Imrov: Melody or chords/scales?

[MichelD]

So here's the deal.

I've been jamming with a group of guys for the past couple years now, playing everything from Dylan and Neil Young tunes through to old blues and a lot of jazz standards.

The others play mandolin, guitar, guitar/dobro and guitar/harmonica.

They are very much into playing the song through once, then going around in a circle giving everyone a solo.

I'm not big on soloing, but to humour them I make my best effort. I am terrible with melody so I work through the chords and use chord tones, mixed with scale notes and passing notes, mostly in a walking bass style, and try to make something passable.

They don't complain, nobody has ever said : "Forget it, let's skip the bass solo on that one."

I've been working hard during this Covid time to learn how to read treble clef better and have been able to get somewhere, working through things like "Autumn leaves," "Summertime," "I'll see you in my dreams," "Smile," etc.

But when it comes to soloing now, I find I either play the melody straight up as written, or jam on the chord notes as described earlier. I can't seem to mix the two, which is to improvise on the melody, which I understand is the accepted way of playing jazz.

 

[BassChuck]

One way to practice what you are talking about is to learn the melody well enough that you don't have to read to play it. Then see how many different ways you can play it. Try different styles, or putting in non melody notes from the chords. Play your solo as high on the neck as you can, or alternate phrases at different ends of the neck.
Unless you're messing with the tempo or key there is little you can do that is 'wrong'. Few people expect the bass to be the 'guiding light' of the solos. Have fun. Once you get more at ease with taking different approaches to the melodic material, you can read some books on the subject, like Jerry Coker's book on jazz.
Just remember, you're telling a story or just filling some time with some good sounds. Every note of every solo doesn't need to set the world on fire, or plot a new direction for jazz. Likewise, a bad solo isn't going to set back the history of music. Play and enjoy. You're lucky to be a part of a group like that.

 

[dreamadream99]

The best improvisers I know fall into one of two camps:

1. Great ear. They can hear any chord progression (even a new one) and find the notes that fit in those keys/chords. They are never wrong. However, they can't forecast the next change--they tend to rest on the downbeat while listening to the new chord, then react to It.
2. Theory expert. They can see any chord progression (even a new one) and find the notes that fit in those keys/chords. They are never wrong. However, often, their solos sound dry or technical--lacking the melodic sensibility of the great ear players.

I personally believe the absolute best come from both camps; they know the theory, so never hit a wrong note by accident, but also have the ear of the artistic creators who extemporaneously craft perfect melodies in real time.