🔴 How to improvise when you're not creative (fail-proof)

Check the livestream time in your time-zone: www.starts-at....
This live-stream will be aimed at those of us who have felt that improvising is this magical quality for the super-talented, and can't be learned. It's not true!! I'll show you a step-by-step method to improvising, where you can feel safe and contained, while creating something new.

[@joanelizabethhall9455]

I did some "forced improvising" just yesterday. I was playing a piece in public from memory. I was SURE it was memorized!! After a festive bit of chord-noodling interlude, I started the second verse and drew a complete blank. I had no idea what was next. I just "vamped" for awhile until I had wandered back into an appropriate key, and ended with a glissando flourish, like I had done all that on purpose, LOL! My partner told me he loved "that piece."

[@LearningtheHarp]

Sounds like you did a BRILLIANT job of keeping going and making something up on the spot. Well done!!! 😄👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@deniserobinson8946]

I would love to have courses on improvisation like this. You explain things so beautifully, I was cooking a stew whilst watching this video. I am definitely going to watch again with my harp. xx

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oooooo I love stew! 😍🤤 I hope it was a particularly delicious one. Thanks for the encouragement about my teaching, I’m going to have to create some improvisation courses 👍🏻👍🏻 Have you tried this with your harp yet? It’s fun!

[@sleepbootbianca]

Couldn’t join when you were live-streaming, but so glad that this video is already on you tube!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yay!! Did you manage to try improvising with yo harp?

[@trustinjesuschrist6933]

just wanted to tell u that Jesus Christ loves u so much 💟 and u should google these verses if u have not before! john 3:16-21 romans 5:6-8 romans 10:9-13 God bless u! :)

[@rogermounts4199]

It is amassing how many people have already said what I would have, but you are great

[@StephenSmarr]

This is great! I would really love more improvisational courses like this. I'm working on learning how to play improvisational arrangements of hymns on the harp. I'm a pianist turned harpist, and hymplaying/improvisation is very easy for me on the piano but a little intimidating on the harp so far. I would love more tips!

[@crystalliz2618]

That was so much fun! I'd love to learn more. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy experimenting with this. Thank you so much!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wonderful, have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

[@nihaimamoniquestamper7670]

🥰 Thank you for this teaching. This open a new world for me . Blessings for Netherland.

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s wonderful to hear, Nihaima! 😃😃

[@friedfish69]

For clarity sake: "Pentatonic" refers to a scale. It is a selection of notes from a diatonic scale, 5 of the 7. "Modes" refer to a scale which begins in, is centered on, a particular note in a diatonic scale. A major diatonic scale begins on "Doe". The major scale is the "Ionian mode". A scale which begins in "Re" is in the "Dorian mode" and is a minor scale. There are seven notes in a diatonic scale, so there are seven modes. An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. A scale is a set of notes played in order. Arpeggios are scales if they are played top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top. Scales which include notes outside a particular chord are not arpeggios, but since chords can be quite full and complex, it may be that every scale is technically an arpeggio.

[@lindapino2974]

Hi Christie Lynn Thank you so much for this video I have been playing the harp for 10 years and for the first time I sound good with the Pentatonic you just showed us how to play. Wow !!!! I love the way you teach on the Harp . Please do more of these kind of videos. Thank you 🙏 Sincerely Linda 😎

[@eloisebaker1125]

I've always dreamed of playing the harp. I'm a sound healer, working with intuitive instruments. I was so scared of playing an instrument requiring knowing how to read music. I'm 36. I bought a harp , two actually thanks to you, you are so inspiring! I also started the loch Lomond class with your plate form, I'm so grateful for the great job you do ! I can't wait to play better, my 15yrs old girl wants to play too. I hope you're gonna make a class about impro. Thanks again from France !

[@belindahunt9365]

Yes please, it would be awesome if you add more courses on this topic. This was great!

[@qltygrl3187]

This is great! I would love a class for improvisation! Also for those looking for more information on Modes, Anne Crosby Gaudet has a video or two with more detail.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks for the recommendation, Anne is great!

