4 Ways To Not Sound Boring When Improvising

[@thistlecosmos]

Your videos are so clean and minimalistic in just the right way. Honestly, the way you use graphic design in your titles and animations brings me just as much joy as your musical analysis. I look forward to more from this channel.

[@ranaair]

those chords are fire. they are the strangest, most beautiful chords ever.

[@Jefferson-ly5qe]

I love that sound! I imagine wading though a swamp deep in the Everglades and realising you're lost, hearing the birds and the insects calling, watching as the day fades away...

[@zzausel]

Are you kidding? I think you want some contradiction.

[@neezyseason9164]

It feels like some weird Zelda music in the beginning

[@RickBeato]

Great ideas but especially love the ending with Bobby :) he’s totally chill at the airport!

[@NahreSol]

+Rick Beato Thanks Rick!! Bobby is a seasoned traveler what can I say 😂

[@robchitsonzojr.9056]

You definitely know when a channel has great content if you see Rick Beato's comment on one its videos! This channel just got a new subscriber!

[@brendanmcgrane1577]

agreed, subscribed. @@robchitsonzojr.9056

[@nezkeys79]

In that bag tho lol 😍

[@Cloudkusanagui]

AWESOME concepts in dynamics, improvisation, harmony, finger/brain control over the keyboard. Your brain malfunction was way too quick to be called a malfuction per se, and you're way too cute caressing bobby while teaching us how to study music more efficiently haha Thank you once more, your videos are a great way to cool down from activities, have a bit of humor, a cute dog and think about how the musical practices are going. There's no way I wouldn't love this.

[@NahreSol]

Hi Igor, thank you!! Bobby is surely my little side kick -- he is the best! Thank you for such an awesome comment. And about brain malfunctions - there are always so many in the footage haha :)

[@Cloudkusanagui]

I would say there are always so many brain malfunction in life haha That comment made me laugh to the rigidness of how auto-critic can be used for self-improvement, but i'm sure you know it's more than ok and healthy to give yourself a break here and there ^^

[@dosgos]

Great tips and really nice playing. I feel like any level player can use this advice...

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! And I'm so glad to read that!! :))

[@breadstuff]

I really appreciate this video's content. For long i've been toying around with modulars and make arpeggios on them. As much as I have choices of chords and notes under control, more often than not the outcome of those synthersized arpeggios i created on modulars still astounded me. This video gives me more than an idea of how those arpeggios could be created electronically, rather show me how human can do the same job, and have it under control, freely manipulate the sound in order for it to serve one's purpose. Your channel is a bless. Thank you Nahre.

[@MaxAmSax]

Pleeease make an album from this 😀

[@nezkeys79]

Came for the music...cant get over how cute the dog is lol 6:05 😍 6:20 😍

[@omeleteazulproducoes8196]

"Not much hierarchy" *Schoenberg, Wittenberg, Messiaen and Webern nodding in approval*

[@grantrainey4200]

Nahre, your videos are truly inspiring. Not only are you incredibly gifted in self expression through your music, you inspire me through the work you put into every video. Your uploads calm me, give me enjoy, and inspire me to create new music. As a jazz guitarist and intermediate pianist. I love taking the concepts that you elaborate on in your videos and applying them to my own practice. I appreciate all that you do :-)

[@Azian2DaMax]

I can't believe you only have 5k subs. These are some of the best music instruction and education videos on youtube.

[@Livsie]

Sounds like a hang grum, really beautiful! Found your channel today with the video "Happy Birthday" in the style of". Really impressive!! Great channel, keep on!

[@ChuloDavidcito]

Super, Nahre! Apart from being great variation ideas, as I listened to it, I saw a scene in a movie. A woman is searching in dark city streets. The undercurrent of uncertainty reflects her anxiety. She's looking for a lost person, but she doesn't know exactly where to look for her, and it's so dark she can hardly see. It's summer, but the air is cool, and she's starting to shiver. She's not going to give up. (Guess my mind ran wild. Thank you!)

[@Hausch13]

This has such a Vangelis like vibe. I love it

[@LyndenLegault]

I love that the dog is getting all the attention...you make awesome videos every time Nahre

[@marcopepe4046]

This video contains huge information about rhythm to learn for me and it's exactly what I was looking for... and perfectly explained! Hope for more videos like this... superb! Thank you.

