How To Improvise On Chord Changes (Part 2)

[@kasymmoldogaziev292]

Hello! You are genius of teaching. Thank you. You answer to almost questions that I ask my self or need to know)

[@bowenlayne3363]

Instablaster...

[@maksimosipau8407]

Obvious things, but you know this is what is missing on KZbin. When guys with such level are explaining things like these. Man wish you and your channel the best! ;) BTW I got lucky to play with guys at your level, and you know most of them seem to be feeling so special to not even give you an advice how to develop all these skills if you ask them.. Thanks for your content.

[@erikhenchal2088]

Holy Cow! you just reduced my struggle to simple steps. Great work.

[@vincedonevon316]

Its amazing how you make something that could be complex so simply. You sure have clearness of mind to explain things a simple way. Thanks Vin

[@gacktkun1647]

I'm a Guitar Player, and I must say that this is the easiest explanation about the subject that I've e er encountered. Thanks a lot!

[@JeremyHerman1]

I've been a Classical Guitarist / Fingerstyle Guitar Composer for close to 30 years. After diligently applying your thought process from your 1st video , I have taken about 50 steps forward in my creative process as well as improvisational skills. Make no mistake though. You have to do the work and trust the process especially if you aren't a pianist like myself. Thank you. You opened up a whole new world for me. I look forward to your new book.

[@ruslanpiano]

jeremy herman oh such good news!!! Yes it’s a ton of work.. but hey, what isn’t?? Any skill worth having takes work. I’m happy I was able to be of service to you, and thank you for sharing this victory with me. If anything keeps me going - it’s testimonies like yours!

[@davidferrie9445]

Even better than the first video. Great stuff Ruslan

[@Sepharite]

Best teacher on KZbin. Thanks !

[@ruslanpiano]

+Sepharite many thanks!

[@gailab4651]

Merci Ruslan. Vous exposez avec clarté un sujet qui donne beaucoup de migraines aux apprentis improvisateurs.

[@benjaminlalrinzuala9543]

I never knew that music could be this easy. Thank you Ruslan.

[@creepofreek4853]

You are a great teacher. You make things easy to understand. I hope you make more stuff. Great job man.

[@hztan1263]

Unbelievable you made so many videos for improv! many parts and I'm very excited to watching them all!

[@luvkayakn]

Your explanation makes so much sense! Thank you

[@terryquinn2042]

Ruslan, I love the way you explain improvisation. Have you any books on this subject! If so where can I get them from? Thank you for passing on your knowledge. Please keep making these videos not only are you a fantastic piano but a great teacher. So once again thank so very much. Terry.

[@Jazzmarcel]

Twelve seconds in and I am hitting the like button!........👍🏾now, back to your video!

[@camerongainer1638]

Life changing! This is the secret to flow! Can't believe it's taken this long for me to hear it explained in this way and this simply. Thanks, Ruslan!

[@ruslanpiano]

+Cameron Gainer so happy to hear this!!! :)

[@antoniolucero6910]

I’m amazed at you and your kind and easy approach to teaching these otherwise convoluted techniques

[@henkchierkoet810]

Best jazzteacher ever! Don't need to look any further! Greetings, Henk from Amsterdam, Holland, Europe.

[@ruslanpiano]

Henk Chierkoet thank you my friend!

[@TomLuschinskiMusic]

Out of all of the videos on improvisation that I have watched on KZbin, yours have to be the easiest to understand. Your videos are so helpful and effective. Thank you.

[@rongketissaranggoonnaayutt6242]

Wow!! It's really useful concept. Thanks a lot Mr.Sirota.

[@DovidSal]

Ruslan, second video I see from you. Congratulations my friend, the format compared to the 1st video tremendously improved, and again the easiness associated to the way you explain makes and will make a huge impact on the audience. Please, my advice, keep doing the videos in this way. I m not a piano player, I play saxophone for 13 years now. Even when I don't handle the nomenclature associated to scales, like dorian, etc., etc., I can complete understand what you are explaining and it makes totally sense... chord progression to the nearest note.. I would call it that way. Congratulations again, keep it up!

[@carlcgarrett3]

Love your thorough and systematic approach to this subject. Have you published a video by chance on how to know which scales to play with the more exotic chords? I'm aware that the major scale of each key works well with 2-5-7 progressions, but am just beginning to master this subject.

[@ruslanpiano]

+Carl Garrett I have not. Would you please give me an example of some such exotic chord?

[@hahabass]

And I'll say it again. I love you, man! Another great lesson.

