Beginning Improvisation using Modal Vamps w/Dave Frank

[@MamieFarish]

Thank you! I'm back in school, 57 years old... always wanted to learn how to improvise and play jazz, and now I have this wonderful opportunity. My teacher Mary Bruschini originally from NY, recommended that I listen to your video classes. I love your joy.... I get frustrated, bummed out, and you make it fun. Thank you!

[@SmellMyKKPP]

This is pure class. Great stuff here! I'm a beginning pianist (15 months or so) and I find myself often just adventure through notes and sounds and sometimes I surprise myself by doing something good for a few seconds, and the feeling is fantastic. The guidance in this video will for sure bring me on track to bring some structure into it.

[@m.l8698]

Thanks a lot Dave! You are first teacher I found who actually underlines the importance of of the "inner ear". I always felt it this way, but never found it clearly confirmed by jazz gurus...

[@128pagenovella]

honestly, you have the best plain-speak metaphors for converting musical ideas. they really work well. slice o' pizza...pie! thanks for all your vids.

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Writing again. Thanks for inspiring a breakthrough. LOTS OF FUN. Freedom and structure. Contemplative creative and spiritual encouragement. U DA MAN, MAESTRO DAVE.⭐🌹🔥🌹⭐

[@AbuTheEvil]

Thank you very much Dave, I am quiet a beginner (started learning to play the piano 8 months ago, 48 year old), and I am amazed at how much fun and pleasure following your tutorial gives me :) Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

[@nickvledder]

This is the way. Learning to play music scores is good. But improvising, learning scales (i.e. harmony), playing by ear and reharmonizing songs make you a complete player and add joy!

[@dsosa23]

Dave as always, hats off to you. God Bless you for all these wonderful lessons.

[@MrLinights]

This guy's got a treasure trove of goodies on the tube!! Thanks for sharing your gift Dave.

[@DaveFrank]

$2 mister.

[@randallbehan2839]

Enjoyed this tutorial very much. Thanks for taking the time.

[@omarhuseyinzade4782]

Very very beautiful execution ! Thank' Dave Frank !

[@DaveFrank]

hi from NYC)

[@SoCalJoe1959]

My piano teacher is including this exercise in my lessons. I love it. This is great for me a newbie. I love the idea of being able to improvise and to improve my left/right hand coordination. Keep it up Dave.... the good work, not your hat ;-)

[@Danderman888]

Woohoo... great class Dave! You clarify and give such organised explanations to a medium that is so transient. I am finally beginning to see the structures. Thanks!

[@jengzarate9087]

Don Vito and his piano Thank you Dave for your great lessons.

[@omarhuseyinzade4782]

Dave Frank a really good teacher.THANK'S !

[@iankjenkins]

Can't wait for the next bunch of improv lessons!

[@nsandor72]

GREAT lesson from a GREAT person.

[@ChicoChagasmusica]

Greetings from Brazil! Thank you Dave!

[@DaveFrank]

you are welcome from NYC )

[@DaveFrank]

Thanks Mamie, I tried to message you but was unable, glad you dig the class, keep swingin!

[@stefanostoccolma3738]

Hi from Sweden! Thanks Dave to share your passion! It has been helpful for a beginner as I am.

[@mharbaugh]

Nice text effects inside the video! I like the text that's oriented sideways with the fallboard of the piano.

[@markyachnin1901]

Thank you for this wonderful lesson!

[@DaveFrank]

that will be $2)

[@kinshitamago6522]

if only my piano teacher as intuitive as you, thank you Mr Dave!

[@hacohenitay]

Dear Dave. You are a great teacher and excelant musicion. Thank you so much.

[@ejo3571]

Three things Dave, after many years of learning and memorizing my Greek Modals I would say " now what do I do with them"....you are opening my eyes. Loved Dave's Wave without the schnapps lol and you are very funny ...peace!

[@prezmoment]

Field of battle..LOL. Amazing clarity and wisdom :)

[@tjplusproductions]

Thanks Dave. Very informative.

[@dfaria1000]

Amazingly simple, thanks for sharing your talent and God-given gift of music.

[@localpm]

Great Lesson Dave Many Thanks.

[@BillPhillips2000]

Thanks Dave! You are helping me to break through barriers!

[@DaveFrank]

you go Bill! If I can help you let me know)

[@tomelsmith]

Thank you so much for this. My impro skills have just doubled in 45 mins. THANK YOU!

