improvising

[handsomeman858]

Basically I'm just curious as to how long it took you experts to get improvising down?

 

[gbf]

I already know what they will tell you... so, I'm taking the liberty to tell you myself. Improvising is a lifetime learning experience. You never stop learning to improvise. Just like eartraining and all those other nice skills

 

[Adam Barkley]

Just play what comes out, it doesn't have to be perfect just something. As with all things practice makes perfect.

A few exercizes you could try are:

1. Play the most random thing that comes to you for 5 minutes, all the while developing the melody and find out what sounded good to you or others.

2. Set out a certain chord progression and then practice a walking line to connects these chords while improvising fills or variations to the melody. Don't be afraid to change key, tempo, time signature, technique, make a mistake, or sound noodley. Sometimes a good melody will come from the most unlikely places.

Record yourself playing if possible and then study the parts that you like and identify why you like them.

Good Luck

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

gbf is right - it's what keeps Jazz players interested for their whole lives and I would be very surprised if any experienced Jazz player said they had ever "got improvising down" !!

It is something you learn more about, all the time and never stop!!

 

[FaBu-]

IMO abark000's exercises were great... I've been having some problems with improvising solo's and that's just what I've been doing and it helps a lot!