Jazz Improvisation - Creating and Resolving Tension

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In this series of videos I cover Jazz Piano Improvisation techniques. I'll explain, from start to finish, how you can learn to improvise over a jazz song and sound professional.
This Jazz Piano Tutorial is an introductory lesson to the overarching idea behind Jazz Improvisation. It is the first video in a series that is designed to explain how Jazz Improvisation works and to teach you how to improvise. Absolutely anyone can do it.
Two common misconceptions about improvisation:
1. Creativity can't be learned; and
2. Improvisation is improvised
Both are completely wrong. Improvisation can be learned and required lots of planning (chord and guide tone mapping).
In this video I cover my general lesson plan for this series of videos and the key overarching idea behind Jazz Improvisation, which is:
Creating Tension and Resolving Tension.
In Jazz improvisation, you need to create tension by using 'wrong notes' and then resolve the tension by falling back into the 'correct' diatonic scale. I give an example of this in the video so that you can better understand.
Ways you can create Tension:
- Scales
- Polytonality
- Ambiguous
- Passing Notes (approach note/targeting)
- Cycled Patterns
- Dissonant intervals/Avoid notes
- Displacing the Melody
- Chord Extensions
Ways you can resolve tension:
- Riffs
- Scales
- Diatonic
- Arpeggios
- Guide Tones
- Melody
- Quotes & Cliches
If you enjoyed this Jazz Piano Tutorial, please subscribe

[@valeriankinY]

I don't comment often and came across great jazz videos on yt, but man, this channel is a GOLD MINE !! And I am weighing my words. Thank you for your time & commitment

[@anuthefather]

Its so good to find someone who actually knows what he's talking about and can convey the subject matter in a clear and articulate manner. I wish i had this ten years ago. I'm telling ya, Sal Kahn bro. You should be working together. Heroes !

[@kwayxtee2332]

You make it really easy and comprehensive.. I am hooked as I had always wanted to do this with ease and not think too much .. I guess practice can get me there but for me, it’s about grasping the ‘how’ it’s done so I can ‘apply’ as and when in my music journey. Thank you so much👋🏾👋🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@IvanF3_]

thanks! I think that's the best advice I've got when trying to learn improvising. ¡Create tension and resolve! They tell you: "learn the arpeggios, learn the triad, the 'cuatriad', then play with that over the songs". No one tells you: "play or try to play the wrong notes and resolve"! I think it works for harmony but also for rhythm! Playing 1,3,5,7, falling always to beat 1, even 2, sounds really really really boring. Subscribed!

[@WalkThatBass]

Yep, completely agreed. Jazz is all about syncopation. Thanks for the comment.

[@estufa88]

yes. One has to get used to play syncopated from the very beginning. If you don't, you'll have to restart learning from day one to dismiss all bad/lazy habits you took. That's my case! :( The same with funk music, lately I am discovering the importance of accents in beats 2 and 4 (or pre-2 and pre-4). It changes all the way you play when taking that into consideration. Thanks for sharing and teaching.

[@yihanhu3361]

My favorite jazz tutorials!!!!!! really really helpful, and because of your vedios I can learn many things systematically!!!! MANY THANKS

[@markinklam8636]

I am a guitar player and I found that this channel is more helpful than my 18$ course

[@budharpey]

Good video series! looking forward to the next videos!

[@WalkThatBass]

+J. Charles Thank J.

[@yupenghe22]

Your tutorials are both very useful and clear! Thank you!

[@enrikosingapari]

It's so systematic and easy to understand, great job!

[@TheEvertonDias]

Thank you, gratitude from Brazil!

[@twinturbohenry]

Brilliant instructional! So glad I found you. Thank you!!!!

[@engincigerciogullari]

Thank you very much👍🏿💙

[@tazimsheikh]

Thank you! keep them coming ... This is exactly what I was looking for

[@anandgodane8022]

Thank you so much sir

[@dtwdvne]

Very useful and informative!

[@iloverumi]

great lesson. thanks.

[@fiklonz]

You're Great! Thank you Man!!:)

[@WalkThatBass]

+Gianluca Laponte No worries, Gianluca.

[@enrikosingapari]

Great lesson!!! It's a must for beginner jazz pianist like me

[@WalkThatBass]

Thanks Enriko. Good luck with your practice. Feel free to ask if you have any questions :)

[@yuandong3310]

I love your videos! How many years have you played the piano?

[@WalkThatBass]

Roughly 20.

Well explained, and quite interesting. See you in next videos

[@WalkThatBass]

Thanks, Miguel. Hope you enjoy them! :)

[@MingusDynastyy]

So you should always play a chord tone right after a wrong note, or can I play multiple wrong notes for two changes then on the tonic resolve it with chord tones?

[@kwixotic]

So glad to have that piano tuned(I'm a tuner and couldn't but get a bit annoyed with it being out of tune).

[@DoobygamingTV]

great really enjoyed

[@WalkThatBass]

+Dooby Thanks Dooby.

[@memorial2k8]

nice explanation thank you very much

[@annashanina3533]

Thank you so much for ur useful videos!!!

[@WalkThatBass]

No problem, Anna. Thanks for the comment :)

[@peepeepoopoo3324]

Fantastic videos man!

[@WalkThatBass]

+Vincent Eastman Thanks, Vincent.

[@DaveyReynolds]

Thanks so much for your content!

[@WalkThatBass]

+David Reynolds No worries, David.

[@bhawanimalviyabm7815]

please tell me about the out side notes in jazz with some more interesting cords

[@lambertckw]

I feel like b d f a has tension when I play a c maj 7?..

[@georgemandom69]

Playing outside and sounding good is harder with a 251 progression without going into the pentatonic scale.

[@vick3554]

U can learn to b creative

[@AdamMaykov]

Why do You cut Low frequency of your voice and voice piano? Very hardly to listen!

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I don't think he's intentionally cutting it out, I think it's just a cheap microphone. I agree that a microphone upgrade (I'd say a condenser mic would be best) would be a huge step up.

[@julkowski]

Hey Anton, Joe here. Been emailing you about making vids for me. Just want to show you I'm not some scammer bot or something. Please, get back to me if you can or can't do it so I can move on. Please and thanks.

[@AwareLife]

Thanks. Get so much out of your vids.