How to start with improvisation?

[meandme]

Hello, I am trying to start play jazz (or solo) guitar after many years spended only with classic guitar. It is quite different thinking. You know! I have teacher, he is good musician. But maybe he do not have a progressive method of teaching,.. he do not know, how to work with beginners. And I am beginner, really now I feel, that when I played classic guitar, I did not think like musician. I only played, what was written in scores. A read forums here, which are so inspirative. I download many books (jazz guitar, some methods), but I still could not find the "startpoint". Where shall I start, not only with jazz guitar but also with music. Do you have any Idea? How to increase my improvise ability? How to make my solo sound like solo? Can you name me a few basic steps? Please be concrete! Teach me, please!

[Banksia]

Welcome to the forum meandme. I think the place to start is by listening. What players do you listen to?

[meandme]

Thank you, for your reply,.. It is really important, I listen more to Ella Fitzgerald than jazz guitarist.. it is true. But I have something about guitar praticing on my mind. I would like to start play (solo) guitar.. But what shall i play, scales?.. What do you mean? Is there any book you could recommend me.? If you told me: listen and play.. It is quite broad for me!

[randalljazz]

learn melodies of standards and jazz tunes...memorize them, sing them, play them in different parts of the fretboard. learn the chords...play the chords and hear the melody in your head, and vice-versa...

[docbop]

Originally Posted by randalljazz

learn melodies of standards and jazz tunes...memorize them, sing them, play them in different parts of the fretboard. learn the chords...play the chords and hear the melody in your head, and vice-versa...

I would add to that find a simple solo like Autumn Leaves by Cannonball Adderly or similar solo and learn to sing it.

[Aristotle]

What Randall said.

You might want to select a few songs, so that each represents a type.
Satin Doll is a good starter because it's simple. It has a two-note motif. It will give you chance to see how much flavor you get out of two notes with accents, phrasing, rhythmic variation, slides and chromatic slurs.
Fly Me to the Moon for a cycle-of-fifths progression.
Girl From Ipanema for Latin, Bossa, whatever
Summertime for a bluesy feel.
Or just which ever ones you like the most.

One other thing, there was old expression about 'you have to suffer if you want to sing the blues.' If you haven't started already, you need to immerse yourself by listening. There is a fair degree of learning by ear, immitating etc. that replaces a whole lot of explaining.

[markerhodes]

Originally Posted by Aristotle

There is a fair degree of learning by ear, immitating etc. that replaces a whole lot of explaining.

That's for sure. For one thing, you sharpen your ears and for another, you develop your taste. (Learning licks is one thing and realizing what kind of licks do--and don't--want to learn is another.) Find some simple solos--but real solos, not just 'practice etudes'--and learn them, play them in different keys, in different registers (-with different fingerings), personalize them (--add a few ornaments, or subtract some) and make it sing. That'll take you a long way.