Those 'jazzy' lines.

[ras1983]

Hey Janek,

how do you do those 'jazzy' lines in your soloes that I'd expect to hear from John Coltrane. You know the ones I'm talking about, where you throw in a flat 6th or a major 3rd or something like that. Something that adds a lot of colour.

A good example would be the solo you take when jamming to a looped version of 'Four Brothers', which is on a youtube video of you at a NAMM show in the past.

Was it just a matter of learning soloes by the greats and then figuring out the theory behind what they were doing or is it something that you just feel at the spur of the moment?

[janekbass]

The improvised content I use in my playing when soloing, creating basslines, or playing melodies comes from years of assimilating vocabulary and language through transcription. Listening to all kinds of music from buddy holly to nirvana, john coltrane to van halen........ it's all the same 12 notes that we're dealing with in western music, and it's just a question of experience, and finding combinations of notes that are unique to your own music.

Easy,

Janek

[Fretless5verfan]

I'm so glad someone else agrees with me on this. You made my day. Thanks!

[plangentmusic]

I agree with jane though there is something to jazz soloing that is different. There's a sense of chromaticism that doesn't exist in other types of music.

Sure, learn everything. If you can play a convincing blues, you can play a jazz solo -- but it'll sound pentatonic. I'm sure if Van Halen soloed over "All the things you are" it'd be great , but it wouldn't sound like Joe Pass.

Having said that, I find I'm more of a diatonic player. After years of playing, thats where I want to go. But at times, I wish I could play jazz like the guys who ONLY play jazz. I can rationalize by saying I play other styles -- probably far better than they can play ANY of them. But again, there's something about being a jazz player that's unique.

Not many jazz players do anything else particularly well excpept for maybe fusion funk easy listening. Jeff Berlin the the exception. But I'm referring to mere mortals.

[Fretless5verfan]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

I agree with jane though there is something to jazz soloing that is different. There's a sense of chromaticism that doesn't exist in other types of music.

Sure, learn everything. If you can play a convincing blues, you can play a jazz solo -- but it'll sound pentatonic. I'm sure if Van Halen soloed over "All the things you are" it'd be great , but it wouldn't sound like Joe Pass.

Having said that, I find I'm more of a diatonic player. After years of playing, thats where I want to go. But at times, I wish I could play jazz like the guys who ONLY play jazz. I can rationalize by saying I play other styles -- probably far better than they can play ANY of them. But again, there's something about being a jazz player that's unique.

Not many jazz players do anything else particularly well excpept for maybe fusion funk easy listening. Jeff Berlin the the exception. But I'm referring to mere mortals.

Yea I know what you mean. I'll never play jazz like a REAL jazz player can (or a the very least improv with that level of comfort and versatility) but I also think that the jazz players who incorporate more than "just jazz" (lol) into their playing are the only ones that don't bore me to death. I haven't heard a lot of what Jeff Berlin plays, but what i have heard puts me to sleep. But I could listen to Janek, or Owen Biddle, or Matt Garrison, Derrick Hodge, or Tom Kennedy all day and not get bored. I can't stand much of Chic Corea, but I'd listen to Hiromi Uehara, or Oli Rockberger, or Herbie Hancock on repeat...in any style they happen to be playing in. All of these guys play jazz and ____ and it shows in their creativity IMO. But all of this is coming from someone who can't stand using music theory outside of communicating ideas verbally.

[Kyon`]

Originally Posted by Fretless5verfan

Yea I know what you mean. I'll never play jazz like a REAL jazz player can (or a the very least improv with that level of comfort and versatility) but I also think that the jazz players who incorporate more than "just jazz" (lol) into their playing are the only ones that don't bore me to death. I haven't heard a lot of what Jeff Berlin plays, but what i have heard puts me to sleep. But I could listen to Janek, or Owen Biddle, or Matt Garrison, Derrick Hodge, or Tom Kennedy all day and not get bored. I can't stand much of Chic Corea, but I'd listen to Hiromi Uehara, or Oli Rockberger, or Herbie Hancock on repeat...in any style they happen to be playing in. All of these guys play jazz and ____ and it shows in their creativity IMO. But all of this is coming from someone who can't stand using music theory outside of communicating ideas verbally.

For the longest time I thought I was the only one who had a similar view. I think a big thing with any solo approach at least in my unexperienced opinion is that it's not always the one with the most cultured refined sound but the one who can throw it all together and make it fun, exciting, and not really worry about "genres" or staying true to styles. Of course there's a lot to be said for the jazz cats who can do all the amazing things they do.

I will also add that I think the jazz voicing isn't so much a magical secret scale that's only in the hidden pages of real books but really understanding your modes, scales, and chords and often realizing where scales and chords have a lot of similarities and it's just substituting or omitting notes that make them fit. There are only so many notes in western music and I think it's just knowing which ones to not use over maybe which ones to use. But again all in my unexperienced opinion.

[bassolp]

Originally Posted by janekbass

it's all the same 12 notes that we're dealing with in western music, and it's just a question of experience, and finding combinations of notes that are unique to your own music.

Easy,

Janek

thats it