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I’m finding that it’s difficult for me to just sit down and improvise something. I find I do much better if I plan it out in advance and tab it with Guitar Pro to practice. It takes me a long time doing it this way but it really sounds much better.
Is this typical for beginners improvising? Does it just take time?
Joe
The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge -
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Hey Joe, I’ve been an AM member for over 10 years. It took me 3 years of learning Brian’s lessons before I even tried to do some improv. I started by messing around with some of Brian’s lessons that involved doing simple imrov using only 3 notes. EP022 comes to mind, but there were a couple others I got into also. The point is, if you limit yourself to 3 or 4 notes, you can amuse yourself by rearranging the order you play them, the beat sequences, which ones to repeat, which ones to bend or slide. To me, it sounds like you want to just start off with a complex improv like John Mayer or the other pros. To do that, I would even now have to write out the tabs and memorize the sequence, or else just record it bit by bit and then play it over and over to memorize it. That is composition, not improvisation. “K.I.S.S.” was an overused expression from the 80s that is applicable here.
Sunjamr Steve
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Steve is right, that’s composing. Nothing wrong with doing that, but it’s not improvising. One way to go about this is to know small phrases (lick parts) that work well on a given chord within a key. You can build up a bunch of commonly used licks or come up with your own variations on the common ones that fit the chord at hand.
There are C licks, rooted off the C on the 5th string (also 2nd string).
There are A licks, rooted off the A on the 5th string (also 3rd string).
There are G licks, rooted off the G on the 6th string (also 3rd & 1st strings).
There are E licks, rooted off the E on the 6th string (also 4th & 1st strings).
There are D licks, rooted off the D on the 4th string (also 2nd string).Some of them use open strings, and some do not. All the ones that do not use open strings are closed position licks that are very valuable to know due to the fact that they can be shifted into any chord or key.
Your ability to know the difference between them and how to use them makes all the difference in the world. You only need a few to start with, but building your arsenal of licks organized mentally by the above CAGED framework is how you develop freedom to express yourself in the moment during improv sessions.
Notice, I did not say anything about scales. Of course once you have the above parts worked out well, then you can embellish melodies base on scales.
It is of course possible to do this in reverse and start with a melody and embellish the melody your bag of licks. I assume that’s what you have been doing so far. That’s another way to approach it. Shane Theriot has a great video on doing just that where he used Mary Had a Little Lamb melody to start with, then he describes how to add licks or embellishments onto the melody without losing the underlying melody while you play it. It’s one of the best lessons I have seen him do.
Some players that improvise well can make up a melody on the spot, then stick to it throughout the improv session. That’s an awesome skill to work on right there.
Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.
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I think my problem is I don’t know enough! I’m barely comfortable with the Pentatonic scales. I’m trying to pick up what I can about CAGED. And I’m trying to learn all the notes on the fretboard. I’ll send you a PM.
Joe
The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge
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Hey Joe,
I don’t use Guitar Pro or tab out any licks or sequences. However what I do find helps is, if I’m trying to develop or improvise a sequence from scratch I’ll often just record each passing lick or riff on my looper, only so I don’t forget them when going on to the next piece in the sequence.Playing back the recorded loops after a pause or maybe a day or two helps me quickly pick up where I left off, by either improving the licks or piecing them together. Once the newly improvised licks are ingrained into me, I’ll delete the loop recordings.
It’s certainly quick and works for me,
Richard
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Hi Joe, on the Weekly Lessons page do a search for “triangle”. The first 3 or 4 lessons are a pattern that Brian teaches made of a triangle and a square. They come from the pentatonic scale. Great easy, limited, range to begin some improv. And, as Brian demonstrates, you actually can get a lot of mileage out of that. It’s really more about the phrasing than the notes. See if those lessons help.
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