Want to start improvising but don’t know where to begin? This simple approach will get you started with confidence.

1. Pick a Song You Know by Heart

Choose a song you can sing in your sleep—something super familiar! For this lesson, we’re using Happy Birthday.

2. Focus on the Chords

To improvise, you need to understand the chords behind the melody. Listen to just the chords and let them guide you.

3. Hum or Sing Anything That Fits

Start simple—maybe just one note that moves up or down as the chords change. Experiment and listen for clashing notes so you can adjust. Repeat this exercise and tweak it each time.

4. Add More Notes

Once you’re comfortable, explore! Instead of sticking to one note per chord, try walking around the scale to find alternate melodies.

5. Change the Timing

Reintroduce the melody, but play with the timing. Sing the usual lyrics, but stretch or shorten notes to make it your own. This breaks you out of the “original melody box.”

6. Experiment with Pitch Changes

Challenge yourself to tweak the melody by changing a pitch here or there. If you hit a note that doesn’t fit, adjust—nearby notes are often a perfect match.

Improvising takes practice, but it’s fun and rewarding. Try this with other familiar songs to keep building your skills.