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The Robert Conti study group working through his Ticket to Improv series is continuing on to the second project in Volume 2!
Our next solo is based on the changes to "There Will Never Be Another You." We who have worked through the previous solos will be pressing on, but we also invite any who wish to join in this journey to feel welcome!
We've evolved a few basic guidelines that have helped us. These are based on the fact that most of us are either beginners in jazz improvisation or old hands who still feel like we haven't gotten a good grip on soloing yet. So, here's what we do:
- We move at the pace of 8 measures per week, learning the exercise solo composed by Conti and transcribed in the digital transcription booklet on the DVD. Some get behind, some run a bit ahead, but generally 8 measures per week is the norm.
- We post a video clip each week, typically on Tuesday, of ourselves playing the scheduled chunk.
- We use any background track we like. Conti has one on the DVD, but many other sources exist, and we use whatever we want!
- We don't do much critique, but sometimes do openly ask for advice. Mainly, we cheer, support, encourage, and empower each other. We don't offer criticism unless it's asked for, but positive advice is helpful.
- We try to learn the solo as written and also to make it our own in phrasing and timing.
- Some like to post a clip playing an arrangement of the "head" of the tune. That's fine, we enjoy it, but nobody is obligated or expected to do that.
- We avoid detailed wrangling over theory, but seek to grow in the actual practice of playing.
- We don't branch off much into other approaches to the tunes, other solos, other styles. We have succeeded so far because we stay focused!
- We don't regard any of these guidelines as inflexible and we don't get in arguments about it!
Here is a proposed schedule for posting:
September 12: Measures 1-8
September 19: Measures 1-16
September 26: Measures 1-24
October 3: Measures 1-32
If you are planning to do this, please post a simple "I'm In!" reply.
Let the games begin! And really, when we practice, the odds are always in our favor!
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09-04-2017 01:54 PM
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Here is my effort on measures 1-8 of the Conti solo, played on two guitars for fun.
One thing I see scanning down this solo is that Conti continues to like these lines ending with the same note played in an 8th note pair. Sort of da-di-da-di-DA-DA. This is kind of getting on my nerves, though I suspect it is an intentional part of the pedagogy so I'm not going to stray too far from it.
I started playing around with those, approaching them from a half-step, etc. Just to see what I could come up with.
Any observations or advice are welcome!
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
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It is hard to play these perfectly straight. At least for me. Somehow, at a minimum, I think we hear the phrasing differently from one musician to another even when playing the same notes.
Here is my 1-8:
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Originally Posted by rlrhett
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There Will Never Be Another You
Improvisation
Bars 1-8
Here are my first eight bars. I have been finger picking my other videos. This time I thought I would use a pick.
MikeLast edited by MikeS; 09-07-2017 at 04:01 PM.
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Originally Posted by MikeS
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Here's my take on bars 1-8. Hope to get more done this weekend. Cheers, Joe
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Lovely tone with that L5! I like your articulation of the phrases too.
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Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
Bravo !!
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This is a bit early but the thread has been quiet, so I thought I'd get this posted.
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Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
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Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
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Originally Posted by Doublea A
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Here is my week 2, mm. 1-16, using iRealPro for my backup. Working ahead, I'm finding mm. 23-25, esp. the transition from m. 24 into 25 really hard to "feel." Maybe it's also because I don't like the repeated triplet figures we've gotten here and in ONS towards the end. Down low, they just sound muddy to me. Anyhow, hopefully by the end of week 3 I'll have worked that out.
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You guys are sounding very polished and very hip. Congratulations!
Here is my week's contribution:
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Originally Posted by rlrhett
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Originally Posted by Doublea A
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Yesterday while doing my clip for the week, I also took a shot at a clip including the head as well as the first 16 measures of the solo. I enjoy doing this because it gives me, for a moment, the "illusion" of being a "real" jazz guitarist!
I'm still working on how I want to play the head, experimenting with various voicing. I would encourage anyone to try it. The tune and chords offer nice options for fairly easy arranging.
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
And yes, I enjoy rolling into the Conti solo from the head. Feels right.
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
I loved the chord melody.
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