Why Your Improv Sounds Like Scales (And The Fix)
Learning Focus
Music Style
Free Lessons
Get free weekly lessons, practice tips, and downloadable resources to your inbox!
Ever catch yourself soloing and think…
“Why does this sound like I’m just playing a scale?” 😅
The good news? It’s probably not because you need to learn more scales.
In this week’s lesson, I’m taking the exact same scale and showing how three simple ideas can make it sound completely different. It’s honestly kind of shocking how big the difference is.
You’ll learn things like:
🎹 Shape shifting (an easy way to break out of straight scale runs)
✨ Rub notes that instantly add tension and personality
🚀 My favorite “pedal packer” trick for creating huge, concert-worthy sounds
The best part? None of these require learning a new scale. You’re simply using the notes you already know in a much more musical way.
If you’ve ever felt like your improvisation sounds more like an exercise than a solo, this lesson is for you.
Go check it out and see which of these three ideas becomes your new favorite.
Jonny May
Jonathan May is a pianist from Southern California who specializes in many styles of piano. At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland. Each week he entertained thousands of guests with his arrangements of American classics and Disney songs. Jonny has also performed with the Youtube...
More Free Lessons
In this lesson, I’ll show you three techniques that show up again and again in Billy’s playing—and you can start using them in your own music right away.
In this lesson, I'm breaking down one of the biggest solo mistakes players make: using the same rhythms over and over again.
I'm taking apart one of my all-time favorite solo piano performances of Blackbird and breaking down the absolute magic that Jon Batiste is creating at the piano.
Looking for downloads?
Subscribe to a membership plan for full access to this Quick Tip's sheet music and backing tracks!
Join Us
Get instant access to this Quick Tip and other member features with a PWJ membership!
Guided Learning Tracks
View guided learning tracks for all music styles and skill levels
Progress Tracking
Complete lessons and courses as you track your learning progress
Downloadable Resources
Download Sheet Music and Backing Tracks
Community Forums
Engage with other PWJ members in our member-only community forums
Become a better piano player today. Try us out completely free for 14 days!