How to improvise?
- Thread starter Kaye
- Start date
i suck at it too, but over time you'll improve, and i still currently suck at it... sometimes, improvisation just takes time and you get better at it, some just got 'talent' and when they pinn these ideas on the fret board that pops out of their heads... you notice when we play we'll think our playing is nice, but when we record it and play back, we dont know how horrid we sound, i have that kinda expierence before, however that urged me to practise more and improve... maybe it'll work out for you just as how it did for me? get a backing track and try improvising and playback, maybe you'll see how you improve from your recordings... and when you do that till you're good enough, post it here 
Hey Kaye. You can try using the 1st pentatonic shape.
Alright say the song is in the key of E. You solo either on the open string or the 12th fret. I'm just talking about octaves and the 1st shape of pentatonic scale.
Try to get some blues backings and solo the shape over it. I advise you to go over the shape a few times with the backing, 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 3.
Until you're ok with the timing and stuffs, add bends, vibratos, pulls offs, hammer on. Try to get the accuracy 1st, use a metronome. (www.metronomeonline.com) Its free 8)
Don't focus too much on speed 1st, try doing slow, try to "catch" your feel, and until you're comfortable with the shape, speed it up. Speeding up the licks is one way in playing fast. Additionally you can do chromatic runs/string skipping exercises/economy picking/alternate picking and so on. Start at slow speed, make sure your notes ring out loud and clear. Then "accelerate".
Alright say the song is in the key of E. You solo either on the open string or the 12th fret. I'm just talking about octaves and the 1st shape of pentatonic scale.
Try to get some blues backings and solo the shape over it. I advise you to go over the shape a few times with the backing, 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 3.
Until you're ok with the timing and stuffs, add bends, vibratos, pulls offs, hammer on. Try to get the accuracy 1st, use a metronome. (www.metronomeonline.com) Its free 8)
Don't focus too much on speed 1st, try doing slow, try to "catch" your feel, and until you're comfortable with the shape, speed it up. Speeding up the licks is one way in playing fast. Additionally you can do chromatic runs/string skipping exercises/economy picking/alternate picking and so on. Start at slow speed, make sure your notes ring out loud and clear. Then "accelerate".
pooo
New member
Know your chords well. Memorize whatever chord position you can. When you improvise, you'll know which notes to hit, and which not to. Then get some scales down, work with those chords. After figuring out all that, start coming up with your own ideas and patterns and get used to it
I find it strange that people always talk about scales and patterns, licks and all for improvisation, but often forget the importance of chord knowledge with which to apply these into :?
I find it strange that people always talk about scales and patterns, licks and all for improvisation, but often forget the importance of chord knowledge with which to apply these into :?
vernplum
New member
hmm.. i tried searchin thru the old posts and stuffs.. but yeah noobie and my guitar/music theory sucks. for example: in the key of E.. erm what does that means?
Hmm.. improvising.. chords? eh.. i'm confused. yes i know those chords like. G, Em, D, Am, A bla bla and power chords. how should i apply those chords when improvising?
Metronome? hmm it's sth to do with the timing right? but what is it actually? a machine thingy?
hahaa have been playin over 3 years.. but i'm more of a acoustic person.. and yeah sadly i still suck. Trying to absorb new stuffs and improve.
Hmm.. improvising.. chords? eh.. i'm confused. yes i know those chords like. G, Em, D, Am, A bla bla and power chords. how should i apply those chords when improvising?
Metronome? hmm it's sth to do with the timing right? but what is it actually? a machine thingy?
hahaa have been playin over 3 years.. but i'm more of a acoustic person.. and yeah
sadly i still suck. Trying to absorb new stuffs and improve.come for the NE jam thing, we'll teach you personally!!
personally i feel the approach will be different depending on WHY you're improvising.
do you wanna be able to (1) do a different solo on the same song each time or (2) be able to whip out crazy creative chord progressions at any time of the day or (3) make improvisational music an art in itself?
actually the simple answer is that you've got to master your instrument and know your music. songs, chords, licks, scales, weird exercises, hearing, etc.
it only takes "a bit" of discipline.
personally i feel the approach will be different depending on WHY you're improvising.
do you wanna be able to (1) do a different solo on the same song each time or (2) be able to whip out crazy creative chord progressions at any time of the day or (3) make improvisational music an art in itself?
actually the simple answer is that you've got to master your instrument and know your music. songs, chords, licks, scales, weird exercises, hearing, etc.
it only takes "a bit" of discipline.
Check out the "Musicians Available" forum, go to the "NorthEastern Musicians" thread.
Sunday 4.30pm at Wee Lee at Upper Serangoon. Meeting at Serangoon MRT. Tentatively.
I think even if you're from Taiwan, Hongkong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, North Pole, South Pole, also will be welcome as long as you can make it to Serangoon MRT :lol:
I'm being told there might be a problem fitting everyone into one tiny room, but atm I don't think that will be a problem. Now we've only got 3 confirmed, 1 semi-confirmed.
Sunday 4.30pm at Wee Lee at Upper Serangoon. Meeting at Serangoon MRT. Tentatively.
I think even if you're from Taiwan, Hongkong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, North Pole, South Pole, also will be welcome as long as you can make it to Serangoon MRT :lol:
I'm being told there might be a problem fitting everyone into one tiny room, but atm I don't think that will be a problem. Now we've only got 3 confirmed, 1 semi-confirmed.
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