Insensatez

santiboy · #1 07-28-2010, 05:26 AM

Hi guys, anybody got any ideas on how to aproach improvising over this standard. I tend to stay in Fmajor and its not sounding all that jazzy?
Any hints would be great.

franco6719 · #2 07-31-2010, 03:12 AM

Well, I would definitely recommend starting with a chord tones/arpeggios approach on a tune like that. Play off the melody a bit. Definitely do NOT stay in Fmajor/Dminor.

Reg · #3 07-31-2010, 02:27 PM

Very briefly... 1st time through I usually play off melody, 2nd time I play both D aeolian and Har.Min on 1st four bars. On C-6, I play MM and Dorian, on bars 7&8 I play B-7b5 to E7alt as though going to A-.
On Bbmaj7 and Ebmaj7 I play typ. Lydian( bVI to bII). E-7b5 to A7 b9 to D-7 pretty typ altered II V I- things...Db13 is lydian b7 or G7alt, I play between the two to get to C-7(bar 17) like bars 5-8. Bars 21 on are similar approaches to chordal areas. I'm giving you harmonic areas I pull from, as thought I didn't know tune and was doing an on the spot analysis, like at gig. I rarely stay in simple harmonic areas and usually add many more... that's what jazz players do...Hope helps... Best Reg

franco6719 · #4 08-01-2010, 02:47 AM

At OP: If you follow Reg, I hope your ears are EXTRAORDINARILY well-developed. Unless you can actually hear melodies from those scales, I can assure you that you will sound like a very knowlegable scalista but musical crap!

Reg · #5 08-01-2010, 09:43 AM

Hey ...if you simple play an arpeggio pattern from the implied changing harmonic areas with a developing rhythmic accent pattern, and simply change the notes to reflect or mirror the melody... you'll be ready for the elevators...As Franco mentioned the last thing you want to sound like is a guitar store scale shredder, or for that matter a simple arpeggio player they both get old etc.. How Insensitive is typ. Jobim tune, beautiful and fairly simple. Every note from his melody, (as with all melodies or note patterns) have a complete harmonic or vertical collection of notes. That's the part that could get difficult, depending on your skill level. If you would send me a sample of your playing or a more detailed description of your level of musicianship. I'll gladly make you a guide that would reflect what you could play over "How Insensitive", and one more a little cleaner of how I approach tune. My personal approach changes, depending on what level of musicians I'm gigging with... Sorry for previous quick answer, I should know better... Best Reg

franco6719 · #6 08-01-2010, 12:39 PM

"if you simple play an arpeggio pattern from the implied changing harmonic areas with a developing rhythmic accent pattern, and simply change the notes to reflect or mirror the melody... you'll be ready for the elevators."

Certainly!!