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Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: July 27 2014 at 17:52
^ Wow, I really don't know why my phone wouldn't fetch me the notification of your post; sorry I'm replying so late.
I find a lot of traditional, legendary jazz (and by this clumsy choice of words I mean avant-, modal, cool, hard bop, bebop - basically 'Trane and Miles' stuff) hard to follow. So much improvisation going on that it's hard to see a tune in a piece.
Joined: June 13 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3834
Posted: July 11 2014 at 17:30
This tune is quite tough, but the changes are a dream to improvise over once you get your head around them. I'll post a video of my modest attempt at some point
Joined: December 24 2011
Location: Haderslev
Status: Offline
Points: 68
Posted: July 10 2014 at 21:07
Dayvenkirq wrote:
PC-72 wrote:
Launch analog sequencer, have the polysynth hold a relevant minor chord. Either that or put multitracks of some old thing of my own and mute all the leads. I avoid improvising to pieces of music I haven't at least been involved in, both out of principle and out of extreme paranoia of accidental plagiarism down the road.
Nice. But what are you thinking about while you are improvising? I've skimmed through an article about a saxophonist who has a lot of chords burned into his brain so that he knows what chord is coming next in a composition before he determines how to solo over it. What little technical things do you think about?
None! I'm usually just trying to think how I can put whatever story/image that is at hand in notes without making it so complicated I can't play it twice. Either that or trying to see what images come out of whatever I'm playing, again without making it so complicated I can't play it twice. Just musical brainstorming, in other words!
A negative number was raised to a power that is not an integer.
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397
Posted: July 10 2014 at 02:14
Dayvenkirq wrote:
^ So, basically it's noodling without any knowledge about the music, correct? ... I tried doing that.
What technical concepts do you use when you improvise? Do you know scales?
I mess around until I find a note that sounds right, then I either noodle some more or mess around with scale/mode patterns. I have basic knowledge of scales/modes but I mostly mess around and do it by ear
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397
Posted: July 10 2014 at 02:05
Dayvenkirq wrote:
By the way, I've changed something in the thread's OP:
Dayvenkirq wrote:
EDIT: I've extended the premise of the thread a little bit. Given that I struggle with improvisation, I want to know what the lads here think about when they improvise.(It really is a shame that I haven't put that in my OP early on. Damn me. )
I try and enter whatever emotion is boiling underneath at the given moment, whether it's rage at a sh*tty day, sadness from something I read, etc. I really just try and let it seep out musically.
I try and be honest about those feelings too, as I'm playing
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: July 10 2014 at 02:04
PC-72 wrote:
Launch analog sequencer, have the polysynth hold a relevant minor chord. Either that or put multitracks of some old thing of my own and mute all the leads. I avoid improvising to pieces of music I haven't at least been involved in, both out of principle and out of extreme paranoia of accidental plagiarism down the road.
Nice. But what are you thinking about while you are improvising? I've skimmed through an article about a saxophonist who has a lot of chords burned into his brain so that he knows what chord is coming next in a composition before he determines how to solo over it. What little technical things do you think about?
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397
Posted: July 10 2014 at 02:03
Dayvenkirq wrote:
^ Ooh, there's no way I'd be able to improvise to commercial tunes. Not much to go on to. I need to feel the chords. Maybe the chord progression needs to sound great before I pick up my guitar.
By the way, I've changed something in the thread's OP:
Dayvenkirq wrote:
EDIT: I've extended the premise of the thread a little bit. Given that I struggle with improvisation, I want to know what the lads here think about when they improvise.(It really is a shame that I haven't put that in my OP early on. Damn me. )
Ever tried looking up the commercial on Youtube? Changes are you'll find it.
I think it may have been an infomercial I improvised on - like a long 30 minute one haha. More to chew on there!
Joined: December 24 2011
Location: Haderslev
Status: Offline
Points: 68
Posted: July 10 2014 at 01:59
Launch analog sequencer, have the polysynth hold a relevant minor chord. Either that or put multitracks of some old thing of my own and mute all the leads. I avoid improvising to pieces of music I haven't at least been involved in, both out of principle and out of extreme paranoia of accidental plagiarism down the road.
A negative number was raised to a power that is not an integer.
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: July 10 2014 at 01:58
^ Ooh, there's no way I'd be able to improvise to commercial tunes. Not much to go on to. I need to feel the chords. Maybe the chord progression needs to sound great before I pick up my guitar.
By the way, I've changed something in the thread's OP:
Dayvenkirq wrote:
EDIT: I've extended the premise of the thread a little bit. Given that I struggle with improvisation, I want to know what the lads here think about when they improvise.(It really is a shame that I haven't put that in my OP early on. Damn me. )
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397
Posted: July 10 2014 at 00:51
One fun way to improvise is when you're sitting on the couch with the TV on and hear a random commercial's music, or the soundtrack to a movie or show. I've had random moments of spontaneity like that that have been really awesome
Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4596
Posted: October 26 2013 at 18:28
Dayvenkirq wrote:
^ ... Something like:
D C D C Bm Am
D C D C B [coda]
Ya, I just set up my Motif to play the bass/drums/mellotron of the D C D C Bm Am indefinitely then quit when I start repeating my solo too much...sometimes I last 5 minutes, sometimes an hour
Edited by The.Crimson.King - October 26 2013 at 18:28
Joined: October 24 2013
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 9
Posted: October 24 2013 at 22:41
I started jammin over miles davis recordings and charlie parker, but now i knnnow something more about changes and that they weren't just playing scales haha
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: July 04 2013 at 20:51
Just been improvising to Soft Machine's "As If" ... in this heat. Jesus, maybe improv ain't my thing. I know all the basics, but I guess I haven't been doing it enough.
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What kind of music do you improvise to and how?
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Dayvenkirq wrote:
... Something like:
