Improvising on guitar

[Yazstremski421]

For the past month or so I have been trying to get good at improvising. Right now i know positions for different keys on the guitarm but i know there is more to it. What suggestions do you have on how to develope this skill?

[Greg]

I'd start with the pentonic scale. Just 5 notes. But learn to play them up and down several octaves.

When you only have 5 notes to concentrate on, it makes it so much easier to focus some mood into the playing.

That's the secret anyhow. Once it's pure feeling, nobody can ever copy it, no matter how many times they hear it.

So practice on playing the same small phrases in as many different "moods" as you can. Accent different notes, fluctuate the dynamics and speed.

5 notes - that's a good start, I think.

[Guest]

I dunno Greg - who taught you to spell, eh..It's pentatonic and this is a good link...
http://www.teoria.com/reference/scales/12.htm

[Greg]

I lerned to spell all by myselph. Anyhow, I got the number right.

[brucechambers]

I don't play guitar, but I strongly believe that if you learn the scales, you can improvise on any instrument. Now I just have to learn my scales

[kritta16]

well against my own better judgment, i'm gonna weigh in on this.

my first week in music college (guitar major -- yeah, they have a place that specializes in that major) we all got a syllabus (schedule of what you're supposed to be doing instead of when you're actually out fooling around lol).

for our first semester:

learn all major scales in 5 different hand positions, up the neck - incorporate into circle of 4ths, wherein you will eventually be able to perform a complete circle of 4ths, in major scales, in 5 different hand positions.

play a G7 chord in 28 different places on the guitar neck

hey - i was a hit at all the college parties---
"hey peggy - come play us 28 G7s! " (turns to buddies) "hey check her out!" lol

uh, there's no substitute for practice?

that was only the FIRST semester. and i was the worst one in my class. LOL

[5T]

My favorite technique for improvising is to meditate with a guitar in my hands, but without looking at what my fingers are doing - 'cos I'm meditating!

Just sit and breathe and eventually start to play along with your breathing - don't worry about what the notes are or how it sounds or even if you like what you're playing until you've done this for at least a few minutes!

Then keep the good bits, if you like. It may be helpful to record these sessions and listen to them back to remind you of what you've done.

good luck
-5-

[Bluessunn]

It nice to see someone who plays the way I write!

This seems to be a very healing as well as empathic method of connecting

with the music.

-Taylor A. of Bluessunn





To get a feel for artists I have recorded/ promoted, check out:

http://www.myspace.com/jaminbray

http://www.myspace.com/catarinothebutcher

[mlr_pa]

Hmmmmm..... You know your scales, but are you familiar with all the modes? Yes, each note of the scale, has it's own scale, and each of those scales has it's own subtle differences. Sit down, and learn them, and then create the pentatonic scales that seem to work best for what you want to do. Just my 2 cents worth.

[JeraldHenry]

I'll have to agree with Peggy/Kritta16 on this one, "there's no substitute for practice. "
When I was learning to play, every evening I'd sit down for a minimum of 30 minutes and practice. I played along with my favorite record (after tediously figuring it out) practice my scales, and just make up a chord progression and jam. Of course, I was single in those days and now I'm fortunate enough to get quite a few hours in each week playing with the band.

[mr_molasses]

another thing that helps with improvising is listening and transcribing. pick some solos you like and learn em'. i wouldn't suggest just ripping off another artist, but learn it to get into their head. try to figure out what they were thinking and the reasons why they picked the notes they picked (note choice). of course, having an understanding of theory helps this process. eventually, you will be able to use te same reasoning for their note choice to come up with you own unique melodies. funny how that works isn't it?

[Reconsiderate]