[@eloisebaker1125]

I would love a class too

[@carmelcannon]

Thank you so much for this wonderfully inspiring lesson! Beautifully presented and brilliantly instructive and approachable.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Such a pleasure!! So glad it’s helpful for you. Have you given it a try yet?😃

[@carmelcannon]

@@LearningtheHarp yes I have, although whilst leaving gibbering etc in practicing on a 12 string, probably made in Pakistan... it's not holding its tuning very well so my pentatonic sounds distinctly off... saving up for a 29 string ASAP!

[@shannondelsol468]

Greetings from Fort Lauderdale, FL! Am so enjoying your videos - thank you!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Shannon! 👋🏻 Glad you’re enjoying the videos! 😃

[@corinnewood3239]

This was live ages ago but it still applies and it's great! Thanks ,Corinne from Malta, Europe

[@avalonink7808]

"Hee hee it wasn't a real song!" made me giggle. :D

[@LearningtheHarp]

😁😁😁

[@cyndilepley9821]

Thank you. Not scary, and I can do this!! I will produce a nice "song" for my next lesson for my teacher. Cyndi

[@zanvolcano]

replay, Québec, Canada, Dont have a harp yet, but I think strongly about it when I listen to you

[@auntshirley7124]

Excited to watch from here in Chatsworth, CA, USA!

[@jopeterson4635]

I wasn’t able to watch live stream, so I’m grateful for the replay availability. Improvisation is something I would love to explore further. Do hope that you will have more courses on this in your new platform. I’ve never felt confident of this skill to perform it anywhere, but really appreciate your explanation of the shapes and foundations. If I have my harp tuned to Eb, how to I make it a pentatonic scale? Thanks for this KZbin video, it was so very helpful.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Jo! You put your Bb, Eb and Ab levers up, and then play the white strings only 😊👍🏻 Glad you enjoyed the video! 💜

[@kenisonh]

a course on this is absolutely necessary

[@LearningtheHarp]

Great! Thanks for the feedback.

[@marinamoree1650]

I agree! I'd buy the whole course

[@JayneyGoddardCMA]

Yes, I’d love a course on this

[@skybridgetrans5931]

Improvisation with the harp? Thanks for your showcase on the "Harp Jokes". I don't play the harp, but your ideas on chords and arpeggios were interesting. Now try playing it with two fingers only like Django. "Minor Swing" on the haRp. I haven't heard it yet. So interesting how each instrument has it's part in the whole musical spectrum.

[@melindabeckey8919]

Thank you! Good information. Would love to see a course on how to create intros and outros

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s a really great suggestion, Melinda! I will keep that in mind and see if there’s enough demand for it 👍🏻

[@marinamoree1650]

Yes!!! I'd love that too!

[@inthedaysstillleft1257]

This was so helpful! Thank you so much!

[@angelairnich8317]

Spicing up the left hand: You can combine different accompanying patterns. For example if the chord is C major the simplest way is to play a C or CG (together or broken). Often it is CEG (1-3-5) or CGC (1-5-8), very nice is CGE (1-5-10) or CGCDE (1-5-8-9-10) or you experiment with 7th or 9th or other additional notes. I hope this is of some use to someone, if it is self-evident to everybody, sorry.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Great suggestions! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@almaengler9784]

Hi from Canada

[@allisoningham4249]

You do look a lot more refreshed :D

[@hennylamme8769]

This video was very usefull and I should like to learn more. Thank you very much.

[@jeankelly5859]

You're so Lovely !!😁

[@MatrixDonna]

Loved this thanks Christy-Lyn - have you made a video based on the key of C by any chance?

[@saitenzauberharfe]

Thanks for showing it‘s not that magic I always thougt it was 😌

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hehe, it’s a pleasure! The truth has been hidden... but no longer!! 😃😃

[@saitenzauberharfe]

@@LearningtheHarp I practiced while watching your video. It‘s really so easy and sounds so impressing... thank you so much. I was always afraid of it.

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s wonderful!! Keep on having fun with it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@emaniparker216]

Hi Elma from North carolina

[@annettekelly1592]

Wonderful!!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks Annette! Did you manage to give this a try?

[@annettekelly1592]

@@LearningtheHarp Yes. And I just kept going. Weeeeeee. A great jump start!

