Randy Vincent's new book on improvising single note lines

**AmundLauritzen** · 12-19-2012, 07:42 PM

I've received my copy and have been skimming through it.
He knows what he's talking about, but it's not very structured. This is for the advanced student who has much motivation, patience and who can read standard notation.

Now, I'm not opposed to standard notation at all although I'm not particularly fond of it. I think an accompanying CD with the recorded examples as audio would help a lot. I find it a chore to read music and I learn best by the combination of notation and audio, but that's just me.

I'm interested to hear if anyone have found a systematic approach to this book and how to apply the material to tunes.
I've just skim read through the book once, so this is only my first impression.

It looks exciting and seems like what I need to bring some new variety to my playing though.

**wizard3739** · 12-19-2012, 09:28 PM

Amund, I agree with you about having an audio cd of the examples in the book. I am using BIAB to write out and listen to the examples for chapt 1. I received the book "Line Games" a couple of days ago and After a quick scan, I added it to my study schedule. I am now working through all 3 of Randys' most recent books. Line games is a very different (new to me) perspective on approaching jazz lines. I am working carefully through the first chapter and have noticed that this book contains some of the best lines (jazz licks) I have ever heard and most of them are carefully referenced to many of the top guitar players that we all love. This will be fun!!

wiz

**ASATcat** · 12-19-2012, 10:20 PM

This is a good time to get into hexatonic studies with Randys great books. And not to forget that Mick Goodrick and Tim Miller also have a great study on hexatonics with an east coast vibe. lol
I was fortunate to study with Randy back in the mid '80s when in college.
His books are helping me finally understand some of his notes from back then.

It's great to see Randy get this wonderful attention and when I get $30 I will get Line Games

**wkriski** · 12-22-2012, 04:08 PM

I buy many books but it seems there so many books filled with lines, scales, chords and theory. I see many people struggling to take all this information and use it in their playing, turning it into music.

I'd like to see more on building entire logical solos using motifs, development, phrasing, etc. ie what to do for the entire solo not just ii-V-Is and how to incorporate licks/lines into cohesive solos. Maybe I'll have to write it

Hal Crook's How to Improvise and Brian Kane's Melodic Improvisation come to mind in this area, but there might be others.

**ASATcat** · 12-22-2012, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by wkriski

I buy many books but it seems there so many books filled with lines, scales, chords and theory. I see many people struggling to take all this information and use it in their playing, turning it into music.

I'd like to see more on building entire logical solos using motifs, development, phrasing, etc. ie what to do for the entire solo not just ii-V-Is and how to incorporate licks/lines into cohesive solos. Maybe I'll have to write it

Hal Crook's How to Improvise and Brian Kane's Melodic Improvisation come to mind in this area, but there might be others.

I don't know, all those things you want to put in your book are pretty subjective to each person. I don't want anyone telling me my phrasing needs to be like theirs.

I like books that leave all that to the imagination of the individual. Goodricks books are set up like that. He often doesn't tell you anything as in his voice leading almanacs, so much of that bok is left to ponder as to wtf the point is. What is MSRP?? I pondered and I finally got it.
There are a lot of books that don't strike homers out there, I would be mean to name them

**ASATcat** · 12-22-2012, 08:56 PM

But Randys books are fun and easy (except the stretches) easy on the mind I mean. It's friendly or non threatening. Now a series of books Van Eps Harmonic Mechanisms as well as a lot of endless chord choices like Ted Greenes Chord Chemistry, those books do intimidate me and that is not a good thing for me. A good book has to provide lots of. Rewardds short and long term goals. GVEs books still just sit there in favor of the quick fix.
I know that sounds cheap but I don't think it is. Modern authors of music books have learned from GVE and have developed better ways of teaching pretty much the same things. Randys books are entertaining with quick open ended results.

My one complaint of Randys book Drop 2, he says "tweak & tweaked" a bit too much.