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!! That's so awesome to hear 😊

[@hanshansen4267]

Truly amazing, thank you for this video!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!!

[@cchan6985]

great tips! very inspiring even for my guitar improvising

[@mattkaz9604]

Even these quick chord progressions sound amazing when you play them. Lovely playing.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Your approach to music is wonderful. I feel quite aligned with it.

[@ZzSilentLegendzZ]

I am so glad I found your channel!! Thank you for making these

[@AmandaKaymusic]

Thank you Nahre. The way you explain inspires a refreshingly new perspective of what can be brought into and out of focus. Your dynamic playing can feel elegantly tasteful with dash of thunderstorms dancing for me. As I watch I am thinking of how changing and altering bass placement would work on a tune I'm tinkering with. I am grateful for the vast knowledge you share and the seed of new ideas your work brings. I am facinated by the power of nothing in music. I would love to see a clip on the space in music. The power of rests? If you have done a clip on framing the silence or have any recommendations the suggestions that you feel like sharing I will be pleased.

[@OutNaboutwithSwiift]

My Favourite thing about this video is the way you pet your dog whilst explaining!

[@PinaCoco]

Very useful for anyone who wants to make his improvisations sound better indeed.

[@manmadeartists]

That handpan kind of vibe😍

[@ornleifs]

Thanks for this - I got a lot of good ideas from it.

[@ModularLanding]

Fabulous video -- great instruction and great playing. Love that chord progression!

[@robertbrown1778]

Yes, I preferred the 'square' to the chaos version too. :)

[@frederickthorne2496]

oh so good!!

[@paulussantosociwidjaja4781]

Thank you Nahre for your sort of Kalimba effect piano I could use later when I got to play the piano for our worship meeting. So, soothing. I wonder if you ever came across the pelog and salendro pentatonic scales?

[@Nachtuil36]

Thank you so much !!!

[@NoGymNeeded]

You've been motivating me with your videos lately and my practice has been really focused and fluid. My skills are increasing and I'm learning pieces faster too. Thank you Nahre My older brother is really good at piano and organ too, and I share some of your videos w him 😀have a nice day!

[@justmart4455]

So good! I find that little things like this can be translated into other art forms for some extra interesting stuff. You can try to find the equivalences in other fields and see what happens. Tweak accordingly too and just be creative. We limit ourselves from so much knowledge, opportunities, ideas and creation if we limit our knowledge to one little field and don't utilize this sort of translation

[@nickelliot3679]

Very lovely piece- would like to hear it on an acoustic piano too.

[@RonaldooMr]

That was GREAT! Loved it!

[@nupfe]

Hi dear Alice, now it's time to comment again. A long period I didn't. I believe, when I write under every of your Videos how great I find it, you might not take it serious, because I write a praise anyway under each video. Now, this praise applies for at least for your last ten Videos :-). Hm, no ... it applies for all of your Videos. Your ideas, chords and sounds are very fresh, beautiful and inspiring. You hit exactly my taste (oh that's funny, because "taste" means in german "key" ... like at the piano, not for the door)

[@NahreSol]

Hi!! I do remember you commenting in earlier videos, thank you!! I really appreciate what you've written, and I'm very happy you like the videos and music. Thank you again, and keep in touch! :D

[@NahreSol]

Never knew "taste" means "key" in German!!

[@nupfe]

Thank you for replying. Yes, of course I will keep in touch :-).By the way ... with the word "taste" ... it is the written word (the spelling) what makes it to a key and not the pronunciation. You would pronunce this written word differntly in the german language.

[@popolala2160]

Amazing as always, can you explain about the cord progression in the video and how does it work?, thanks in advance love your vids never stop

[@NahreSol]

I will for sure, maybe in another video or instagram livestream :)

[@karimelhousni6627]

best channel ever.

[@charlesparker6167]

Great videos I've seen so far. Subscribed!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! 🙏😊

[@1998Cebola]

Fantastic channel!

[@haf816r]

Another great video! Thanks!!

[@mrgreendot4784]

I don’t even play the piano/keyboard, but I’m subbing because it’s so fun to watch

[@quicksanddiver]

I actually enjoyed the random and chaotic sound. It obviously doesn't fit everywhere, but I could imagine that there are situations where it fits quite well

[@SamyakJainMusician]

Nice explanation nahre 😊

[@TheRmoroni]

subtle and effective.

