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Improvisation lessons
- Thread starter asmmurray
- Start date
I assume you are talking about improvising a melodic solo line. As opposed to jamming a bass line.
The Internet is full of "How to Improvise" lessons. Improvisation deals with melody thus most of it is written for the solo instruments, i.e. lead electric guitar, keyboard, etc. But, it all revolves around "let the melody be your guide", i.e. the tune has to be in there somewhere. That brings us to "follow the chords" used in the tune.
Our ears like to hear four note phrases, scales and modes taken to the next root note have 8 total notes. Run the scale/mode in two four note segments, pausing in the middle to let the melody breath. Then use the chord's four note arpeggio to bring you back home. Between those three 4 note segments you should have enough to pull together an improvised line based upon the scale and chords used in the song's tune.
Play the chord's pentatonic scale is step one. Of course changing pentatonic scale as the chords change.
Step two = playing the following:
Major key - Major scale, major mode, (Ionian or Lydian) with the maj7 arpeggio R-3-5-7. Lydian and a #4 go hand in hand.
Minor key - Natural minor scale, minor mode, (Aeolian or Dorian) with a minor arpeggio R-b3-5-b7. Dorian and a natural 6 note go hand in hand.
Dominant seventh - Mixolydian and the dominant seven arpeggio. R-3-5-b7. Mixolydian's b7 is your hand in hand note.
Forget about anything diminished for right now.
Let the tune's chords lead you. If you can keep up with the music (what the rhythm section is playing - not letting it run off and leave you) with what is listed above you will be well on your way.
Worth a look' Notice he plays the tune and improvises around the chord's 3rd.
Have fun.
The Internet is full of "How to Improvise" lessons. Improvisation deals with melody thus most of it is written for the solo instruments, i.e. lead electric guitar, keyboard, etc. But, it all revolves around "let the melody be your guide", i.e. the tune has to be in there somewhere. That brings us to "follow the chords" used in the tune.
Our ears like to hear four note phrases, scales and modes taken to the next root note have 8 total notes. Run the scale/mode in two four note segments, pausing in the middle to let the melody breath. Then use the chord's four note arpeggio to bring you back home. Between those three 4 note segments you should have enough to pull together an improvised line based upon the scale and chords used in the song's tune.
Play the chord's pentatonic scale is step one. Of course changing pentatonic scale as the chords change.
Step two = playing the following:
Major key - Major scale, major mode, (Ionian or Lydian) with the maj7 arpeggio R-3-5-7. Lydian and a #4 go hand in hand.
Minor key - Natural minor scale, minor mode, (Aeolian or Dorian) with a minor arpeggio R-b3-5-b7. Dorian and a natural 6 note go hand in hand.
Dominant seventh - Mixolydian and the dominant seven arpeggio. R-3-5-b7. Mixolydian's b7 is your hand in hand note.
Forget about anything diminished for right now.
Let the tune's chords lead you. If you can keep up with the music (what the rhythm section is playing - not letting it run off and leave you) with what is listed above you will be well on your way.
Worth a look' Notice he plays the tune and improvises around the chord's 3rd.
Have fun.
All I would add is to take Jaco's advice and learn to play melodies on your bass. This will make you much more familiar with melodic phrasing. Once you have a couple of melodies learned you can then begin by improvising on those or soloing along to recordings of those songs basing what you play on the melody but experimenting with it too.
Unless you are the reincarnation of Charlie Parker I doubt that trying to launch into anything more free form from a standing start is going to be achieveable.
Unless you are the reincarnation of Charlie Parker I doubt that trying to launch into anything more free form from a standing start is going to be achieveable.
^+ Alot!
Learn the melody and then re-arrange it to make something new..Lately I've been putting melodies from different songs into other songs...i.e. 'So Fresh So Clean' into a Gospel song..only got a few
but mostly 
on sunday.Hey man, please check out some of the videos on my website
Link Removed
Look under the technique or solos section where I go into detail about how I approach solos and improvisation.
Here are some examples from my youtube channel
Transcribing Bird: Starting with the Ballads - YouTube
Improving your swing and practicing without accompaniment - YouTube
hope that helps!
Greg
Link Removed
Look under the technique or solos section where I go into detail about how I approach solos and improvisation.
Here are some examples from my youtube channel
Transcribing Bird: Starting with the Ballads - YouTube
Improving your swing and practicing without accompaniment - YouTube
hope that helps!
Greg
YES. The aforementioned video by MalcolmAmos (Hal Galper's Master Class - Technique, Part 2 - YouTube) is incredible.
