How to Improvise with Chords on Piano (In 8 Steps!)

🔥 Download your FREE PDF Lesson Book → download.thekeyscoach.com/howt...
In this lesson, Adam reveals a Groundbreaking 8-step method for improvising with chords on the piano. Adam will take you through this method step-by-step and will help you unlock your improvisation skills, creative flow and help take your keys playing to the next level. 🚀
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Video Breakdown:
0:00 - Intro
1:19 - Step 1
3:36 - Step 2
5:07 - Step 3
6:26 - Step 4
9:19 - Step 5
10:58 - Step 6
12:17 - Step 7
14:08 - Step 8
15:59 - Outro
Check out the Podcast! 🎧 - podfollow.com/the-keys-coach-...
ABOUT THE KEYS COACH
===
Level up your piano/keys playing with The Keys Coach! Join an awesome online community of like-minded musicians, access free expert content, and unleash your musical potential today!
Whether you're a beginner seeking a solid foundation or an experienced pianist aiming to refine your skills, The Keys Coach has got you covered.
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Hosted by Adam Saunders
Music - www.davidcuttermusic.com/
#piano #pianolessons #improvise

[@thekeyscoach]

Don't forget you can download your FREE PDF guide which covers all the steps in this video → download.thekeyscoach.com/howt... Also - comment below what you would like me to cover in the next video! Filming another video at the end of this week. Get your requests in! ⬇

[@sandrafowkes53]

Can’t download 🤔

[@carlgrainger2669]

“The landing page is not found”

[@douggubbe]

Hi, seems your landing page link is still broken.

[@NickErdman]

as a busy college student who no longer has time to sit down and learn difficult classical pieces, i always wanted to learn how to improvise so i could just sit down and play whenever and whatever. great video! its been helping me a lot.

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome! Thanks Nick!

[@littasohi1262]

Best video on the internet

[@thekeyscoach]

Wow thanks! 🙏

[@GoaWay4Sanity]

*I’ll be working on this and F major is one of my fav keys!* 🎹

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome!

[@billhasty5197]

The more I watch you, the more I have figured you to be quite the incredible teacher. Thank you so much. All your videos are wonderful.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you so much Bill! That’s made my day!

[@rowkeaton00]

My new favorite piano channel. I'm excited to get in on the ground floor of this community.

[@thekeyscoach]

🙌

[@mtbsperry]

As a beginner, this helps so much in understanding improvisation!!

[@thekeyscoach]

I’m so pleased! Thanks!

[@chaisehubbard1580]

I would always struggle from watching over piano teachers explain but your teaching really did the trick for me and I thank you for taking your time and putting effort into making these videos🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@thekeyscoach]

You're very welcome!

[@ScarletteFiesci]

I am so glad I found your channel. I've been playing for years - classically-trained and I have really struggled to improvise and be able to play from chord charts, and or by ear. This is quite common for all pianists and keyboard players who have learnt to play the traditional way. It really has been nigh-on impossible for me to play without sheet music. Although I think it will take a huge amount of practice, I know that I will be able to use your PDF to eventually achieve this long-awaited goal which has evaded me for so long. I have been quite envious of people who can just sit down and play what comes to them. Even more so when I think I spent hours, days, weeks, months and years learning to read music and still be so confined to what others have produced. I have been to so many channels on here but you really do put things across well. Love your teaching style. I think this is my new best Piano Channel. Can't wait to see it grow and grow and being part of this community. Thank you.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much for your message Scarlette! I'm so glad you're enjoying your the videos and finding them useful! Lots more coming your way over the next few weeks and months! Keep me posted on how you're finding them, and let me know if there is anything in particular that would help!

[@smokyleafeon3513]

This literally is what was going on for my piano like a month ago. It’ll come along… good practicing!

[@smithyq6335]

Wow, that "claw" technique is incredible. It really adds so much depth to the sound. I'm going really slow right now, but that's okay. If anything, it lets me appreciate the impromptu slash chords I'm making, and how the different base notes can complement the harmony I'm making. I still naturally default to the same two or three rhythms every time, but I guess I can't expect this one video to change everything all at once! Thanks so much. Really enjoyed it.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!

[@douggubbe]

That was Amazing! Thank you thank you! Joined a new band recently and this is exactly what I needed to spruce up my playing alternatives. Reminds me of the epiphany when I learned about the CAGED system for guitar.

[@thekeyscoach]

I’m so pleased Doug! Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@geralynpalacol3764]

🎹🎹🎹EXCELLENT LESSON Adam!!! Thanks so much🥰🎉🎉🎉

[@donaadler6208]

You make it blissfully simple AND you get to the point. Love it! Oh, and your beat box is pretty good!! 😂 You explained this in a way that i can try it without having to follow the video on the slowest speed to figure out what you did!