[@dummydsc]

you so inspired me!! thank you!! you amazing!!

[@wbiro]

Improvising allows one to not think about the mechanics (preconceived chords, scales, and harmonies) at all (unless you are trying to fit into a mold), in fact, not thinking about mechnics can be the whole point of improvising in the first place, i.e. to take one's artistic mentality (approach) to entirely different realms. For example, one mental approach might be to depict a human conversation (in the abstract, since the improvisation is an instrumental). Another would be to tell a sequential emotional story. Another would be to create a series of interacting patterns, damn the chords and scales and harmonies and melodies. You can see that the focus of the mind is not on anything mechanical. So how does it work? How can you create anything other than annoying noise when not thinking about traditional music mechanics? The prime rule (golden rule) is to actually listen to what you are creating, rather than going through motions. If you just go through motions, then you will not hear the deeper nuances that the listener will actually be keying on, maybe inter-phrase dynamics or intra-phrase dynamics or tempo nuances or voicing interplay, and, as you blindly continue, you will make no sense, or you will expose yourself as being artistically superficial (or worse, an over-produced copycat) (but a popular and rich one, more on that below), and you will lose the listener, because you will not be at the depth of the listener, who is hyper-critical. One sad fact about listeners, however (and here is where I generalize, there are always rare exceptions): Right-handed listeners want copycat fare, or worse - snobby fare, or worse, fare that is simple polished and glossed, damn the content.. If they hear anything out of the ordinary or not up to an artistically superficial proficiency level (classical music) (meaning why say something in sixty-four notes when you can say it in six?) (other than youthful exuberance and energy, which is a good reason - I've used it) or production-gloss level (commercial music) level, they will immediately reject it. Thumbs down. Frowns. Disapproval. You are not fitting into the right-handed world. If you want to create to that, then you are creating for money and acceptance (good if you need those), but not worthwhile art (something that enlightened beings traveling to other stars will want as their cerebral companions) (sorry, current humans, philosophically speaking, you are all still clueless (to the last) - read my philosophy; but that is another topic). In conclusion, you have to listen to what is happening in depth (which is what I do) and in breadth (which is what I ignore - to my failing in many respects, since it makes the work more accessible - sounding like something that the listener has already been heard and can make immediate sense of, if you care about that). The sad reality is, you can create great art which will get two listens, both thumbs down, or you can pander to shallowness, which will garner you world fame (I should have said right-handed shallowness, to reflect the numbers). Maybe, in your next improvisation, you can emphasize anger and frustration - which would be therapeutic in this case... (then, when they are spent, despair, then acceptance of a terrible world, then maybe throw in a little beauty in spite of everything) (but then that would be the 'emotional story' mentioned above)... (and you can see that i am not thinking about chords or scales or harmonies or melodies or sounding like other artists who did not know what they were doing in any meaningful artistic sense anyway) (like typical right-handers) (which is my pet conclusion, until I observe otherwise, and that 'otherwise' is starting from a deep hole already, just look at the tweet-length comments below - mostly right-handers (given the statistics of handedness). -So the question to ask yourself at the artistic level (rather than the pianist level) is, is that who you want to create art for? Those who refuse to think beyond 140 characters because it is not 'normal'? Go ahead - you can pander to that, but I won't be listening... And on a happier note... (I will try to find one... just one moment)... well, there really isn't any as long as humans remain universally clueless, and when they never venture above the superficial (as in your hair looks nice when you shampoo it - it really does), but it will not help you survive (on a broader plane) in a harsh and deadly universe), and now we are back to sad) (tragic, really, but now we are back to philosophy, which humans have never had an adequate one of) (enter me) (with a little anger and frustration, but a lot of painful patience, where, while I wait for humans to enlighten themselves, I create art for when they are) (or that is how I approach it, at any rate, succeed or fail)... (and I will file this comment with my 'Comments in Danger of Deletion' since I ranted!) Edit: Music, and especially the piano, may require mind/hand coordination, but that is not the extent of 'art' (as right-handers often think, just to pick on them) (but then they are not really thinking, are they)... You had a good education in music (considering your project videos) (12 tone, rondo, etc.), consider this an extension - in 'art' (but not ornamental art - you are on your own there) (not to knock ornamental art too hard - Leonardo and Michelangelo began in ornamental art schools, but they eventually strove for something beyond the mere ornamental) (and they paid for it, unfortunately)...