[@DaveFrank]

thanks for writing Thomas, you may enjoy a visit to my master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com there are 24 free in-depth master classes)

[@jonathanngwenya8762]

Thank you so much Uncle Dave👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿🎹

[@DaveFrank]

you are welcome, my friend)

[@Vicks7]

Fantastic lesson Dave. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Melgashi]

Thank you very much for this lesson, Dave!

[@pascalm.2658]

❤ great masterclass!!!

[@greg55666]

Dave, I love how you add a little vibrato at the end of the notes. My friends played guitar when I was in high school, and I learned from them to always add a little vibrato to my piano playing as well. :)

[@rmirabelle]

Dave, this is lovely stuff - thanks for putting the time and love into it. My first video was one of your advanced classes, so it was a really nice surprise to find you teaching at this level. Thanks again!

[@DaveFrank]

thanks, Robert, you may enjoy another on YT called Breakthrough to Improv...Dave

[@kevinsage1047]

This is a wonderful way to learn. Thanks Dave

[@DaveFrank]

hi Kev

[@kevinsage1047]

Dave Frank I'm a huge Mehldau fan and never quite knew why until watching your video. It's the modal vamping! Same with the Esbjorn Svensson Trio which I found by accident. I'll be spending some quality time working on the improvisational techniques. Thanks again for clearing away the fog.

[@antoniomdn]

Very useful video professor Dave, you have my thumbs up!

[@DaveFrank]

thanks Antonio, you may enjoy a visit to my master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, many classes for you all free:)

[@antoniomdn]

I already did Mr. Dave, I'm looking forward to watch them all!

[@bgodinho]

Slice of wisdom! Thanks, Dave! ;)

[@Aruba-ei6xx]

I would pay to watch videos with this impressive knowledge

[@DaveFrank]

please enjoy a visit to my master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, 26 in-depth master classes all phree for thee)) Thanks for your email, if I may help you let me know.

[@audiocristal]

Thanks Dave,you are a genius and people like you make want to study again!!!!

[@DaveFrank]

Hi Pedro, please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, there are now 38 in-depth classes, all free for you) Hola de Nueva York!

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you, Maestro ⭐🌹⭐

[@thaiduong14]

Hope to see more videos from you, thanks so much

[@jsamsing_astro]

Thanks for these amazing videos!

[@thinkliveshare]

Thank you so much and happy new year🕺

[@DaveFrank]

you too, please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com for 40 in-depth master classes, all free for thee)

[@omarhuseyinzade4782]

Hi Dave.I am living Azerbaijan.Your performance very beautiful ! I always listening execution

[@DaveFrank]

Nice to meet you) please enjoy a visit to the master class archive, there are currently 39 in-depth classes, all free for you) www.davefrankjazz.com

[@ginsengbob]

I didn't mean to dislike this video. It's great!

[@neoneo23]

This is the perfect lesson.

[@Benjabenja77]

Brilliant tutorial! I've got my next few weeks sorted!

[@collianiene9306]

Great Job! Thank You Dave

[@DaveFrank]

You are welcome) Please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, there are now 35 in-depth classes, all free for thee)

[@kwixotic]

You're right about the use of this in Keith Jarrett's comps. At least one of his selections in the Koln Concerts is most definitely like this.

[@Bookssful]

Well played, well spoken.

[@ErwinStoepman]

Great video's Dave! thanks a million!

[@astonzakayo7303]

Thanks brother God bless you.

[@MalTomlin]

A great insightful teacher....THANKS!!!!!

[@mirceachiriac3610]

Great material Dave!

[@craignof2400]

You are a great man Dave, thanks for all you give. You brought me a lot through your videos. Just 1 question / suggestion: normally , the 2 next steps of this tutorial, I would love love you to perform and teach, would be 1) to be speed up the sentences in the right hand with 16 notes (double croche en français) or triplet and 2) to add notes which are not part of the scales of these 2 modes. I love the way you teach, sticking into the notes of the scales (not only in this video) but I would love you to show and teach how to make sentences by including some notes which are not in the scales. Anyway thanks again Dave, I love your play, and your approach to the music which is also, and first, a pleasure and fun (the already famous pizza pie approach). Take care man.

[@DaveFrank]

Here is the video that can teach you to play the faster lines) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKCah4V8lLqdbdE thank you for the other idea..sometimes when playing modally you can "adorn" the mode by adding a chromatic to the scale. Experiment with different chromatics in different modes to find some combinations that allow you to expand your RH lines)

[@lespierce9]

This guy is awesome... I've been inspired to practice again!

[@DaveFrank]

thanks for writing, you may enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, there are 24 classes free to inspire you to do nothing else but practice) haha have fun

[@DaveFrank]

Thank you for writing, keep swingin!

