Rhythm first

A dull melody played with lively rhythm captivates; a clever melody played without rhythm bores. Great improvisers know it: rhythm is king. This lesson has you improvise with a single note, then two, so that all your attention goes to time, silence and accents.

A single note

M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=96
K:C
"C" G2 z G z G G2 | "G" z G z G G4 | "Am" G G z G z2 G2 | "F" G6 z2 |]

Just one G, and yet it's already music: long and short notes, off-beats, rests. Try tapping this rhythm:

Two notes and syncopation

Syncopation means attacking between the beats and holding the note across the next beat. It's the engine of pop, jazz and funk.

M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=96
K:C
"C" G A z G- G2 A2 | "G" z2 A G z G A2 | "Am" A3 G3 A2 | "F" G8 |]

Step-by-step exercise

1. Start the pop backing in C. Count aloud "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and".
2. One note (G): for 4 rounds of the progression, use only G. Vary durations, rests, dynamics (piano/forte), touch (legato/staccato).
3. Off-beats only: a whole round playing only on the "ands".
4. Two notes (G and A): add syncopations. Then three notes (E G A).
5. Borrowed rhythm: take the rhythm of a spoken sentence ("I would love a cup of tea") and play it on two notes.
6. Record yourself and listen back: is the pulse steady? Are the rests deliberate?