[@ignaciojimenez7899]

Que grande eres!! Muchas gracias por esta Máster class Un saludo

[@ytav_boy2820]

Can’t wait for the book to come out!!! Keep it up, Ruslan! Don’t ever change... you’re making an impact in many lives by providing quality content. Blessings.

[@ruslanpiano]

+Y Tavera_ thank you so much!!

[@ronfeggio]

It's rare to find a person who is gifted in so many ways. I was blessed the day I found your videos. "Funny how time flies (when you're having fun)" :)

[@ruslanpiano]

Ron Haha! I see what you did there ;) thank you my friend.

[@jukarodrigues4039]

Excellent idea

[@guinosiqueira1105]

Thanks !!! 😉👍👍

[@mickbellfield917]

thanks Ruslan ,im really starting to understand this for the first time ,im looking forward to future posts and bringing them to my practice session

[@devonk298]

GOD I NEEDED THIS VIDEO!! Lightbulb moment! Am I the only idiot who has always assumed that the only notes for all these chords are the C Major scale because that is the key we are in?

[@devonk298]

Where can I purchase this book?

[@clairierehome]

Merci beaucoup 👍🏽🙏🏾

[@thefluteplayer11]

This just opened doors for me!! Thanks a ton !!!

[@MrJesuspiano]

Wonderfull

[@davidm.wilmington5325]

Just found you, just subscribed - - because you're distilling all the good advice my teachers gave me over the years, but with really good examples (vid and audio). I'll definitely recommend this and Part 1 for teaching and lecture demonstrations. Also - that crazy progression - esp. starting on E - made me think of Angelo Badlamenti's music for "Twin Peaks" (where weirdness makes sense). Thanks!

[@micheldindaine8403]

MAN !! THIS IS SUPER POWERFULL !! I am a bass player looking for efficients tips on impro. and I must say that this couldn't be better explained. I will also practice those ideas over arpeggios. question: has the book " HOW TO PLAY OVER CHORD CHANGES" already been released ? please let me know. your videos are very helpfull and encouraging. Cheers from France.

[@dsgwyw]

Thank u sir

[@vodvandorin9454]

You are awesome the way you explain all this!!!

[@MrRezillo]

Brilliant! Thanks so much for this. I'm an "advanced intermediate" trumpet player. Can't wait for your book. Have to say, I find your instructions even more helpful than some the ones put up by jazz trumpeters. Don't get me wrong; they're all great and extremely helpful, but yours are even more helpful. I wish you all the success you deserve.

[@ruslanpiano]

bixntram Thank you. Teaching comes down to being able to communicate amazing musical ideas, AMAZINGLY. Most teachers are not great players and most great players aren’t great teachers. I never in my life intended to teach and never thought I would. But... here we are :-) I’m glad you find these videos helpful!

[@danielirilarry]

Great video Ruslan you are a genius both in music and pedagogy!!! Thank you!!!

[@kabeersingh8411]

All the best for the book Ruslan 😁it sounds exciting 👍🏽

[@dcassis]

Fantastic!! 👏👏

[@robertphillips6605]

Thanks so much for everything you do to help us aspiring musicians .

[@safisweetkeyz]

I neeeeeeed this book! Thanks for all this amazing content. As soon as the book is up for pre-sale, let us know. Take my money 💰💰

[@ruslanpiano]

safisweetkeyz oh the book will have 8000 times more stuff. For now, check out my first video on this topic and this video. The book will definitely go 900 times deeper.

[@cafiristanemperor]

Hey, Ruslan, have you already published your book? I'd like to order it if you did!

[@jezraellucero8031]

Love the simplicity of your concept, This is how we have been taught before. Before the lick revolution begin where people learn stuff with no contacts at all thank you for taking us back where we supposed to be Learning in contacts all the time

[@ruslanpiano]

+Jezrael Lucero :-)

[@nhuhuan66]

I really love your videos, so intuitive. May I ask when your book will be available? Thanks.

[@ruslanpiano]

+Huan Nguyen half way there! Working on two books! Thank you for your interest!!

[@davesax11]

Ruslan. please post a wait list for your book. pdf or hard copy? Lots of luck.

[@anicetjoy5456]

I like it.

[@00DirectorsCut00]

Great again sir ! Ho to get on the fly (without previous study the progression) if the minor chords works with natural minor (6th degree ) or if is it Dorian (2nd) ? Thanks

[@thebom6724]

You're the teacher I've looking for

[@ruslanpiano]

:))

[@molarbear5136]

hi. thanks for the video. can you explain why the Gb-m is dorian, while the others remain aeolian?

