lead guitar improvisation

[fenderrules]

I heard you guys in guitar do something kewl called improvisation.

Whats that?? Does it have something to do with scales??

Thanks for all your replies dudes!!

 

[tany]

improvisation is when u playing, u do a solo that is played on the spot, no composing prehand

i play it base on scales ya...pentatonic scale, quite structured

 

[vernplum]

Improvisation can be done on any instrument.

It basically means making up some kind of music 'on the spot' without composing it, or thinking it up in advance. Could be a drum rhythm, a guitar solo, a bass break, some random noise, some strung together piano chords - anything.

But generally, improv on any melodic instrument (e.g. pianos, guitars, but not drums, tambourines) use note pitches, which come from scales.

 

[spikes]

so usually your style of improvisation will be based on the kinda music you most play etc blues style, some jazz style, some funk style, some metal style, some rock style...

blues sound like jazz but doesn't have that one chord before jump, jazz may sound like a song gone wrong, but once you learn howta appreciate, its really nice... Funk has alot of raking in it... rock n roll hases lots of doubling and makes you wanna dance to the beat, and metal is shredding all the way? for me metal makes you wanna shake your head to the groove... please dont flame me about that shredding thing...

 

[fenderrules]

oh okay then...

so what will i need to learn if i wanna improvise on the guitar?? any specific scales or instruction?? lets say.....punk

 

[spikes]

punk is just all chords... you dont hear or see any solos in it...

 

[penguin]

since you play punk...i suggest u improvise on the chords .

well u can try soloing as well

 

[pooo]

oh okay then...

so what will i need to learn if i wanna improvise on the guitar?? any specific scales or instruction?? lets say.....punk

You need to know a few scale patterns, and most importantly, your chords. When you play chords, all the notes your finger's are fretting, those can all be part of the improvisation during your solo. Coupled with the scaling patterns, you can add in extra notes for variations but still sound within the key. Since there are many chord variations, you have many different solo spots so to speak. Main thing is that you've gotta know your fingerboard well.

Don't be afraid of hitting the wrong notes while trying out man, it's all part of the learning process. I myself misfire sometimes, which can only mean i don't know my positionings well enough

 

[hellmurderer]

Does that mean that during some concerts like metallica, they also just improvisation? Since some of their songs sound different, do you guys think that they jammed before or just did it using improvisation in their concert?

 

[dhalif]

that is just kirk hammet.. hahahahaha :X

 

[Stairwaytoheaven]

Page improvised on the spot for sure.

 

[fenderrules]

hey thanks for all your advice people!!!

 

[bimbo]

when u improvise u improvise on minor pentatonic or the ionian scale... u base ur improvisation on the scales la... basicallty improvisation quite ok la... if u want ur improvisation to be always like fit the song ( as in not superb improvisation, but won gio wrong) u can always start a phrase by palying the bass note of the chord that is going on... anyway page is super ke!l!! ^.^

 

[SpaTanS]

major scale, minor scale, pentatonic scales ... all can b played.

 

[NickMatthew]

To me i think improvisations in solos are really an important aspect of any guitarists arsenal. For chords... They usually follow a pattern that fits a definite scale. And the chords will set the mood of the song as well... Sad sounding note, play a minor or a diminished chord. Happy sounding note, play a major, major 7th or sustained chords.

As for solos... Once u find that definite scale that it suits... Usually just play around in that key... I.E C,G,Am,F,G,C (as a chord progression) If you can have another guitarist play these chords for you and you fiddle around in the scale of C major or A minor (they have the same notes) you'll notice that they all fit in... Now it's up to you to see what you can come up with! One tip. Instead of playing all straight notes, play along with slides, bends and different techniques like alternating arpeggios, sweep arpeggios, tap, etc.

Hope this helps. And do correct me if i'm wrong... Thanks!

Regards
Nick

 

[neuro182]

Hmm

punk is just all chords... you dont hear or see any solos in it...

haha Spikes ull be surprised at the improvisation of power chords in some punk bands. Improvisation in guitaring need not be jus plain solo-ing alone, it encompasses chord structures too.

Take Linkin Park for instant, they broke out of the usual root chords progression (e.g. C G Am F) & chg it to something more dynamic to make it sound explosive.

That, for a starter, is improvisation.

 

[spikes]

Re: Hmm

punk is just all chords... you dont hear or see any solos in it...

haha Spikes ull be surprised at the improvisation of power chords in some punk bands. Improvisation in guitaring need not be jus plain solo-ing alone, it encompasses chord structures too.

Take Linkin Park for instant, they broke out of the usual root chords progression (e.g. C G Am F) & chg it to something more dynamic to make it sound explosive.

That, for a starter, is improvisation.

oh yes, sorry i missed that out... punk solos are just moving chords around...

 

[neuro182]

Re: Hmm

punk is just all chords... you dont hear or see any solos in it...

haha Spikes ull be surprised at the improvisation of power chords in some punk bands. Improvisation in guitaring need not be jus plain solo-ing alone, it encompasses chord structures too.

Take Linkin Park for instant, they broke out of the usual root chords progression (e.g. C G Am F) & chg it to something more dynamic to make it sound explosive.

That, for a starter, is improvisation.

oh yes, sorry i missed that out... punk solos are just moving chords around...

No prob dude we're all in the process of learning & it nevers stops even when you grow old rite? Rock on hard my brother-in-guitar!!

 

[neuro182]

Metallica

Does that mean that during some concerts like metallica, they also just improvisation? Since some of their songs sound different, do you guys think that they jammed before or just did it using improvisation in their concert?

RHCP for one instance, are super improvisors!! Their solos all sound somewhat diff from the album.

Metallica does improvise on their solos too, but not very significant bec I watched all their live videos, frm Live Sh*t Binge to Cunning Stunts to S&M & other misc live shows, Kirk still stick to the usual solo routine.

One thing I know for sure - Metallica rocks!!!

 

[BlackMoo]

For me, my view on improvisation is not so much to follow scales and stuff. For me, improvisation is more to playing out what you feel. Deliver the feelings inside,(of course, must be relevant to the song) regardless of what scales you use in the process... Well thats just me.