*PIANO ADVANCEMENT WHATSAPP TUTORIAL

FACILITATOR: WALTER LOVEDAY NZE.

HOW TO SOLO ON KEYBOARD/PIANO/ORGAN PART ONE

Edited by: Emmymusix

Re-edited by: Sancti-music

Pdf compilation by: Sancti-music

(WRITE-UP CREDIT: James Aebersold, Walter Loveday Nze.)

They are different approach to soloing even in Jazz music but today I'll talk more about the inspirational
part then in part two, we'd use the approach Jazz Players use in soloing to explain practically.

The write-up was basically written by Sir James Aebersold but I edited it so I give him the credit.

1. LEARN YOUR SCALE: they are thousands or millions of scale out there for you to learn, I'll advised you
to download PIANO COMPANION, you can update it every 4 months, it'd show you most scales in Music.

I'd have loved to tell you some scales by writing it but it'd take a lot of space, I don't want it to be long.

Learning your scale is one of the basic of your improvisational puzzle which helps you to stand out
musically.

2. LEARN HOW TO APPLY YOUR SCALE: this question answer, let me take you back to the basic. Credit
to sir Walter Loveday for this his teachings, I'd post it here

Scales are harmonized to create chords. Chords formed from scales are called _Harmonized Chords_
It is a rule in theory that any chord without a link scale where it could be harmonized from shouldn't be
considered as a chord because no chord is a bastard.

If it has no origin then it is not a chord.

Reharmonization is just changing the original harmonized Chords based on certain techniques[More
emphasis will be shared soon]

For today, let's focus on Chord Harmonization.

Now the questions I will be answering today are;

i. How do I harmonize a scale?

ii. What is the importance of Chord Harmonization?

i. How do I Harmonize a Scale

There are different styles used by students to harmonize scale. One of the best is the *PICK and SKIP
STYLE* by Jermaine.

[https://www.hearandplay.com/main/part-over-root-voicings-of-seventh-chords]

What it means is to Pick a note then skip the next and continue in that order.

Let use the C major scale as example.

C-D-E-F-G-A-B.

Now, let's harmonize that scale to get triads [Chord made of up of 3 notes]

Starting from C.

Pick C and skip D

Pick E and skip F

Pick G

Altogether we picked *C-E-G*

Lets do the same from D.

Pick D and skip E

Pick F and skip G

Pick A.

Altogether we picked *D-F-A*

If you do the same starting from *E*, *F*, *G*, *A*, and *B* you'll have

*E-G-B*

*F-A-C*

*G-B-D*

*A-C-E*

*B-D-F*

Those are the harmonized triads from the major scale.

That was how they were formed to harmonize the melodies of *C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C* in _Solfege_ as _do-
re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do_

So,

*Do* is C-E-G
*Re* is D-F-A

*Mi* is E-G-B

*Fa* is F-A-C

*So* is G-B-D

*La* is A-C-E

*Ti* is B-D-F

Recall in term of quality of triad that

CEG is Cmaj triad

DFA is Dmin triad

EGB is Emin triad

FAC is Fmaj triad

GBD is Gmaj triad

ACE is Amin triad

BDF is Bdim triad

Now, you can be ask to harmonize that same major scale to form seventh chords [Seventh Chords have
four notes, so you need to pick four notes altogether]

Let's try it

You can continue from the triad or start afresh.

From C

Pick C

Skip D

Pick E

Skip F
Pick G

Skip A

Pick B

Bringing all the picked notes together we'll have

C-E-G-B

From D

Pick D

Skip E

Pick F

Skip G

Pick A

Skip B

Pink C

Altogether we have

D-F-A-C

For E

Pick E

Skip F

Pick G

Skip A

Pick B
Skip C

Pick D

Altogether we have

E-G-B-D

If you continue for F, G, A and B you have

F-A-C-E

G-B-D-F

A-C-E-G and

B-D-F-A

C-E-G-B formed a Cmaj7 chord [pronounced as C major seven chord]

The formula for maj7 chord is *1-3-5-7*

For Cmaj scale. 1-3-5-7 notes are C-E-G-B

D-F-A-C is Dmin7 chord [pronounced as D minor seven Chord].

For formula for min7 is 1-b3-5-b7.

From Dmaj scale, 1-b3-5-b7 becomes D-F-A-C

E-G-B-D is Emin7. Having the same formula as Dmin7.

So that's what Chord Harmonization is all about

Getting Chords from scales using the _Pick and Skip Technique_

ii. What are the importance of Chord Harmonization?

Chord Harmonization helps you learn more Chords in different keys. It opens for you a wide range of
chords to be used.

In jazz, it will help you know what chord should be used over a particular scale.

EXAMPLE

You must have heard of the minor blues scale having the formula 1-b3-4-b5-5-b7

_....now, you ask yourself when should I use that scale when playing?_

_.....what type of chord should I use it over?_

The answers are all based on the concept of Chord Harmonization.

Harmonize the scale first and you'll lot of chords that scale can fit into.

In key Cmaj that scale would be

C-Eb-F-Gb-G-Bb

Right in that scale there is a Cmin7 chord [CEbGBb], Cmin7b5 chord [CEbGbBb], Cmin7add11 chord
[CEbGBbF], Cmin7b5add11 chord [CEbGbBbF], Ebmaj6 chord [EbGBbC], Ebmaj6add9 chord [EbGBbCF]
etc

These Chords and many more will fit that scale.