[@thekeyscoach]

I appreciate that! Thanks so much Dona! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@liamonconlocha4898]

Could you take us through a song that looks simple, but show how you would enrich it?

[@thekeyscoach]

Great idea! 💡

[@hilanoga1486]

Thanks!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you!! 🙏

[@davidparkes7977]

Brilliant has real Gospel feel😊

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! Yeah definitely!

[@fitgurl0448]

I fell in love with this video and now I am pregnant with a piano.

[@yinmaeyang591]

And I bought a portable one because he's so addictive😂 hafta keep up

[@simonnmorgan]

Wow. These are the types of lessons I've been wanting all my life. Wish we could more of that as a structured course

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Simon! It’s on the way… 🚀

[@GizzyDillespee]

The secret to improvising new material is to practice doing just that. Instead of practicing scales, or practicing sheet music, or playing someone else's song, just start playing. Use an electronic keyboard and headphones, because self-consciousness it what stops people. So... headphones, and go for it, and when you play something terrible, bo worries. As for where to start... anywhere. Play a note. Or if there are preset drum patterns on the keyboard, or a metronome, you can try use that... but TBH, before you're comfortable enough with where all the notes and chords are, sometimes you'll have to be patient about bad timing, in order to find the notes you want... and a metronome or drum machine can prevent you from trying new notes and chords, because you'll have to play it safe, in that respect, to keep up with the rhythm. So, if you record yourself at that point, it won't sound as good as you thought when it was happening - 🤣that's normal. Once you learn where all the notes are, then it's fun to play along with automatic drums. Because rhythm IS very important, so even though you want to have patience towards the beginning, that's like training wheels. That's what you do. If you want to learn classical, then practice playing clasical music from sheet music. If you want to be in a cover band, practice playing cover songs by ear and from lead sheets, and transcribe solos. If you want to improvise sonngs and tunes into existence, then practice doing that, from the start. Learn intervals and scales and chords and how they go together (and use the available resources online and books) in the context of creating your own material. I'd recommend headphones and a saintly tolerance for messing up, like, don't even pause when you play garbled gibberish. You're always learning. If you're feeling physical pain while playing, then you should adjust your mechanics, maybe on your own, or maybe with personalized help. It's helpful to learn a foundation of how music works, but these tutorials seem to focus on a pedagogical foundation from a bygone era. But I haven't written a pamphlet or produced that video, so I can't complain. This video is good for what it is, but for example, I don't usually start by picking a key, and then writing a chord progression and bass notes, and then arranging that, and then improvising a solo over that form... IOW, what he describes in this video is "normal songwriting", and it's a great video for that. Improvising a piece from scratch, on an instrument, is a little different from this video, though. The far end of the spectrum is, you pick a starting point, and then get out of your own way, as best as you can, and then be ooen to whatever comes out. That's why the headphones are so important🤣. Then, in between pure improvisation and purely premeditated riffs, there's a spectrum of tendencies you develop, and boundaries you can put on free improvisation in order to raise the potential floor, so to speak, and facilitate group improvisations (some predetermined structure can be helpful there). Oh, that's a book! Oh well. TL;DR - Play whatever floats your boat, and have a good time doing it.

[@geralynpalacol3764]

🙏🙏🙏Thanks for taking the time to explain all that!!!🥰

[@TedBuffington390]

Another outstanding lesson! Thank you VERY much! Quality tips and tricks, materials and overall presentation! I appreciate your passion to share!!

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure!

[@DANYALLAYNAD]

Man iv looked for years for a simple explanation of how to play like this. Finally! Thanks dude 😁

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you liked it!

[@liamonconlocha4898]

Brilliant lessons, yes definitely worth a coffee or two

[@polyshells]

Wonderful! I just subscribed when I heard dat slide!

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@therealadamshort]

How does this man only have 1k subscribers what

[@saturnsabyss]

He just started but it looks like he put a lot of forethought into how he wanted the videos to look. They already look very polished!

[@cn1577]

He just started his channel a month ago & already got over 3k subscribers. He is awesome! ❣️

[@Corner_twisted]

He gained 5k subs in 1 month lol😂

[@franaddeodc3049]

I am so happy I found The Keys Coach! 🎉

[@user-jd7sq8gt8c]

He deserves more

[@volmersen1]

I have tried to download pdf files, but nothing happens. I have used different browsers. Your channel is one of the best I have found.

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi - shoot me an email - [e-mail] and I'll get that sorted out for you!

[@stevehenry9826]

Excellent lesson! Thanks for showing that!

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure!

