QUOTE (Fusar @ Mar 7 2010, 01:58 AM)
Hey Pedja!
Maybe you've seen my thread on jazz music - the last weeks I'm really into this kind of stuff! Now I saw a pianist improvising some jazz...and I remembered myself, as a little child, listening to an old man who improvised to a film. That was the moment I decided to play the piano, but today I realized that I lost this target a little bit over the years. Now, I want to focus again on this
I'm aware that jazz improvisation will not satisfy me in two month, I'll have to sacrifice a lot of time. Therefore, I need professional advice where I can start
I think it doesn't matter if I'm talking about piano or guitar...
My music theory background is existing
, but very classical, so I don't know much about dorian scales (for example) yet. As well, I don't have experience in harmony and analyze.
Maybe you've got some tips, ressource links or books I could buy to have a good start?
See you!
Hey Fusar
I haven't seen your thread on jazz music but I will go after and try to find it on forums. Your story is very motivating but also realistic. As you said yourself, Jazz improvising won't come over night. This is something that you have to work on a lot as it is language on its own.
My suggestions are following :
- Listen to as much Jazz music as possible. By listening to Jazz music, your ear starts to remember rhythms and some specific melodic ideas, phrases, arpeggios etc.
- Learning theory and harmony. It is essential in Jazz music to know what to do over what type of chord or chord progression. This is where theory and harmony kicks in and it can help you a lot.
- Practice every day, specific things. Focus on soloing with arpeggios and chord tones, then start working on soloing with modes, later add pentatonic scales, every day work on your rhythm vocabulary...
- Transcribing solos. Very important aspect of Jazz improvisation and improvement is transcribing and analyzing your favorite Jazz artists. Maybe you want to transcribe some Miles Davies, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gilespie etc. My suggestion is that you should transcribe something that is not guitar related!!!
- Create a practice schedule and stick to it. This is very obvious thing but most people never get around and follow it. Being disciplined will have you stay focus on your goals and if you are focused results are right around the corner.
- Recording. Just like transcribing is useful for analyzing other people's work, recording yourself will give you great insight of your own faults and good things you tend to do. Think of it as being a mirror of your real time improvising.
- Jamming and performing with other musicians. This alone can accelerate your playing so much that I can't even describe. To play with other people Jazz music you need to have "some" foundation. That foundation comes from things I mentioned in my previous points. Just remember, don't be afraid to perform, go out there do your best every time and that is all that matters!
Let me know if you have any more questions Fusar !
Pedja
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GMC Forum > Discussion Boards > VINTAGE GMC > Community Activities and Tutorials > Ask an Instructor > More instructors > Pedja Simovic > Improvising (Pedja)
