do this! I've been wondering, can you guys really just play what you want? What I mean is, say if I want to say something, I know that I can say it, and I know exactly what I'll say. If I'm just learning a new language, it might be hard, and I might make mistakes, but I can still basically get an idea of what I want to say.

Is playing the piano like that for you guys? Because for me, I have absolutely no idea what sound will come out when I press a key, so all my improv is completely random noise. I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to say it.

[countrymath]

This doesn't sound like an improv at all!!! (take that as a compliment)

I really wonder how you guys can do this! I've been wondering, can you guys really just play what you want? What I mean is, say if I want to say something, I know that I can say it, and I know exactly what I'll say. If I'm just learning a new language, it might be hard, and I might make mistakes, but I can still basically get an idea of what I want to say.

Is playing the piano like that for you guys? Because for me, I have absolutely no idea what sound will come out when I press a key, so all my improv is completely random noise. I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to say it.

Thank you both. This theme came to my mind when I finished practcing. I play a Cm chord and the theme came out. The variations are mostly theory-based, i mean, (Ab on right hand will work on Fm chord). I don't know how it will sound, but I know it will work =p. I wrote the harmony before start recording, cause i cant create progressions while playing. I always get scared when Im recording...I think I need to record more, and I will certanly do more cool stuff. I like Rick Wakeman style, tought.

[Derek]

ongaku, I've been thinking about how improv is learned a lot recently and in discussions with Ted and m1469 and others I think I may have hit on something. A student who is a beginner in improv typically will have one of two traits, sometimes both. They will either be too rigid, or too random. Neither is "wrong" so much as, good improvisation really comes from a combination of randomness and the ability to repeat coherent ideas. If you find your improvisation relies too heavily on repeating a riff or specific melody---you may benefit from changing it up more and lashing out with more randomness. If you find your improvisation is already too random---you may make progress by practicing repeating short fragments until you've built the ability to memorize short fragments of what you play. ---then, you develop your skill by combining the ability to repeat, and the ability to change.

[countrymath]

Yeah....I want to improvise complete songs...with intro, climax, ending, bla bla bla...

That AABACAABA thing.

[Derek]

@countrymath: I think your best bet for following a structure such as you have described is to learn how to use fakebooks and write your own chord charts for a song you might write. What are your goals? When I started out I think I probably assumed that was all there could be to improvisation as well---but later on I learned it could unlock much more power than this. But---it's all in what you're looking for long term. *edit* but, I don't think back then that I had any goals...remaining open to new ideas is perhaps more important at this stage.

[countrymath]

@countrymath: I think your best bet for following a structure such as you have described is to learn how to use fakebooks and write your own chord charts for a song you might write. What are your goals? When I started out I think I probably assumed that was all there could be to improvisation as well---but later on I learned it could unlock much more power than this. But---it's all in what you're looking for long term. *edit* but, I don't think back then that I had any goals...remaining open to new ideas is perhaps more important at this stage.

My main goal is to make music my job, I think. I'm learning blues, cause i'm playing on a blues/rock band now. I like composing music too, but just for fun. I suck at classical, thats why I'm  learning improvisation. I could play anything, anywhere, and then work on it later.

[ongaku_oniko]

You know, I just listened to this in full. Wow. would it be possible if you give me some pointers in how the melody goes and what chords to use (since writing it out would be too troublesome).

Since I'm deaf and can't possibly figure out the score to this without over 1000 hours of work (I tried listening and writing out the score for a simple piece once... after 2 hours I got about 5 seconds of the piece done) so if you can tell me your secret that would be great. I really wanna learn it

[countrymath]

You know, I just listened to this in full. Wow. would it be possible if you give me some pointers in how the melody goes and what chords to use (since writing it out would be too troublesome).

Since I'm deaf and can't possibly figure out the score to this without over 1000 hours of work (I tried listening and writing out the score for a simple piece once... after 2 hours I got about 5 seconds of the piece done) so if you can tell me your secret that would be great. I really wanna learn it

You're talking seriously? I think it sux =p

I didn't save the project on Nuendo 4, so I cant give you the MIDI  .

I'll try to record it again tonight...maybe it will get a little different (with less mistakes, i hope XD)

[chopinatic]

Hey! welcome to the world of improv. I think this was a great first improv, it showed a feel for melodies and had a good use of simplicity which is a great starting point in improvisation, please keep posting. Good work

- chopinatic

[floydcramerfan]

It sounded really good.