[@kathyvermander4409]

Thank you Adam, you Are a great teacher! You inspire me!

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure!

[@anthonymilesmusic]

This is a really fantastic quality piano lesson. Really enjoyed this. Thank you

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheBlackSheeq]

So basically you only play the one and the two chord for the melody? Or just any chord that uses the note you want to play (using the melody note on top always)? Would appreciate a short response 😊

[@reinder2]

Great lesson. Thanks

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you liked it!

[@user-ss2fs9rj5f]

The best video I’ve found on improvisation!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you! 🎉

[@talandis]

Thanks for the very well-produced video. I can tell you put a lot of craft into it with the good sound and lighting. Everything was very clear, so your work paid off. As a false beginner, I could barely keep up, however. It would be great to have that lick you played notated. I had to stop and rewind that bit dozens of times and I had a hard time matching what you were playing. Of course, you'll probably reply that I should just do what sounds nice to me, and that's true, but it would be good to have something to follow when starting. Also, the way you fingered the inversions was very tricky. Any chance you could add fingering to future pdfs? Just a thought. Thanks again for all your work. I'll keep at it.

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Will keep that in mind! Lots more videos coming your way over the next few months. Thanks for all the support!

[@martinstone8565]

Outstanding!

[@Viajerosl007]

Amazing music instructional video! Wow filled with gold nuggets. Thanks Adam!!!

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gillianfernie9376]

This is excellent information. Adam, you should market this to the worship keyboard community. I’m a classical piano player and have spent hundreds of dollars trying to learn what you’ve just explained here to help me interpret chord charts on a Sunday morning. Thank you! This is a game changer for me.

[@thekeyscoach]

Ah I'm so glad Gillian! That's really interesting - thanks so much!

[@carolmurphy4627]

I'm a classical pianist too, and have struggled for years to gain the 'freedom' to play like this. This one lesson alone is just so ridiculously simple, and yet...nobody teaches us this stuff when we come up through the exam system. Adam, you really are a wonder!

[@ajotech]

Wow, that is amazing sounds incredible Key Coach.

[@PeterBurns-wv9ye]

Just great so good

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Peter!

[@AnthonyCollierMusic]

Amazing lesson! Jammed back with so much useful..practical information!

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@robertmiller8650]

Very nice and effective piano methods,simple yet powerful.....

[@thekeyscoach]

Many thanks!

[@AlexSmith-gh3pz]

In step 7, how did you come to choose F and Gm to use for the claw technique? Do you always use notes 1 & 2 from the chosen scale?

[@adeniyioyedeji324]

Really love your tutorial, Will always come back

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much 😊

[@CarlosGarcia-di3kn]

Glad I found your channel in YT, love your content in IG👍

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Carlos!

[@chrisholland3552]

Just subscribed and looking forward to future lessons. This lesson is terrific...so well explained. 🙂

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Chris! So glad you found it useful!

[@benphillips3042]

Great stuff Adam! Really enjoying all of these.

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Ben!

[@edwardrose3061]

Thanks for your content Adam. This is the piano channel I’ve been looking for. The best I’ve found on KZbin…cheers!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much Edward! So glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@mothra87]

Great lesson!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! 😃

[@nickiehartmusic]

Amazing, thank you so much Adam! So exciting to have found your channel! I have been looking for this sort of content to improve my compositions for ages and specifically my left hand accompaniment as they all tend to be pretty much the same which doesn't help with the diversity of my music! I look forward to studying and implementing your techniques!🙂

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad it was helpful! Great to have you on board!

[@reginr]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thekeyscoach]

You’re welcome!

[@bahramparviz1898]

I weit lang time to learn i am so happy Feind your canale!🎹🫶🫶🫶😎🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️❤🌸👌🙏

[@IanKrigsman]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Ian!

[@patriciaann6380]

Excellent tutorial Adam thank you 😊

[@thekeyscoach]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it!

[@piano-music-for-all]

👍 Great! You say it, the simple things are sometimes the best. Clear explanation 😀🎹!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! 😃

[@paulchapman112]

great tutorial!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci

[@Mohammed-iq7om]

Great work & simple in all steps keep going

[@Ozgurs_piano_journey]

I've just found your channel and so glad that I did! Please keep it coming; I'm learning this one, 2 on chords and the one on scales with the 1,4 and 5 chords at the moment. That one and the hexatonic scale with the 1 major and 2 minor chords are real game changers (have been using the pentatonic scale, but I hadn't heard of the hexatonic). About new videos: One on major pop/rock/ballad rhythms (using a couple of chord progressions) would be good...

[@thekeyscoach]

Great idea! So many videos to make! 😂

[@f_cox85]

I approve the beatbox!!! Thank you for this amazing class!!! I just discovered your channel today. Great content. Keep it up!!!