[@precisionhoops365]

Hi , did you finish your book? If so, I would like a copy ASAP !

[@CharlesAustin]

Yeah helpful !!

[@derycktaylor3677]

Great lesson. Thanks

[@brianbannock9343]

Thanks Rusian.........as a Pro Bass Player (in San Diego / LA) , I found you through Janek........& am so very ready to extend the Soloing theories.......Thanks for this.........I am contemplating different people for these types of Help / Session / Lessons, from Justin Raines, to Scott Ambush, to even possibly you......... I appreciate your even handed approach to this.......... Thanks Brian Bannock

[@jcarlos7721]

Ruslan, thank you for sharing your valuable information and knowledge. 🎹👌

[@ruslanpiano]

+jcarlos Rodriguez thank you for checking out the channel my friend!!

[@teaforone77]

Simple and efficient! Thanks a lot!

[@rommelfernandez9723]

Wow, a new tool to stay away from boredom !

[@artemusgordon3832]

These lessons are great. this is like "John coltrane" stuff and I'm a guitar player. Thanks

[@hassanmafi2379]

You are awesome Ruslan ....

[@jasneskis]

I see you are using a chair with arms. The arms got in my way so I took them off but I do use the back of the chair. You are a great teacher. I really appreciate your videos. Thank you.

[@ruslanpiano]

jasneskis haha I’ll need a new chair soon!!! :)

[@leowright8016]

Wow thank you for sharing this. I was wonder how to create line that flow instead of trying to use pentatonic ! 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎷😎✌🏽

[@ruslanpiano]

Leo Wright when people leave pentatonics and other tricks behind in favor of the ‘real deal’ is when I know I’m really saving souls!! :) Haha! Thank you for sharing this with me sir!!

[@paulwatsonguitar]

Great video Ruslan. I play guitar but find your approach very useful when thinking about soloing and chord changes. Look forward to seeing you book. Thanks, Paul.

[@affanlatanete5877]

I try and learn this concept.. How make this concept for solo..?

[@7crooney]

You're the best Ruslan!

[@ruslanpiano]

+Caleb Koa thank you so much

[@kiddopiano]

You teach so well

[@alamooji3716]

This was incredibly super incredibly dimension opening! Thank you so much

[@ruslanpiano]

Justin Molanick :)

[@nunolance23]

Thanks so much for this, Ruslan!

[@ruslanpiano]

+nunolance23 my pleasure!!! I hope you found it helpful

[@tobbebergman7583]

Great ! When is the book released ! Thanks !

[@ruslanpiano]

Tobbe Bergman I’ll release a series of short and very cheap books first. The series will be called “before you improvise”.

[@tobbebergman7583]

@@ruslanpiano Looking forward to that ! Love your channel ! Wish you a wonderful weekend ! Cheers !

[@loudogguitar2813]

Hey Ruslan, I would like to say I discovered your channel earlier this week and your videos have helped me out so much. I am a Berklee Alumni as well. Playing through chord changes is challenging for me. However, these methods you have shared are quite refreshing and have me determined to tackle my most difficult obstacles!

[@ruslanpiano]

Lou D'Alotto IV very cool!

[@robertobraga1765]

Ok, no need to respond to this. Just wanna say that I've been following your videos since the very beginning. They keep getting better and you deserve all the likes and new subscribers. Looking forward to the book!

[@ruslanpiano]

Roberto Ruggiero Braga thank you so much for your words. I’ll keep on keeping on

[@JulioARodriguez]

Mega thumb up to you Rusian! Thank you so much for this video. You are amazing!

[@alanzelicoff3421]

Simply outstanding. At long last someone -- and that would be you Mr. Sirota -- has provided a clear, unambiguous structure for approaching improvisation over chord changes. Now a request: Would you be willing to take a classic like Autumn leaves (preferably in E-minor but any key is fine) and take us from the 4 rules of improvising over chord changes into an actual application of those rules with some examples of improvisation? Again, your work is as clear an example of teaching excellence via CLEAR use of simple jazz theory to help many of us to the elusive goal of interesting (rather than boring, pro forma) improv. Thank you, THANK YOU. Дякую вам!

[@ruslanpiano]

Alan Zelicoff thank you so much. Yes at some point soon I’m going to take all of my videos, including this one, and start applying them to songs. And make new videos out of THAT! :) I really appreciate your words!!!