This is the basic part of chord harmonization, I will go real deep some other time.

KEEP YOUR PLACE: don't get lost. If you do get lost, LISTEN to the rhythm section. The drummer will
often give you a little crash at the beginning of new sections.
If you hit a note that's not what you intended, move it up and down a half-step and you'll probably be
back in the scale(or chord).

3. PLAY THE RIGHT NOTES: this really means play the notes you hear in your head...the notes you will
sing with your mouth.

Having the scale and chords in front of you on a piece of paper is merely a guide.

They don't provide the actual music that's going to be played THAT comes from YOUR imagination.

If you've got the scales, chords, and scale/chord progression MEMORIZED ✍, it provides courage to your
imagination and allows you to operate from a more creative natural basis. It allows you to take some
chances. It helps remove FEAR.

4. Using REPETITION and SEQUENCE is natural in Music. It's found in all styles and types of music. The
novice improviser often feels that if they repeat an idea, everyone knows they are going to repeat it, so
why do it; plus it's not original enough for your EGO, so you don't play it.

WRONG! The listener needs to hear some repetition and sequence or else they can't remember
anything you play.

Repetition and sequence are the glue that holds solos together. The usual number of times something is
repeated is depends on you but the average is 2 or 3 and then your mind will tell you when to repeat
and/or when to use sequence. It's a part of the way we hear music played by others.

5. CHORD TONES(the 1, 3, 5 and 7 of a scale) are great notes to begin and end a phrase with. Just sing a
phrase and see if you don't follow the simple rule.

Our ears HEAR chord tones first so it's natural to begin and end there. Plus, it gives us and the listener
what we are listening for -- HARMONIC STABILITY.

6. SOUND: be sure that you are getting a good, full sound on your instrument(or voice). Don't let the
scales and chords or the progression or tempo intimidate you.

Sound is foremost and IS the first thing a person latches onto when you sing or play. It leaves a lasting
impression.
So, be yourself and let your voice or instrument ring out. It's the main ingredient in your musical
personality.

7. LISTENING: there's no way anyone is going to play or improvise well without listening to those
musicians who have come before. Through learning alone, you can find ALL the answers.

Each musician is a result of what they have listened to. It's easy to determine who people have listened
to by listening to them play. We all tend to use imitation and it's good to do this.

Some feel that if they listen to others, they'll just sound like them. This is not true but your ego will
convince you it's true. The ego hates competition or what it perceives to be competition.

Don't be fool. If no one listened to anyone, why play music? Music is for everyone and truly it's a
universal language.

8. PRACTICE: once everything is in place, what are you waiting for, HIT THE ROAD(IDIOM). You must be
disciplined, you can learn a lot from YouTube but can NEVER learn discipline.

Discipline is one of the trademarks of professionals, a lot of people would love to hear you play but a
Professional Player is a disciplined player.

9. EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPROVISE: from the youngest child to the senior citizen. You have
to have desire and set aside time to work at it until moving your fingers becomes automatic and the
distance between your mind and fingers grows smaller and smaller to where you think an idea and your
fingers are already playing it.

It's not magic. If it's, then magic equals hard work and perseverance.

When asked, “what is the greatest obstacle to enlightenment?” the Buddha replied, “Laziness.” I AGREE!
Few words from the editor and writer, Emmymusix.

Soloing is quite easy only if you understood that when you solo, you showcase your creativity. You
express what you hear in your head out to the world.

One thing I've noticed, you could solo from the progression using what you hear in your head. Just be
creative!

Let me show you how to solo from Progression or even the chord itself, basically understand the way
the melody works, reharmonize it.

Like in Makossa, let's use Carry Me Dey Go.

The Chord Progression is Doh Fah Soh Fah(1454)

From your ear, you could form something like this s m s m d s m f l, r r r s t r f l. Lol! I formed this offhand
while typing, you could see that the first part of the solo contains the

1(doh) chord, the ending is F L, which is some notes in the 4th chord (FLD) same with the first soloing in
the second part having the 5th chord notes and ending with the 4th chord notes.

Try to think outside the box, the more you play, the more you improve!

Here’s the key thing to know: every great improviser started out terrible. It’s true! So when you begin to
experiment with improvising don’t expect it to sound wonderful. In fact, don’t even expect it to sound
musical.

Start small, start simple, and great soloing skills will come in time – if you keep your attitude right!
A positive attitude is essential in being a successful soloist and musician. You need to be motivated,
imagine yourself doing great things with soloing and then work towards making it happen! Every
successful musician has a story. You can start creating yours today, because if you believe in yourself
you will surely become who you want to be.

If you’ve ever worried that the pro musicians are somehow a “breed apart” and don’t ever suffer from
the same doubts you do, YOU'RE WRONG!

Practicing scales, chords (arpeggios), exercises in all keys will help gain facility which will help unlock the
ideas that are now being held prisoner in your mind.

As soon as possible, try playing what you HEAR mentally in your head!

In otherwords, sing a short melody mentally, or sing with your mouth and then play those exact pitches
and rhythms on your instruments.

Thank you! I love you guys for reading! God bless you(Amen).