[@thekeyscoach]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Mangacreator_911]

My new guru❤

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@aminwilliams6280]

Hi this is Amin I lost my wife four months ago, quiet fancy the song, "She's gone by Steel Heart" would like to learn it, it reminds me of her, can you help? thanks Amin

[@hgdrn]

Amazing! It looks so easy, but... 😅

[@thekeyscoach]

🙌 You can do it!

[@rebanelson607]

What a great sound - subscribing!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks!

[@johnchabo9839]

Amazing 😻 sounds beautiful and helpful

[@thekeyscoach]

Thank you!! 😊

[@nylejoseph5759]

Thanks for the lesson. Could you do a video on different type of improvisation principaly blues I am trying to learn🙏🏽

[@thekeyscoach]

Great suggestion!

[@fritz1339]

Hi Adam! Did I understand you correctly that the little finger of the right hand always leads the melody? So the note furthest up is the best one to identify for the melody? Thanks for that great content!! 🙂

[@thekeyscoach]

Yep that’s it! Glad you’re enjoying the videos!

[@SomeWhiteGuy_]

Great Lesson man. This is a great video. Thanks for your time. God Bless ❤️

[@thekeyscoach]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-gp1ls9qu1c]

Awesome video

[@iyokjagoan5758]

nice nice nice lets go to reach 100k subscribers

[@sandyswambo]

Amazing thank you

[@thekeyscoach]

No problem 😊

[@MichaelMichaelMichael.]

good job man

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks Michael!

[@liambonar]

Such a great tutorial!

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks so much!

[@haikel527]

Thx great tuto

[@thekeyscoach]

Pleasure!

[@anttt7993]

Does the harmonization method always use the I and ii chords? I can't find any more information on this technique

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi Ant - yes it does. It can use other chords as well to get different sounds - but essentially it’s chords I and ii. This is often how gospel choirs harmonise - they often miss out the leading note (the seventh). It’s a way of harmonising melodies in ‘block’ and making the melody sound thicker. Hope this helps!

[@pamelajarvis7728]

Just found your channel…brilliant help!! Have downloaded the info but it doesn’t describe the ‘slide’ you mention in stage 8. Have slowed down the video and still can’t get what you mean about sliding from the black key to the white. I can’t see your handwork clearly enough to relate what I have done before to what you are doing. Sorry to be a pain!

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi Pamela - Ah I see what you mean! Essentially any time you have a white note in a chord (either at the top or in the middle) with a black note directly to the left (a semitone down) - you can slide. I either do it with the same finger, or sometimes use a finger on each note. Does that help?

[@pamelajarvis7728]

@@thekeyscoach thanks Adam…still not sure but will give it a go. Just found the demonstration so fast. You know what it’s like, if you know what to do it’s fine but if you don’t know what’s happening a little slower would help. Anyway excited to have found your videos. Thanks very much.

[@thekeyscoach]

Will definitely bear this in mind! Thanks Pamela!

[@Timytc1]

@@thekeyscoachYes I had the same difficulty too trying to figure out how you did the slide even though you explained in words, wishing at 5.01 when you said “for example here” that you would have the camera on your fingers rather than on your face… Sorry I didn’t mean to “complain” when you were amazing sharing all those ideas. Thanks heaps.

[@carlgrainger2669]

👏👍🏻

[@KeyhanAkbarzadeh]

👌🤘

[@itierney]

Why do you remove the 7th from the scale?

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi! The seventh is the one note that doesn't fit into C or Dm - it means that all the parts can move by step within the hexatonic scale - and there aren't any clashing notes. If we also take out the leading note, there aren't any tritones in the scale (previously in the key of C, there would have been a tritone between the F and the B). Hope that helps!

[@tommivirolainen1886]

Fucking awesome m8. Thx a million ❤

[@ladc8960]

😮

[@MARIYE21]

Sharr share like and subscribe, super cool

[@anttt7993]

PDF link is incorrect

[@thekeyscoach]

Thanks! All sorted!

[@joysoul4089]

Supposedly, most car horns are in the key of F.

[@Notmehimorthem]

Maybe put a log and contacts on your videos?

[@thekeyscoach]

Hi - what’s a log and contacts?

[@Notmehimorthem]

A guy to watch

[@daveyewart4289]

Only piano players know what keys are. The title won't get you subscribers. Great lesion

[@mr.frederickson329]

Nope, don't want to improvise, I want to play Piano Sonatas by Beethoven. But just never had the knack.

[@johnbrow284]

Hexatonic scale ! I stopped watching here :) Maybe some people will find it useful, for me it's not.