[@-imkon-8557]

Really helpful! Thanks Ruslan

[@SaxyPickwick]

near the beginning of this video you say you have to know which chord scale goes with what chord, that's my problem, how to identify which scale goes with which chords, I'm 83 year old musician ( Tenor & Alto sax ),who has played for years by ear, I didn't know my chords only recently studied chords but I sound like I'm playing scales, your first video was great you showed scales to those chords Gm & Ebm but not how to find them, great video, Ray Pickwick P.S enjoyed this video to thanks.

[@ruslanpiano]

Thank you so much for writing, Ray. I created an entire video course for this purpose, because this is a big problem for a lot of people. You can check it out here: www.musicmadebetter.com/courses/chordscales-fundamentals

[@Joesharpp]

Hey great vid! how do you know which scale to use over which chord ??

[@ruslanpiano]

joe sharp there are many videos on KZbin explaining that. Which is why I didn’t make another video about it.

[@livegun5572]

Love ur videos

[@53gitaar]

Top lesson !

[@joehernandez5600]

Great lesson!

[@JulianFernandez]

gold

[@Roibineux]

Hello, thanks so much for your generous teachings. I would like to know when your book will be ready and where to get it.

[@ruslanpiano]

Roibineux thank you for your interest. Books are in the works. For now I launched an online school. www.musicmadebetter.com check it out. I hope it’s to your liking!!

[@teamopichon]

Hi there, I watched the first video and now this second one and everything seems to make a lot of sense and fall into the right place, but my question now is now that I know how to flow with the chord changes how I can creat interesting lines with that in order to sound nice well and interesting, Thanks a lot!

[@donnyawa8870]

I am excited to have a copy of your book my friend. Please let us know when it is available. Thank you for all the valuable lessons :-)

[@ruslanpiano]

Donny Awa thank you for your time and interest!!!

[@donnyawa8870]

@@ruslanpiano ♥

[@gen_music]

Thank You Ruslan amazing video

[@cafiristanemperor]

Hey, once again, thank you so much for your invaluable help! I'm already eager to read your book! By the way, I know that what I'm going to ask may be difficult due to the cost of publishing, but you should consider thinking about how to connect the book to other media, especially with backing tracks for exercises, maybe one with ideas for solos and another only with the comping... also making the drums and bass on one channel and the comping piano on the other one, so we could extract the most of the material. Again, thank you, thank you so much! You are getting famous in my university course! More and more people are getting nuts with your teaching!

[@ruslanpiano]

cafiristanemperor yup, I’m going to make a play-along master pack. It just all takes time. Finishing one book now. Got 3 more in the work. Thank you for your encouraging words! I’d love to come and do a clinic at your university! :) if you guys dig the channel and could speak to whoever needs to be spoken to at the school - maybe it could happen! :)

[@marioquijada8085]

Hi ! When are you going to release your book?

[@ruslanpiano]

Mario Quijada writing it now. Aiming at around summer time release

[@marioquijada8085]

@@ruslanpiano thank you!! I Will be waiting for it

[@johankjolbro9064]

Hey Ruslan, I really appreciate your videos and I am looking forward to seeing what else you have to offer. I was wondering how you approach modal playing, because every person I ask gives me a different anwser. Maybe you could help shed some light on the topic. Thanks again!

[@ruslanpiano]

I’m happy to answer, but I need to understand what exactly you mean by your question. There is no playing in the universe that’s not on some level “modal”. When you go from C major chord to G minor chord and back to C major, you get a simple, consonant chord progression ... as soon as you start improvising on it, you are playing Modally. Because the first chord takes a C Ionian mode, the second chord takes G Dorian mode and so on. Something tells me you didn’t really mean THAT in your question, did you? So what exactly do you mean by modal playing?

[@ruslanpiano]

You mean mc coy stuff. I see! Well it’s that open 4ths stuff. So those open voicings are the main color there. And then moving things up and down chromatically. Those are the main two ingredients really. And then other voicings that are also “modal sounding”. Like Herbie Hancock’s stuff. Finding motifs and moving them around chromatically, while hopefully keeping unified melodic structure in your lines. Developing themes etc. that’s how I think of that

[@louiserichard1729]

Please let me know when the book is released Thanks

[@bradhoffman6881]

Saw you with Gary, Bob and Michael at the Baked Potato back in November. Great show. Will that quartet continue? Does it have a name yet?

[@ruslanpiano]

Thank you. We plan to continue. Working on a name :)

[@juanjose4264]

when is the book coming out??

[@ruslanpiano]

Juan jose working on it. Not sure exactly. Probably end of the year.