[@karissathatcher9206]

Anne Crosby-Gaudet had a great video on modes! I noticed someone was asking about that, so they may want to check out her channel. :) I think the video is called Emoji modes. :)

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

Agreed its awesome video

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh great!! I haven’t seen that, but I do know she has a book on modes 👍🏻👍🏻

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

@@LearningtheHarp I didnt know about book, thank you :)

[@almaengler9784]

Alma very new almost 80 just learning

[@fionahalstead8207]

Oh dear! My face is red with embarrassment and I do apologise if I have misled anyone. Christy-Lyn was talking about the Pentatonic SCALE in this lesson not 'mode' . If you want to know more about modes, the references I gave below are relevant, but not to this lesson, and I do apologise for this confusion SORRY

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh that’s totally fine, Fiona! I don’t think you said anything misleading. We’re all learning here. I still need to clarify in my own mind the difference between modes and scales, as you could hear later on in the video. We’ll all keep learning and growing together ❤️❤️❤️

[@angelairnich8317]

@@LearningtheHarp As far as I know there is no difference between modes and scales or I should rather say if you talk about the modes (Dorian, Phrygian and so on) you write them down as scales. If you play f.e. in Dorian you use the notes from this scale (half-tones between 2 and 3 and between 6 and 7). Then you can say you use the Dorian mode or the Dorian scale which is both right.

[@charleenstroup6982]

Hello from Sebring, Florida

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Charleen! 👋🏻

[@HEMUSTINCREASE777]

Can you please make a tutoring vedio on 10 string harp Love from Kerala 🙏🥰

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

Thank you for this, but advertisment every 5 minutes is too much, its really disturbing. Anyway Im glad that you are solving problems with new site and I hope that there will be more improvising tutorials! Thank you, Tomas

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks for the feedback! I didn’t realise KZbin had placed ads so many times on this video. I changes it now to only at the beginning and the end 👍🏻

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

@@LearningtheHarp Great. Would you also react so quickly about another impro tutor? Are you already recording? =D

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hahaha, that would be great!! 😆 Unfortunately I have to first film quite a few other things - there’s the regular schedule of course creation to keep up with. But I’m definitely noticing the high number of requests for more improv instruction, so I’ll be doing that as soon as I can! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@nickis.artworld9557]

Except of the pentatonic mode, what othere modes are there and when and why do we play them?

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s a great thing to learn about! I know that Anne Crosby Gaudet has a lovely harp book explaining all about the modes, perhaps look it up? It’s really practical and fun 👌🏻

[@nickis.artworld9557]

@@LearningtheHarp What difference does the pentatonic or the septatonic mode have with these 7 greek modes such als Ionian. Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian ? Are these in Anne Crosby's book, too? For example, can you play a lyrian or aeolian or locrian mode in the pentatonic or septatonic mode? I hope, you understand what I mean.

[@connieLo87365]

Will you put an improv course on your new site? Please

[@KatherineBartlettWhiskey]

Can I still take your beginner course if I have a small 15 string lap harp? I found it in a thrift store and wanted to learn to play simple things on it

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes!! You can start with my series of 14 free videos on KZbin called “How to play the harp: start here”. Then you can move onto my video courses on my website - there are a few songs that can be played without adjustment on 15 strings. For example After the Rain and Mahogany Moon. If you buy the beginner bundle video course (great value for money!!) it includes both of those songs and also a beginner version of Danny Boy which isn’t written for 15 strings, but you can still play it if you play most of the song an octave higher, excluding the section from the end of measure 12 to halfway through measure 14. Play that section as written, and the rest an octave higher.

[@marjonsmit1666]

From holland

[@GrabnarMyers]

how many views does this video have?

[@paulinewals8274]

Would love a course Christy Lyn. Pauline from australia

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks Pauline!

[@edwardsipes9640]

I'm in the United States Baltimore Maryland

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Edward! 👋🏻

[@mortenkalland]

Why is there only female harp players? David in the Bible played harp.

[@BERTS-cv2pq]

Hi

[@reggiereed4333]

🙋‍♀️

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Reggie! 👋🏻💜

[@petergoh6528]

Hi