Improv using non-musical motivations and limitations

[TF]

Especially if you don't have a musical idea in the moment.

Like,

• I'll play the next four bars on strings one and two only
• I'll play the next eight bars below the fifth fret
• I'll play the next four bars above the twelfth fret on strings five and six only
• I'll play two bars on string six and the next two bars on string one, alternating throughout
• I'll play a solo on a mellow ballad using my treble pickup with the tone set at 10

etc. etc.

I did a solo once consisting solely of ascending the chromatic scale, timing my notes to match the chords passing by.

Fun sometimes.

[ragman1]

What causes the lack of a musical idea?

[TF]

Low talent level perhaps.

Just so I can do something interesting.

[pauln]

[ragman1]

Low talent level perhaps

I doubt that. It's possible but there are other more influential factors.

Just so I can do something interesting.

That's just it. Not knowing what the real problem is you 'find something to do'. Which is meaningless really, isn't it? What you find to do is more or less still on the same level as your ennui with the music. You don't enquire into causes.

You have to find out why you're stale. Could be just boredom, repeating the same ideas. Could be demanding too much of yourself instead of keeping it simple. Probably you need to listen to other peoples' music and get some inspiration from that. You'd be amazed at what's out there.

[Mick-7]

Low talent level perhaps.

I doubt that.

Yes, that sort of thinking is a dead end because the solution would be to improve something that is completely elusive: talent.

You could do very well just following the first 2 points on that list.

[PickingMyEars]

Voicelid JazzGuitar just posted a video about “rhythm first.”Anyway, he concludes that rhythms are the most immediate piece of information you can access during a solo—not pitches.

Practice riffs and licks from your favorite musicians. Use those as your melodic foundation. Scat the RHYTHMS of your favorite solos. Scat rhythms along with solos. Rhythm is the quickest source of MUSICAL ideas.

Rhythm is the organization and fire behind the music. Never discount the power of love… er… rhythm. Now if someone could give me advice on surviving a trip with my mother-in-law… please! SOS!!!

For the melodic and notes stuff, you could work on holding onto ideas in your inner ear and developing them. I do a lot of ear training to hear with clarity. The reality, as Voicelid reiterates, is that searching for notes with your ears can pull you out of the groove and the overall pulse of the music (hear that, Christian?)

Rhythmic intention is key for every stage of our jazz musicianship.

[paulkogut]

Mick Goodrick used to call these 'disadvantage exercises", the idea is that by eliminating certain options or habits,, it allows you to discover new possibilities within the imposed constraints. I've heard Jim Hall and Joe Diorio advocate similar ideas, so you're definitely in good company!

PK

[Mick-7]

Mick Goodrick used to call these 'disadvantage exercises", the idea is that by eliminating certain options or habits,, it allows you to discover new possibilities within the imposed constraints. I've heard Jim Hall and Joe Diorio advocate similar ideas, so you're definitely in good company!

PK

That's meant to address a different problem: dissatisfaction with your musical ideas. The problem the OP asked about is: coming up with musical ideas.

[ragman1]

The problem the OP asked about is: coming up with musical ideas.

That's not quite what he said. He had a list of things to do 'if you don't have a musical idea in the moment.'. He didn't ask how to come up with ideas.

[Aiq]

Two notes up, one note down, etc.

[Mick-7]

That's not quite what he said. He had a list of things to do 'if you don't have a musical idea in the moment.'. He didn't ask how to come up with ideas.

o.k., but gimmicks are never a good substitute for musicality.

[ragman1]

Quite so.

However, I was going to suggest doing anything else but music to refresh the brain cells but I realised I don't always take my own advice. Every now and again I just write out a little chord progression and use it to noodle over, exercise my modes, and all that. I think it does the brain a world of good to venture into the unknown from time to time.

In my case the cause of ennui (dull boredom) is not having any particular tune to work on for someone else. I've done most of the standards anyway at one time or other. So instead of painting the kitchen (that's a euphemism) I do this.

Here's the progression of the day (I've done lots of these, no repeats):

AbM7 - F#7+ - Bm7 - Bbo
Am7b5 - D7b9 - GM7 - Eb7#9

and here's the noodle. I knew someone who used to say Toodle-Bye a lot so that's the title. It's all silly stuff really but I like it

(YouTube has distorted the sound. Too bad)