[@Isaacmellojr]

Top much advanced to me. My improvisations are caotic hierarquical and square.

[@dummydsc]

chaotic movements are charming in it own manner

[@vaaal88]

So good. Thank you for this

[@letMeSayThatInIrish]

Great advice! I don't mind the chaos and randomness, though.

[@DouggieDinosaur]

I like #2 the best! ^_^ If you think it's boring, then it is. If you think someone else might think it's boring, that is self doubt.

[@janv.8538]

The dog :>

[@paxwallacejazz]

Apply this inside a set meter displacing inside the meter as you like but with a set of changes that you find interesting That you must adhear to as a game. Then bassist.

[@jacquesdevos6817]

Amazing musician

[@leonidas480bc]

Insightful!

[@DrewKane]

I would love to see you rewrite a punk rock song. Something like Propagandhi's "Dear Coach's Corner". I think it would be a neat creative challenge, and would be great content for a video, in my opinion.

[@speedskis777]

oh my god that airport scene lolololol

[@Lacrete74]

I like this lil dog

[@bradleyseng9563]

Reminds me of Made in Abyss

[@cstoomey]

Your dog is so cute!

[@LeftoverPat]

Wow!!! i may have found my new favoreite channel!!

[@frankfeldman6657]

great ideas, surely, but would it hurt to hear the chords (which are not exactly heart and soul triads) straight up, more or less, initially?

[@hnatyshyn]

Square is not bad (at some extent) imo. You still need to sound not too random when improvising. Establishing the pulse and the ground of your tune, at least at the beginning, is what can capture the listener's attention and confidence in what you play. But of course, it depends on your intention. What I mean is that you need a kind of frame of reference to start with if you want your offsets and surprises to have an impact.

[@PeyCa]

"Offset the bass notes" is like the most important tip to me. I need to pay attention to that when improvising.

[@Shuzies]

Great stuff here.....fits right into my practice......Thnak You.....rc

[@NahreSol]

Thank you, I'm so glad!! I will write on the forum soon, I keep getting side tracked :)

[@Shuzies]

It's ok I like these side tracked videos.....thanks,,,rc

[@ipicki]

very nice video! are the chords something like D7/C Bm6/7 Gm9 Dm7b9b13 DMm7 over Gm ?

[@NahreSol]

Yes, something like that!! :D

[@crono303]

When chords have this many notes and are usually comprised of clusters, I personally find it helpful to think of the scale/mode and intervals within the chord as opposed to the specific name of the chord, which doesn't help too much with chords like this (in my opinion). So: C lydian G melodic minor over Bb, G dorian with F F# G cluster (she forget to notate the F#) D phrygian G melodic minor (also looks like D7#9 over Gmin) More important than the names of the chords is the intervals within the chords and the various levels of darkness/brightness of the modes used.

[@nezkeys79]

@@crono303 When the chords have more than 5 notes i start thinking in poly chords so like D7/Cm. Just used a random example btw. Its kinda weird to see what people prefer. A friend of mine whos greek prefers to see the base triad and then all the extensions written out so Cm maj7#9#11b13 Thats a nightmare way to write it for me and id rather process chords like these with two chords (B6/Cm).

[@crono303]

nezkeys79 I kinda switch between modes of thinking depending on what I’m doing. So for practicing, I find it helpful for 5-6 note chords to be split into two triads. Ex. G/C or D/emin. Then it’s easier to try various combinations of inversions of the two chords to get interesting voicings. If I’m reading on a gig, however, I’d want to see Cmaj9 or Emin11 in the case of the two above examples. When composing, I kinda take a Barry Harris approach and think scalar/interval-wise, so each note within the chord will have a certain tension that I can choose to resolve or not. This helps get me away from a chord just being a block of sound and instead a bunch of individual voices that each have a melodic line. But like you said, it is interesting how people think of things differently.

[@nezkeys79]

@@crono303 yeah Cmaj9 and Em11 are too simple to start thinking of polychords.

[@bradking1067]

You got a puuuppy! thanks God loves you deeply shalom

[@reubenlalrinmawia2215]

Recently i completed trinity grade 8 music theory and my score was pretty good, but i dont know what these chords are😞

[@blankname4716]

Those are some really beautiful chords. Where did you find that progression cause I had to learn them asap. Love how you brought out that minor 2nd around 4:00 too. Feels like being lost in spiritual wonder. What style is this btw?

