j4k8

i want to learn how to improvise but dont know where to start
is there any recommended books or cds?

Strad37

In my opinion, the best thing to start out with is some Jamey Abbersold books. How it works is that you have a written melody with the chord changes above each measure so that you can see the chords being played. Also, right underneath the melody you have to scales written out right there for you to see so that beginners can actually see the notes that you can and should play for each one of the chord changes. The book includes a CD that has a backtrack for each song. You have a complete rhythm section to play along with: drums, bass, and piano. These books are very affordable and are definetly my favorite way to practice improvising, wether you are a beginner or a pro.

The website is easy to remember: www.jazzbooks.com

p.s. I would recommend you start out with book #2: Nothin' But Blues. It's perfect if you're just starting out.

dlewis

The band in the box program is also nice

Yazz Ahmed

When I first started improvising I used to try to play along to my Grandfather's old Dizzy Gillespie records but I'd personally recomend Kind of Blue by Miles Davis (which you might already have) to start off with. However, it depends on what sort of music really captures you.

You should definitely try the Aebersold play along books. One you should get is Volume 3 II/V7/I Progression. You can start off by playing the scales and arpeggios (which are already written out) to the backing track. Then when you are more familiar with the chords try improvising. The book also has a load of jazz licks at the back which you can use and alter however you like. Hope this is helpful!

Yazz

confuoco

Abbersold books hands down for me.

hubnub

I'm with the others..... Aebersolds all the way, but don't overwhelm yourself. Vol 2,3,and 24 are good places to start. After that, get into Dan Haerles "the Jazz Language" and Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book" They are also available at jazzbooks.com.

A couple of ways to work one beginning improvising is to work on "tonal centers" also. Being able to hear major, minor, augmented, diminished sounds is important. Aebersold Vol 24 is major and minor and it goes through all keys based on major and minor tonalities (you'll see when you get the book) In parts of the book you'll play extensively over one chord.

Another good way to do this is to take your good 'ol Clarke Tech studies book and take #2 and #3 and fit those studies to correspond with a given tonality. For example, take #2 and play it as written on the page in the major keys (#32-- c-d-e-c--d-e-f-d--etc), then change them all to minor (c-d-eb-c-- d-eb-f-d--etc), and then to augmented, and then to diminished. Same for #3. It'll help get the sound in your head if you're not familiar with them and you're still sheddin trumpet. Pat Harbison has a book that shows you all this, and not to give a negative poke at Pat b/c he's a killer player, but you get more advantage out of shedding them from memory then you will from reading them out of a book. My trumpet teacher in college showed me how to do them buy rote process.... then at the end of the semester..... showed me the book ;-0

The last way I'll suggest is to listen like it's your job! Find players you dig. Check the thread on "the most lyrical jazzer" for some names. You can also hit up Ingrid Jensens forum in the artist section for answers to your questions.

Good luck. Keep us posted on our progress.

Sorry, one more thing. Think of improvisation as spontaneous compostition. Try to do the arrpeggios and scales like Yazz said but try to do them by not reading them.... try to do them by ear. It'll help your "rote" process. Not that you're at this point yet, but get acustom to doing things by ear so when you are on the band stand blowing tunes, you're not reading music, you're making music.

S-Money

Listening and Transcription!

stchasking

I bought "Music Theory for Idiots" as a way of learning the vocabulary of chords and scales and reviewing my two years of piano lessons 45 years ago. It might be helpful. Buy it on Amazon.com. It is a little cheaper on Amazon.

confuoco

Nice post Hubnub

Billy B

What Jazz music do you listen to? How often? How much?