Help page : how to use this site on jazz improvisation and FAQ

  1. If something is not clear send me an email.

  2. Learn all major and minor scales

  3. Learn all chords ( Major, dominant, minor, half diminished and diminished) with their inversions.

  4. Learn their function (degree) in every key. (For example C7 is V degree in F maj key, F min key; IV degree in melodic minor key and VII in natural minor key)

  5. Study melody building chapter

  6. Improvise on a standard or a song playing JUST chordal notes, as you like.

  7. Improvise using the melody building suggestions

  8. Study music rhythm and swing

  9. Study phrasing

  10. ...so on

FAQ to learn improvisation and to use MIOP

You have to know music harmony, transcribe solos, listen great improvisors.

You can start to study major and minor scales and all chords in every key. Then begin to improvise using just chordal notes....then use the melody building concepts....

The most important thing to improvise is knowing the melody building concepts.

It depends on how much you study but I think at least 10 years.

Chordal notes are the first four tones of a chord ( For example D7 : D, F#, A, C)

The scale I can use on a chord depends by the key in which is the chord in that moment! (If I find Dmin7 in Bb major key I must use on Dmin7 the Bb major scale that is D Phrygian mode.....If I find Dmin7 in F major key I must use on Dmin7 the F major scale that is D Eolian mode...and so on....)

The most important concept in rhythm is emphasizing the upbeats or offbeats. Do not stress downbeats.

Wrong notes are not-solved tensions.

After a tension (in general) you have to play a chordal note close to it

Resources on the Art of improvisation

I have published other sites about jazz piano improvisation and music theory. Now I am working to publish live piano videos and other music albums.