Hi!

I play mostly pop, but I would like to learn to improvise melodic, jazzy - sounding, single - note lines to use as runs, fills or solos, be it when playing solo piano or in a band situation.

I'm currently practicing chromatic and blues scale(s).

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you!

You can do a search on youtube. There is many free tutorials.

Serge

I think Elssa (a regular ABF-er)'s instructional videos is really worth checking out. I find them to be superb and a STEAL!

Her site is www.learnpianowithelssa.com.

I am sure you can also pm her or post to ask her about it. She seems to post on a frequent basis.

Hi, Rosanna! Hope you're doing well! We miss you over in the ABF!

Cathy

Whole tone scales are also used often in jazz/pop for runs and fills. I demonstrate these in my videos.

OT:

Hi Jotur, nice to get a greeting from you. I'll go offline with you.

Half diminished scales are also a good place to start. They're used on the V7 of the chords.

For example in C maj, the V7 is G7 and you can play G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D, E, F, G

That would be a "half/whole step" diminshed scale , not a half diminished scale which woukld be a Locrian scale.

Yup, sorry about that. Laziness for finding the right term set in too early there! But hey, at least I can spell 'diminished' and 'would' right.

If you're playing mostly pop gigs then you may want to try these concepts.

Horizontal Melodic Concepts
1. learn some actual blues vocabulary (not just blues scale but application of blues licks)
2. pentatonic fill ideas (major and minor)

I LOVE the sound of whole tone scales and the half/whole step diminshed scale and use them all the time in my jazz playing.

That being said I never use them in my pop playing.

Here's an interesting site:

THE WHOLE TONE SCALE