Jazz soloing technique

[nilorius]

On that time, you should know on whitch chord are you now, the other is improvisation, of course if you have some friendship with solfedgio.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I have evolved to using a drum machine app for everything including my orchestral rep practice. Drum loops give you the groove and back beat to play against. Try it with your Mozart rep.

Interesting that you say you have evolved TO a drum machine. I feel like I've evolved FROM a drum machine. The thing with machines vice a click is that they provide too much information, so there's always something to hang your groove on.

Playing a line (or whatever) with the click placed ONLY on the one or two or three, etc helps to better solidify your time feel. Playing with the click hitting only on the "e's" - "and's" or "a's" of every beat will really mess with your mind.

 

[DolphinBro]

Interesting that you say you have evolved TO a drum machine. I feel like I've evolved FROM a drum machine. The thing with machines vice a click is that they provide too much information, so there's always something to hang your groove on.

Playing a line (or whatever) with the click placed ONLY on the one or two or three, etc helps to better solidify your time feel. Playing with the click hitting only on the "e's" - "and's" or "a's" of every beat will really mess with your mind.

I agree. Most sophisticated pattern I use may involve a simple rim shot or high hat. Any more and you may find it harder to improvise against such as changing from a Latin groove to swing (or Bach). I do use a set groove sometimes but my bass line (my imagination) is more likely to follow that groove.

 

[Tom Bomb]

This was posted, quite some time ago, and I neglected to bookmark it But I just found it on the toob. It's nice sometimes, perhaps, to venture beyond your realm a little — get a fresh perspective. So, I'm enjoying this talk — with thanks again to the member here who once posted it — when this guy, Jayen Varma, started 'taka-ti-mi, ta-ka-ta-ka, tak-a-ti-mi, u-ta-kin-ti-mi?' … about time — when time gets a little … curly. Syllabic even,

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[Pbassmanca]

This was posted, quite some time ago, and I neglected to bookmark it But I just found it on the toob. It's nice sometimes, perhaps, to venture outside your realm a little — get a fresh perspective. So, I'm enjoying this talk — with thanks again to the member here who once posted it — when this guy, Jayen Varma, started 'taka-ti-mi, ta-ka-ta-ka, tak-a-ti-mi, u-ta-kin-ti-mi?' … about time — when time gets a little … curly. Syllabic even,

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Wonderful!

 

[Pbassmanca]

The musical cultures, rhythms and melodies of India have been developing for more than 5 millenia. Think about that for a second.....

 

[Whousedtoplay]

The thing with machines vice a click is that they provide too much information, so there's always something to hang your groove on.

If I were to teach a class on "groove", I would separate the playing with the click and playing with the drum machine pattern (and other instruments from a rhythm section.)
Both methods of the click/drum machine training are good and are needed, just they are different.

 

[H. Bob]

I watch players soloing some jazz sounding chops, I solo but never can create the sound, what scales are being used in a jazz solo.
Thanks

Agree it is best to listen to the greats and try to transcribe their solos. Another suggestion is to learn the "alt" scale, a very useful arrow in your quiver. Here are the basics: Altered scale - Wikipedia

 

[Walk The Dogs]

Basically, everything helps. There is no one secret. Learn your scales, arpeggios and pentatonics. In all inversions. Learn the modes. Learn how to use tensions and approach notes. Learn how to apply momentary modulations and how to use equi-interval scales. Learn Harmony and reharmonization. Train your ears. Practice trombone etudes.

Effective soloing is the culmination of all these skills. I'm a fairly mediocre soloist because I won't invest the hours/day into practicing what I know I need to know lots better than I do. OTOH, I appreciate a solid bass groove more than I do a bass solo so I haven't been inspired to lock myself in the basement for four hours every day just to get my two minutes of solo glory that night.

I know there's a nirvana at the end of the tunnel where you can basically shove all that training into archive memory and just *play*. Like a monster. I caught a glimpse of it when I saw Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock play together. Just two Yamaha concert grands and literally no prefab songs. They just sat down and played for an hour, bouncing off each other, building as they went. It was the most incredible display of musicianship and freedom I've ever heard. When the show ended I was actually panting like I'd just run a 5k. I turned around and saw Marcus Miller sitting behind me doing the same.