RB-R37297

What I find myself doing if I'm trying to improvise is I'll listen to the solo section a few times before attempting anything, and while I'm listening to the solo section, I'll sing either out loud or in my head. Then I'll do the best I can to translate that to the horn the next time around. Eventually I want to be able to eliminate the sit-there-and-strategize portion of improvising, but I'm hoping that'll come with time. Does anyone have any other helpful tips? Also, sometimes I'll listen to a recording a few times of some random song and solo during the piano solo (I find they're the easiest to block out )

How did you learn to improvise? What helped things click for you?

Markie

What helped me?
Knowing my scales and intervals. I see improvisation as branches that sprout from the melodic tree. A good book that I use, to teach improvisation, is the SPIT book. The SPIT Book supplies the little branches that you can add to the melody and works great with Aebersold.

mush-mouth

If you want to get good at improvising, you need to practice improvising. A LOT. It really helps to have the scales, intervals, and arpeggios memorized, as well as some patterns to use, but when it comes down to it, you really just need to practice improv.

It sounds like you're on the right track with the singing and learning to translate to the horn, and you're right -- it will come with time. I think the most overlooked thing when starting is KEEPING IT SIMPLE!! Don't try to sound "jazzy" at first. Instead, try to embellish the head, and play simple melodies based on the key(s).

Tips:

* It really helps to have some vocabulary, so pick out little 4-8 note passages that you like (from other players) and learn to incorporate them into your solos. (For instance, [1 2 3 5] [b7 5 3 5] That could be one measure over a I chord leading to a IV or a ii). Imitate!

* When you find something you really like, learn to play in in every key you can. Chop it up into little sections and try re-arranging the passage in different ways. Assimilate!

* Invariably, you'll start to find little things that keep popping up in your own playing. That's both good and bad -- good because that probably means you're getting the hang of improv, and bad because it can become a crutch. Either way, that's your style. Develop it!! Don't stagnate by always playing the easy things. Innovate!

* Never forget that silence is golden! If you run out of any ideas, you don't need to start playing random crap. Shut up, listen, and start playing again when you've got something to say.

* Also, Band-In-A-Box can be a real life-saver if you don't always have others to play with.

* I think it's just as important to just play the instrument without any accompaniment. Let your heart guide you. Don't worry if you sound good or not, just play. This is often called "noodling", and it's just as important as any other aspect of playing for someone who wants to compose.

Good luck :)

EDIT: er, I almost forgot -- Sometimes try playing only the most essential notes -- those that directly link each chord of the progression. You can sustain the notes, or play them in repeated staccato, whatever, just pick out the notes that have the most in common with each chord and make as small changes as possible. Imagine this as trying to draw as straight a line as possible through the chorus. Play through many times, each starting out on a new chord tone from the top and see where things go...

Bay Area Brass

Scales, patterns, intervals etc are all great ideas, but most importantly-listen to the players that created the standard for modern jazz improvisation. Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd, Fats Navarro-all great places to start. Listening to players like this will help you develop vocaulary and concept of phrasing and style. Happy studies :)

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Markie

Right on Bay Area Brass! You can't do better than listening to the masters. It is by listening to master trumpet players that a person can hear how the scales, intervals and rests are used in conjunction with the melody.

Bachstul

You have to learn everything mentioned, then, when you improv, you have to forget all of it, and let yourself play from the soul, not the tribulated mind.

The Kraken

I purchase books and playalongs from Jamey Aebersold, the best thing I have ever done. Learn your scales front and back, Major, Minor and Blues. It has done wonders for me, wish I would have done years ago.

NickD

I'm still learning how to do it. However, here is SOME of the stuff I do.

Maj scales and chords
Min 7 chords and Dorian scales
Dom 7 chords and Mixolydian scales
Min 7 b5 chords and Locrian scales
Aug. chords and whole tone scales
Dim 7 chords and dim scales
also
interval studies
tritone subs
patterns
tone rows
I do these chromatically and around the cycle of 4ths.

I also know about 200 tunes from memory and I cycle through as many as possible every day.

I have paid my dues with solo transcriptions and I still work on them.

I listen to music - LOTS of it!

I like to try to emulate sax players and singers.

I hope to figure out to get good at this someday. The quest is a thrill, though! I love the effort to sort this all out!

Nick

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gsmonks

I'm always reluctant when it comes to methods and studying "the masters". Sure, if you want to sound like everyone else.

I'm not saying that the above should be avoided- not at all, and quite the opposite. But I hear precious little originality these days, and far too much what I call "barf" jazz. Jamey Aebersold books teach what I think of as "barf" jazz. Perhaps it's because I have an instinct to shoot anyone I catch playing ii-V-I.

Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor worked at their own thing for years and took great pains to develop a following. A little-known fact about Miles Davis is that he started out as a Dizzy Gillespe clone. Yes, he really could play like Diz in the early days. He also spent his life running for daylight like a good football receiver, finding the open ground and inventing.

I hear lots of guys who can play like fiends these days but precious few who can surprise me.

MrTrimmings

Aebersold and jamming along with recordings of the masters.

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