Practice exercise. It works.

[ragman1]

I'm tempted to post these exercises. I happen to have invented them a long time ago. They're based, not on Rhythm Changes as might be supposed, but on a simple 8-bar country format.

Start with this:

C - G7 - C - G7
C - F - C - (G7)

Solo over it any way you like using chord tones, the major scale, or any other way.

Now do the same up the cycle of 4ths: C - F - Bb - Eb - Ab... etc, etc, back to C again.

Then introduce variations:

C/Am - Dm/G7 - C/Am - Dm/G7
C/C7 - F/Fm - C/Am - Dm/G7

CM7/Am7 - Dm7/G7 - CM7/Am7 - Dm7/G7
CM7/C7 - FM7/Fm6 - CM7/Am7 - Dm7/G7

CM7/C#o - Dm7/G7 - Em7/Ebo - Dm7/G7
Gm7/C7b9 - FM7/F#o - Em7/A7b9 - Dm7/G7+

CM7/A7b9 - Dm7/Db7b5 - CM7/Eo - Dm7/G7
Gm7/F#7b5 - FM7/Bb7 - Em7/Eb7 - Dm7/G7alt

And so on. Make up your own, if you can. There's no formula, you just change your notes to fit.

If that doesn't cure you of systems, nothing will :-)

[ragman1]

Try it in different rhythms too - Bossa, waltz time, etc.

It's okay, I know no one'll do it

[Vladan]

Also, in between Am7 and G7, Dm7 can become D7.

[ragman1]

Absolutely, make your own.

Also in minor keys, of course.