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! I'm not really sure how it came about but I usually just fiddle around until something sounds right. 😂

[@blankname4716]

Hear yea. That's usually the best way too. How long you been playing?

[@verysad2400]

thank you nHRE VERY COOL i just improvised for 20 minutes

[@9516cesar]

Everything in it's right place

[@MarkDavidTeo]

The square got so round! Flowww. Hey, what keyboard was that at the end btw? Do you recommend it?

[@KungFuBlitzKrieg]

It's a Yamaha ReFace CP. It's basically a vintage electric piano emulator. Great little keyboard.

[@jen3345]

This reminds me of listening to windchimes

[@Mezurashii5]

You're a delight

[@RogerShirodkar]

amazing ♥️

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!!

[@AntoH]

Are you using the Nord as a midi controller? as how can you get that sound with Italian grand with the synth section turned off and the only effect on being hall reverb?

[@avjake]

Love that keyboard sound, but I think your playing has a lot to do with that. And I think that as long as you have a predictable anchor (the repetitive D here, for example), going off meter is fair game for almost everything else.

[@davidgiles9378]

Insightful

[@MrVengadorxd]

beautiful

[@Roh0io]

Nahre Sol, this absolutely great! I needed this so much! You videos are so awesome! Thanks!! I have a question. What sound is that you are using at first?

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!!! :D The sound is "Wurlitzer Modern" on Logic :)

[@frankfeldman6657]

it's an interesting progression-if you dumbed it down, it would reduce to D/C, gm/Bb, gm, a kinda Phrygian dm, and then gm#7 sorta kinda. so it sorta starts on V7 of iv. where would be off to next? i.e., where would chord # 6 be headed? and would you be tempted to solo over those changes? i would. but only after i'd played 'em for a good while. :-)

[@forestaeon]

getting Daydreaming vibes 🎶✨

[@steinhalvorsen_]

Hi Nahre! What do you use for the graphics? Illustrator? After Effects?

[@the_emmo]

May I ask which keyboard is that? It sounds great.

[@MusicGodAndMyLaptop]

You manage to communicate intent more subtle than Jacob Colliers super-ultra-mega-meta-lydian sound. There is a place for all though.

[@co_iso]

every doggo is the goodest doggo. proof

[@setphaser]

i don’t think i know enough chords to do this. i think my best bet is to flail my fingers wildly and loop a bit i like.

[@johnellison1635]

Cool

[@joshuathomas3916]

came for the music lesson, stayed for the pupper

[@owenwilliams1222]

What kind of keyboard is that?

[@DOMINATORsChannel]

"Brain malfunction" lol.. very nice channel

[@ihatemonkeys540]

is the action on your nord piano ridiculously heavy like mine or am i the only lucky one

[@cloud-w2v]

Love those chords! Oh and What happened to not caring about those other sounds ? LOL

[@NahreSol]

Thank you! Also, what other sounds? Not sure I get the reference!

[@cloud-w2v]

Nahre Sol It was something you said in your digital piano video where you compared grand pianos to digital pianos. You said you didn’t care for the other sounds on the digital .haha

[@NahreSol]

Ohhh! Haha, yes! Actually, that's still kind of true! The sound isn't from the Nord, although the Nord has great sounds stored in it -- it's from the Logic software. I wouldn't classify the Nord as a digital piano though in the way that the Kawaii is, but more of a synthesizer. :)

[@cloud-w2v]

Nahre Sol oh true true lol

[@thomasruiz9083]

Can someone find the Piano sound/VST for this please :o ?

[@nezkeys79]

1:25 lol like when you see it 😂

[@winnerwinnerchickendinner8042]

'Italian Grand' Damn how do they make pianos in Italy

[@mochdrew3364]

How to sound not boring when accompanying which the chords are generally fixed and the bass can't be too unpredictable?

[@brianmreschke3441]

Not saying that my ears don't work but do you think it would be interesting for people that want to try playing what you're playing to see the notes you're playing a little bit more clearly because you have a light positioned somewhere at the side of your piano that shines on the keys from an angle which creates a shadow when the keys are depressed. Okay okay maybe I should get glasses but just saying.

[@tkimaginestudio]

"...that's just me." Definitely not just you! 🙂