[@arckanon13]

Wow thank you so much Dave! :) I'm gonna share this in my class!

[@stanfordwhalers]

You're my hero dave.

[@MrLleal]

Thanks a lot, Dave! So much inspiring and usefull!

[@DaveFrank]

Thank you for writing) Please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com for 43 in-depth master classes, all free)

[@MrLleal]

Dave Frank Thanks, I will!

[@mjazzguitar]

It's never too late. It's too bad we didn't have stuff like this as kids.

[@Geordieschords]

Thanks for the help, it is fun

Thanks Dave! Greetings from Madrid :)

[@jovinl283]

really learnt a lot, thanks Dave

[@omarhuseyinzade4782]

Dave master class arhive the last 38

[@martinpohl2747]

Great video! It's really fun and relaxing as well to improvise in that special way! Some of these scales over that vamp remind me of what Keith Emerson somtimes did ;-)

[@DaveFrank]

thanks for writing) Please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com for 44 in depth classes, all free)

[@nicolmicah]

Rythmsteve, the mixolydian mode also has a major sixth so even if you stayed away from the major third, the major sixth would make it sound major. Now, of course, if you avoided the major third and sixth, then the mode would sound then the scale could be used in a minor or mixolydian context.

[@RonaldReis]

By the way, I am using vamps, walking lines and Burn from your master classes for ATTYA.

[@RonaldReis]

Hi Dave: Any suggestion for vamps in other modes? F lydian - F-B-C-F. F phrygian - F-Gb-Db-F. F eolian - F-C-Db-F. F lid-dom- F-B-Eb-F. F locrian- F-Ab-D-F. Sound nice Fsus for Myxolidian. maybe Eb instead Bb too. Any comments, complaints, tomatoes or better flavour for you on those modes. Thanks Ronald. You are the one.

[@RM-gm7lu]

Thank you Dave.

[@mingyzhang]

Love you, man!

[@DaveFrank]

back at' cha, nice to see a picture!

[@le5tat58]

Thanks for the video. Speaking of piano, I'm over the "total beginner" phase (22YO here, playing daily for several hours for almost a year (without a teacher though); passively been "playing" it since I was like ten but that was bashing keys mostly; played guitar for 6 years although not with teacher so I was kind of stagnating), but speaking of music I'm still a total beginner. Hopefully with your help that will change; even a slight change will be more than I could hope to achieve by myself.

[@TromboneAl]

I LUV it, thanks!

[@iankjenkins]

More videos please!

[@DaveFrank]

that's great, keep swingin man!

[@dymytrym]

Simple, accessible, understandable! Bravo! :-)))

[@alexfont]

AMAZING DAVE !! THANK YOu Xx

[@danielandrespat]

Thanks, amazing

[@johnpritchard9753]

Wonderful suggestions. Thanks

[@DaveFrank]

please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com for 47 in-depth master classes, all free)

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

@@DaveFrank I'm a beginner improviser. And i'd like to know whether soloing with chord tones is essential to do BEFORE learning to improvising with scales..

[@DaveFrank]

@@sigiriabeysekara8723 no

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

@@DaveFrank thank you

[@DaveFrank]

@@sigiriabeysekara8723 you are welcome)

[@MauroCiccozzi3]

Thank You,I use your fantastic video for my guitar playing.:-)

[@nifar6660]

This was great Dave! Thanks! Where is the second part of this video? I can't find it in your website or your video channel...

[@DaveFrank]

thanks Nima, I hope to do the 2nd pt of the video in 2015, thanks for asking)

[@nifar6660]

Dave Frank Great! looking forward to it! What is the best order of watching your masterclasses from intermediate to advanced level?

[@DaveFrank]

nice to hear from you, keep slicin that pizza dude!

[@jamiec2212]

These are truly great lessons. Thank you Dave, they have helped me incredibly! You mention there will be a part 2 of this lesson - is it in the pipeline yet? Thanks!

[@DaveFrank]

+Jamie Cameron Thank you for writing. Parts 1 2 3 and 4 are now on YT, enjoy! There is also a master class archive with 32 classes at www.davefrankjazz.com

[@jamiec2212]

+Dave Frank Thanks Dave - I've already checked out those vids and am doing the practice! But you mentioned there would be an advanced lesson on modal vamps coming up?

[@DaveFrank]

ah that one hasn't happened yet..next up is a master class with the greatest guitarist on earth - Pat Martino) Thanks for the bread man I'll go to the racetrack now and see if I can double it) haha

[@GIPmusicmaestro]

Yea man that sounds great...your the best.. When can we meet?

