Carol Kaye's approach to improvisation

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by moley


Actually I do find Fame Academy (and to a lesser extent Pop Idol & Popstars) interesting. But you're right - the clue is in the title - Fame Academy, Pop Idol... The emphasis seems to be on the fame bit, rather than musicality.

But what gets me is the lack of emphasis on songwriting/composing in Fame Academy, even though they do purport to include songwriting as part of it. Last year at least, they did have a songwriting coach, but we didn't see much of her, and I wasn't particularly impressed by the students' songs.

I think there are some talented folks in Fame Academy, some good singers. But Alistair's song (which he performed last night) was supposedly the best of the bunch, but I thought it was bland and boring. Typical amateur songwriter stuff, maybe easy to listen to, but not original, and not very interesting. I dread to think what the others were like.

I did hear bits of each song - it seems like this week is 'songwriting coaching week" - I think the point is that they can't do this until they get the numbers down enough for it to be manageable.

Of course the problem with "public votes" is that the blandest, least offensive one is likeley to win - I think they are getting towards producing somebody just like last year's winner.

All the songs were rubbish to me - or rather just bland and dull - but it did interest me that they are doing this at all - I just happned to turn on a few times when some of the students were talking about the opportunity to learn and this was encouraging, I thought.

I thought Alex had done some interesting things with one or two tunes covered, changing them significantly, to add interest - but her original song was pretty dull!!

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by gbf

My motivation is really down right now so i guess the way that gives me the fastest results would be the best. i'm not saying that i would like to take the easy way out you know? it's just that everybody i've talked too seemed to find carol's method so much easier and you can make some good solos up front with it. I won't complain about studing hard because i love music more than anything BUT i want to jazz

I think Steve has given a definitive answer - but I would be suspicious of something that appears to be a shortcut - there are no shortcuts!!

I would say that if you are lacking motivation, the answer is to get out and play with some other people. This is what I've found - then you will probably work out pretty quickly what areas you need to work on and you will be very motivated to do better next time!! Oh and it can be fun too!!

Jazz for me is about bouncing ideas off other people and really listening and playing with them - you need to have some vocabulary, but there's no substitute for getting out there and having a conversation!

 

[Kurisu]

So, what book would be the best to learn the chordal approach? Is it Carol Kaye's, Michael Dimin's, or another that I don't know about?

Best would be a book that explains the 'whys'. Like how Steve was talking about the relationship between a 5th resolving perfectly up to the root of the next chord.

Thanks!

 

[lowerclef]

Get Carol's stuff - Jazz Improv for Bass and Pro's Jazz Phrases. It'll set you back less than $20, but there's enough in there to keep you busy for a long time. Tons of great lines to get you started and an explanation of chordal subs.

To address a question asked earlier, to get the altered tensions with chordal theory without using scales, you simply play an augmented or diminished pattern over the dominant chord. You can also use a b5 or other appropriate substitute (Db7 for G7, for example). Often, you can use these licks over the whole ii/V and you can "milk" them by moving the lick up or down 3 frets and repeating, finally resolving to the I chord. This is a very effective way of creating tension and release.

Bruce and I are debating this whole scale vs. chord thing on another thread, but he gave some excellent advice here when he said to make playing with others part of your routine. This is invaluable!