[@joekessell92]

Great video. One question though. I've found this exercise only really works if you're playing over non diatonic changes as each chord scale contains different notes. So this works really well for giant steps but when you apply it to something like Autumn Leaves where the vast majority of the chord scales are derived from the same key you are effectively just running up and down one scale and don't hear the changes. Is there anyway to adapt this exercise to more diatonic changes? Maybe superimposing other chord scales?

[@neocolors]

Great way of thinking, makes it seem so easy, thank you! What do you recommend if "avoid notes" (like the natural 4 on a major chord) are the next note to play when the chord changes? Playing F G A B p.e. doesn't a lot like c major. It makes me want to play chromatics to hit a chord tone, or even skip notes, but it doesn't sound as fluid anymore. Or is it just part of the process to find a way that works? Suggestions? Thanks a lot!

[@ruslanpiano]

Both chromatic and skipping are fine. It’s all about playing what you HEAR in your head

[@neocolors]

@@ruslanpiano thanks!!

[@TyZiksashka]

Руслан, выражаю искреннюю благодарность за полезные упражнения, изложенные просто и понятно! 👍👍👍 Возможно ли, что когда нибудь в будущем, создадите русскоязычное видео? 🙂

[@sambabusirra528]

Nice video bro but can you explain this connectivity of scales more clearly and slowly and rythm techniques also

[@kellycoote7149]

I like this approach a lot but my mind is not sure why this would sound good. Can you explain? My mind says changing the chord scale and or mode for every chord in a song means you could be changing the tonic and the Parent Major Scale that belongs to each of those chord scale changes. And that means you are likely changing the key of the song you are improvising in with every chord change. If we use the chord scale approach does this mean the key of a song is irrelevant? Does not changing the key of a song with each chord change mean you are creating a lot of dissonance with each chord change? What happens to functional harmony? Do we just throw consonance, tension and release out the window when we improvise over chord changes? I like this approach but my mind doesn’t understand why it works.

[@Headenlarger]

I think that the main reason you don't get it is because you focus solely on the details here. the big picture is way more coherent : all the chords here don't belong to one scale, so in all cases you end up playing a non diatonic chord progression. thus, the idea of keeping consonance isn't really relevant. Then, I think that the aim isn't here to just play continuously the four notes from each scales, it's a roadmap but the "best" would be to target chord tones and use the notes you found to add a brief tension and release articulation. depends mostly on the style you're playing and what your aim is. If it sounds good to your ear then it's ok. don't forget that the most important part is that it sounds musical TO YOU (and YOUR ear). Maybe you're not gonna come up with this chaos progression at the first place, so what notes you'll play on them chords has a lot to do with your personal (and not technique) tastes. One last thing to keep in mind is that it's an articulation lesson. it means that you can just use the closest note and then solo with the appropriate scale. Hope that helps. cheers !

[@francescomanfredi]

Great and refreshing perspective using only quarter notes! Now please a follow up using eighths and chord tones on strong beats as they usually teach in bebop, but I will follow you on any direction you choose

[@mattlemay7980]

Great stuff! You're a wonderful teacher. I'm curious to know how you'd apply this concept over Autumn Leaves and the major and minor ii-V-I's. With the exception of making it a dominant chord for the minor ii-V-i, wouldn't you just play the same scale and not need to change the chord scale?

[@seanonel]

I know that this is late and I'm not Ruslan. He doesn't seem to be responding to comments as promised. Anyways, if this is still a relevant question for you (or others), the idea is to create colour by using modes. Non diatonic modes are most effective. Think about the difference (when playing in C) between playing a Dmin Dorian scale and a Dmin Aeolian scale. The Dorian scale does very little to differentiate it from the key of C sound, whilst the Aeolian scale goes non diatonic into the key of F.

[@bobfridge]

Hi man thanks for the tips! I have been focusing a lot on harmony and chords but I am very weak when it comes to improvisation and I haven’t learnt much songs. Can you please gives me tips on how to balance out my practice sessions and focus more on musicality? There is so much to work on and to do and I want to have a more focused approach to improving my jazz vocabulary and expanding my jazz repertoire

[@ruslanpiano]

+Bob Fridge just one step at a time. Pick 2-3 topics and focus on those for a month or so. Then re-assess. Like the rest of us, you probably have 800 things you could improve and work on. I know I sure do. But it’s ok - find the most urgent ones and attack those first.

[@papajanian]

Wow absolutely right, as you mentioned choosing the right scale is the most important for the notes that will match the new chord like G,minor to D,major ! the D,major also Compatible with G,melodic minor when Ascending cause we have the F# !! then F & E flat Descending back to G,minor .😁