Today, I want to explore a concept that’s simple—but incredibly powerful: how to create strong, expressive solos using just a few notes.
A few minutes ago, I sat at the piano and played a short improvisation using only three notes—and it was full of emotion, clarity, and musicality. Why? Because sometimes, less is more.
🎶 Why Fewer Notes Can Make More Musical Sense
As pianists, especially when we’re starting to improvise, it’s tempting to use all the notes. We want to fill the space and show everything we know. But too often, that leads to feeling overwhelmed, and the solo loses its shape or meaning.
Instead, try this:
👉 Start with just three notes.
For example:
A, B, and C = A minor feel
A, B, and C# = A major mode
Other three-note sets can outline a specific mode, like the Phrygian mode ( A, Bb, C)
By limiting yourself, you’ll naturally play within a mode, giving your improvisation a cohesive emotional tone.
🎹 Try This Left-Hand Progression
Here’s a chord progression I used in my improvisation:
A minor
E minor over G
F major 7
E minor over G
This gives your right hand a beautiful harmonic landscape to explore. Then, with just a few notes in the right hand (from the current chord), you can start to build ideas with simple rhythms.
🎵 And if you land on a note that feels “off”?
Just resolve it up or down by a step—and it becomes part of your expression.
🔁 Develop Your Motives
One of the most effective tools in improvisation is using motives:
Find a rhythmic or melodic idea you like
Repeat it
Reverse it
Move it a step higher or lower
This gives your solo structure and makes it memorable—just like a theme in a conversation.
✨ From Simplicity to Complexity
You can gradually build your solo by:
Moving from 3 to 4 to 5 notes
Introducing rhythmic variations in your left hand
Playing full scales or patterns
Coming back to a single note or silence for contrast
Even just taking a break mid-improvisation creates space and drama. Think of it like punctuation when you speak. The ear loves repetition, space, and variation.
🎹 Want to Go Deeper?
In my Creative Piano Artistry Program, we go much deeper into everything I’ve talked about here. I personally comment on my students’ assignments, and we’ve built a full structure of support around:
✅ Creativity
✅ Improvisation
✅ And most importantly—freedom at the piano, discovering your OWN music
Improvisation may start simply, but it requires practice, consistency, and guidance to really grow. Just like learning a language, it takes immersion.
Watch the full video here 👉 https://www.facebook.com/josee.allard.963/videos/1623899684917180?idorvanity=959497991767744
If you’d like to explore your next step and receive a free roadmap to more creative, expressive playing, I’d love to chat.
📞 Book a call with me here
Let’s get you improvising with confidence, clarity, and joy.
Until next time,
Josée 🎵