[@DaveFrank]

write to me at [e-mail]

[@femocabiso]

I like !

[@user-cr2gj8kw4e]

Great thanks 👌

[@DaveFrank]

you are welcome)

[@DaveFrank]

Hi Al from 52nd St!

[@FrankBienenstein]

gefällt mir sehr

[@Soberan]

I love you.

[@DaveFrank]

I'm sure my wife will be thrilled to hear this) Please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.conm for47 in-depth master classes, all free for thee)

[@thekeety]

"Slice of pizza slice of pizza slice of pizza slice!" :)

[@Lot2learn]

wonderful, as usual. :-)

[@GIPmusicmaestro]

I'm in the NYC area and was wondering if you host live master classes or open mic jam sessions?

[@greg55666]

Dave, how do these modes work in our brains? I understand that F Phrygian is 5 flats starting on F, and you say Phrygian has a darker mood. But when you're actually improvising, you are not emphasizing the F starting note--so how does it _sound_ different to us than simply playing a D-flat major scale? You announce it's Phrygian, and it's dark. Announce it's D-flat Ionian, and it's bright? We're picking up the base note from the left hand, but you say elsewhere that frequently the base note is just assumed anyway, not played (the blues changes). What's going on?

[@DaveFrank]

The sound of the Db scale against the F vamp creates the darker sound. When using the F phrygian, think of it as an F scale, not a Db scale. It's an F scale that just so happens to have the same notes as a Db scale..In this case, you'll almost never resolve a line on a Db, but on more F-related resolution points (F, for starters)..this will give your overall sound that dark hip phrygian sound..

[@greg55666]

Dave Frank Thank you, Dave. I love these videos. I'm too shy to approach someone at a jazz club; these videos are like our own private mentors! When playing an F scale, no matter the mode, we tend to resolve lines back to F, even if it's in the "key" of Db. It's really interesting. I'm still working on your blues improv video now. This one is next. :) Thanks again.

[@mariagandcompany]

+Dave Frank +greg55666 Great lesson Dave!!! Such a fan of your pedagogy. If I may be so immodest as to chime in on Greg's question. One thing I learned from Gary Burton is that the modes range from a very bright sound, to a very dark sound, in this order: Lydian, Ionian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Locrian. If you want a very bright sound go with Lydian. Ionian and Mixolydian are both happy sounding. Dorian starts to sound a little more complex (considering the minor 3rd is now present). Aeolian is sad, Phrygian is dark, and Locrian is downright morbid. Funeral marches in classical music often are in Locrian. When Gary explained this, it helped to greatly understand when and where one can use a mode -- when you specifically want to evoke a certain mood or feeling, whether it's excited, upbeat, sad, or gloomy, there's a mode that can help you achieve this. So you're not always thinking chord/scale match up. Sometimes, your simply aiming for a sound that evokes a certain emotion. This is true of other scales too (whole tone, diminished, altered) but the modes are a good place to start getting the tonal qualities of scales and the feelings each evokes. Also, one more thing, after looking at how the modes change in the order I listed above, you'll notice that each proceeding mode is simply the previous mode with one note diminished (lowered) each time. First, the #4 of Lydian is flatted to get Ionian. Then the 7 is flatted. Then the 3. Then the 6. Then the 2. Then the 5. Working out the theory is quite helpful on this stuff. It is complicated, at first, but the good thing is, it doesn't change. =) (BTW, Dave, your calling them "moods" is very helpful for comprehension. The term "mode", to me, always seemed very clinical, not to mention, uncool to discuss around jazz cats.) Thanks Again Dave!!! Best,

[@ciousli]

Thanks for all those great videos! I have one question, how do you construct the inner chords you mention at around 32:30? They sound so spot on smooth when you play them.

[@kjarrij]

Slica a pizza slice a pizza slice a pizza slice a pizza piiiieeeee.... love it :)) But seriously, really nice videos!

[@LeavesLullaby]

Dear Dave Frank, Thanks for all your beautiful masterclasses and sharing the knowledge for free!! Really, really appreciate it. Now this one is very interesting for me personally. Why? Because I get stuck at improvising over jazz standards constantly. I know my chords, I know which scale can be used over which chord (bassicaly).. but somehow the improvising doesn't seem to work. The excersises you give in this vid do really, really work. Will there be a vid (or tip) for improv over standards?

[@TheArrangment]

Instead of using an ostinato, can you use modal chord progressions?

[@DaveFrank]

yes

[@DaveFrank]