Thought Process During Improvising |
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Jan 31 2013, 05:19 PM
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Same here.
'Practice time' is for the theoretical, 'Gig/Jam time' is for just playing though I do think about where I am in the piece. I generally know what chords I'm playing and more importantly - where I'm going. When I'm in a new or unfamiliar situation I try to feel out and actually learn (memorize if possible) the overall form of whatever I'm playing as quickly as possible. *This where learning a lot of songs comes in handy. At this point in my guitar playing life there's very little in the way of 'chord progressions' that I haven't seen/heard before. By 'form' I mean: key, chord prog (or main tonal centers), overall feel and most importantly what I can do to add to the moment. Sometimes I fail miserably but if I stick with just trying to simple and musical usually everything works out. EXCELLENT QUESTION! -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 31 2013, 05:41 PM
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I play a lot of 'pick-up' gigs i.e., some tunes I know and some I don't. Most of the time the band/leader has a book of at least chord charts. You're expected to solo even on the songs you don't know. I these cases, because I know a lot of 'other' songs, I'll read the changes but most of the time I'm reading through familiar territory. I can look ahead at large chunks and have a general idea of what's going on. Like "OK, here's a ii-V-I in D then it goes to the IV" etc.
*If I don't have to solo 'first' that helps to give me more time to find my bearings so to speak. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 31 2013, 05:41 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Feb 2 2013, 01:23 AM
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QUOTE (Jonas Tamas @ Feb 1 2013, 05:42 PM)  It is always a big challenge for playing a song you didn't know before. In these cases, what is your internal self-talk before/during playing that song? How do you keep your cool under pressure? I'm sure it's quite a bit of a concentration that's required! 1) If it's really that un-familiar, before the tune starts and/or while guys are chit chatting - I'm checking out the changes. During the melody or head or whatever you wanna call it, besides actually playing the chords (or melody if I'm supposed to be doing that), I'm making a note of the MAIN KEY CENTERS. I may even play a little 'fill' to check out what works. I use a volume pedal a lot to sneak notes in and out. If there's another guitar player or a keyboard player I just hang back for the first verse and chorus. Better to not play anything than to urinate all over it. 2) I've been doing this a long time. Rarely do I encounter a set of chords that aren't at least somewhat familiar. 3) Because of number 2 above, I'm not afraid to play ... which helps me not freak out when I do encounter the unexpected. 4) Personally, I respond well to pressure. *Slightly off topic but if I don't have new music to learn and a 'project' - I may not pick up a guitar for days or even a couple of weeks. This post has been edited by klasaine: Feb 2 2013, 01:36 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Feb 3 2013, 05:54 PM
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QUOTE (Jonas Tamas @ Feb 3 2013, 01:11 PM) Thanks for your detailed answer, you wrote really useful tips in your 1) segment! Regarding your last sentence about not playing the guitar for days or for 1-2 weeks: that sounds very interesting because you've been playing for well over a decade now, I'd guess, and you must be really good at it. So what are the reasons for not playing the guitar for longer periods? Is it first and foremost time management constraints (i.e. job and family), or is it another reason behind it? I got my first guitar in 1970 - I was 8 years old. Just strummed on Em, G, D, C and A for probably five years. Started to get serious at age 13 or 14. So yes, I've been playing over a decade - lol! The main reason I may not play for days at a time is that I don't trip out if I'm not inspired to play or don't have a solid reason to play. I used to get really concerned that I'd lose my chops if I didn't play even for two or three days. I will get a bit 'rusty' but I can get it all back in a couple of hours. I usually take a solid two weeks off a year, sometimes three weeks. It all comes back within 3 or 4 days of regimented technique practice. During those 'off' times I'm definitely thinking about music and even playing it in my head. And when I do get back to it, especially after a week or two, I'm very excited and inspired to play. *I remember reading an interview with Zappa and he said that after a tour ended and before he started writing/rehearsing for a new record or tour that he sometimes wouldn't touch a guitar for weeks or even months. I am fortunate and eternally grateful to the powers that be that I'm allowed to do this (guitar playing) for a living. If I don't have a specific 'project' upcoming or a ton of gigs on the calendar then sometimes I just leave her in the case ... and go on a vacation. I do have a family and my wife is from Italy. All her family still live there - they need to see their grandson. We go for at least two weeks a year. Conversely there are periods when I can't put it down. You can't force the muse. She comes when she wants. This post has been edited by klasaine: Feb 3 2013, 05:59 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Feb 4 2013, 07:01 AM
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And just to take it back to the OP, improvisation ... Wayne Shorter sums it up best:
"The six years I was with Miles, we never talked about music. We never had a rehearsal", Shorter says. "Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz' means, 'I dare you'. The effort to break out of something is worth more than getting an A in syncopation. "This music, it's dealing with the unexpected," he adds. "No one really knows how to deal with the unexpected. How do you rehearse the unknown?" -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Feb 7 2013, 12:20 PM
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I think we all do!
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