quick question on lingo - skating the changes

[abracadabra]

Starting to learn ATTYA and in the tutorial on this site it says:

The bridge finishes with a short 2-5 in the key of F minor, which leads us into the final section of the tune. These two chords, Gm7b5 and C7alt, are two of the most important chords in the tune, and are often the ones that can really tell an audience if you are “skating” the changes or not.

What is meant by the term 'skating the changes'?

Does that mean sticking too close to the tonic and ignoring the cool turnarounds?

Or does it mean trying to be cool and playing fancy stuff over fancy chords when you should just stick to the song?

Real noobish question I know....I'm pretty sure it means the first one...

[princeplanet]

I think "skating" in that context may refer to not really spelling out the changes. Like if you were winging it on running scales or pentatonics without landing chord tones on the important beats.

[Drumbler]

You just skip that bar.

Pretend you are tuning your guitar.

There's different versions of this tune. I play it as a 2-5-1 lick and don't really think about the C7+ unless I'm comping.

I guess that could be called "skating".

[ronjazz]

In any event, the F harmonic minor scale provides the notes you need to get through those changes without "skating".

[Reg]

F HM works well... I try and not have to play this tune but when I do I usually play off of C7alt. (b13 and #9) going to Gb13#11, (the standard sub.) to F- where I believe your talking about, all from Db MM obviously. I don't know if there is an official def. but I would agree with what ronjazz appeared to be implying... skating would be faking your way through the changes not really knowing what your doing... you know... just using your ear, what a concept. Always the best Reg
I just read my reply... sounded like a beer commercial from the dos XX...

[abracadabra]

Thanks for the replies follks. I thought that's what the article was saying.

At the moment my improv consists mostly of arps+chromatics, so no chance of 'skating the changes' with that approach!