Lost during improvisation

[franco6719]

Guys,

Thanks, indeed great ideas to deal with it.
Already started with whole note (Guided tones and 8 notes and it helps.

Looking at others it looks so simple but for me - so much work!

Thanks
Ronen

It is NOT easy, except for a very few people on this earth I think.

[Dookychase]

When Clint Strong was playing with Merle Haggard, he said Merle made him learn the words to the songs. Clint said it helped his improvising.

I find that a song sticks better in my head even if only learn the words to one verse and the chorus. It sort of solidifies the tune for me. I've been dabbling with jazz for some time, but I played other music in bands for years.

[swboy]

I think it helps to practice a tune by playing
the same short motif (ie. "lick") on each chord.
The motif should emphasize the 3rd and 7th tones
of the chord. This kind of practice emphasizes the
connection between chords using
the notes which define the chord's 3 and 7 "flavor"
(major 3 /b3) (major 7/b7)

[musicalbodger]

I think it helps to practice a tune by playing
the same short motif (ie. "lick") on each chord.
The motif should emphasize the 3rd and 7th tones
of the chord. This kind of practice emphasizes the
connection between chords using
the notes which define the chord's 3 and 7 "flavor"
(major 3 /b3) (major 7/b7)

You're right up to a point swboy, but what you suggest only instils a chord sequence in your head and you will just be improvising over a chord sequence not the tune. If you repeatedly play the melody until it is a part of you, then you can improvise over that particular tune and your improvisation will relate to that tune not be just an improvisation over a similar chord sequence.

[fep]

One way I practice with BIAB is to mute all the intruments except the drums.

Improvise along with the tune with BIAB just playing drums without looking at the screen. Imagine the chord progression/melody while you improvise. Then after a chorus or half chorus or whatever, sneek a peek and check that you're at the correct measure of the tune.

This is really useful for learning to keep track of the changes/bars with strict time when you're playing solo guitar (i.e. without a band) while improvising over changes. Not an easy task. If you can do that then keeping your place with a band should be easy.

[swboy]

musicalbodger said:
You're right up to a point swboy, but what you suggest
only instils a chord sequence in your head and you will
just be improvising over a chord sequence not the tune.

True, but Ronen was asking about how to keep
from getting lost in a progression. This will help.
What I described would never be the complete
way to study a tune or practice improv on it.

[cosmic gumbo]

Hi, I have problem to find where i'm.

How do you do it?

Ronen

It's called GPS.

[bass2man]

All great ideas..I have the same problem remembering all teh changes in a tune. I play with a guitarist who can remember tunes he hasn't played in 5 years...what he does and it works for me...remember the tonal centers...since most jazz tunes are a bunch of 2-5-1's anyway, it really makes it easier. Take Blue Bossa for example...it goes from Ebmaj (Cm) to Db maj tonal center....C minor 2-5-1 (i.e. Ebmaj) to Db major 2-5-1.....

PLus it makes it easier if you need to play in a different key.
Hope this helps....