Learning Jazz improvisation

Wcobb · New Member Joined: 13 Jun 2017 Posts: 4

I've seen videos on YouTube like jazz trumpet licks, but I still struggle with the art of improvisation (i.e., what to practice, how often, etc.). I know a lot of it is muscle memory, but does anyone have any tips for my comeback?

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:14 am Post subject:

If you're looking for guidance on what and how to practice jazz, you can read Jerry Coker's "How To Practice Jazz". www.jazzbooks.com

For a free read on evolving improvisation read, "Lee Konitz' 10 Step Method", http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/Interviews/konitz.html

Play piano to study/hear chords/scales/licks.
Listen voraciously.
Begin transcribing solos.

If you're really basic, you can read and play Volumes 1. 2. and 54. (Also from www.jazzbooks.com). You can also download helpful material from that site.

Good luck and have fun.
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trumpet.trader · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Jul 2017 Posts: 200

These are some things that I think of when improvising and have helped me along the way. They might apply to your situation, or maybe not.

Keeping it simple at first is what helped me. Make simple melodies and try to phrase your melodies in two or four bar phrases. If you can make a theme and variation on your melodies, youll keep the interest of the listener more.

Stay inside the pocket of the chord changes at first and use defining strong pitches like thirds and sevenths to outline your changes. The rhythm section defines the root and fifth of the chord enough so I try not to overuse those pitches. Try to connect changing chords through half step passing tones in your lines so you land on a defining pitch of the new chord on the beat.

Try some basic piano/keyboard in your practice routines. Play the chord with your left hand and simple melody in your right. This helped me to visualize what I play as well as hearing it.

I've found no book or teaching method to really learn the knack of making melodies/composing. Learning basic theory and some jazz vocabulary will help get you started but application is all up to the individual. Lots of repetition on easier forms like a blues or rhythm changes or some of the modal Miles tunes with only a few chord changes and lots of room to experiment are good places to start.

Spending time and picking the brain of a friend who has more skill whilst playing Abersold play alongs is time well spent. When you hear something you like ask "what did you do there?" or "what would you do over this change or progression?" this has helped/helps me a lot.

Drklobz · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:17 am Post subject:

I have a bunch of free stuff on my blog you can check out: www.jasonklobnak.com/blog

I still get people checking out the "lick of the day" stuff too: www.jasonklobnak.com/lick-of-the-day along with www.jasonklobnak.com/lick-of-the-day-practice-routine
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vwag · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:19 pm Post subject:

+1 on Jason's material, working thru it now.

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

Russell Iser · New Member Joined: 17 May 2017 Posts: 5

How far can you develop just by playing by ear or with play alongs... Just wondering what peoples opinions are...

PH · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:29 pm Post subject:

The info in this thread is terrific!

http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32146
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Angiemac811 · New Member Joined: 18 Nov 2017 Posts: 5

I had good luck practicing with Jamie Aebersold books. I used them in college a Lot!

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:45 am Post subject:

Rod Haney · Heavyweight Member Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 937

All great resources above.
But you have to know your scales inside and out /up and down/ the degree of each note in the scale, all 12 keys in all reasonable modes, 16th notes and in 2 octaves preferably. I am working with a guy who studied with David Baker and this has been stressed to me, and I have a lot of work to get there.

I do 1/2 hour of scale and scale related work (3rds/5ths/ now 4ths) arpeggios and work in specific problem keys at least once a day and usually twice and this really isn’t enough to get really good. In the meantime dont forget to play along with ? 45 minutes last thing at nite. That leaves time to address all my other inadequacies the rest of the day. This is how I try to learn improv. And I also use slow downer program when I want to learn something really tough. I think this helps me develop my sound, and not copy anything. Also really helps with ear training and identifying root and key changes. I like blues and out there fusion so the play alongs haven’t done that yet. Once I learn to hear and play in the correct key I might actually know what my teacher is talking about when he shows me how to put it together???? Just so much to learn about the structures of scales the sounds and colors of each that you should definitely put some effort into this. I started knowing all scales in 1 octave, and quickly found I knew nothing at all and that this was THE KEY to improv (feel dont hurt either).
Rod

oregonmac · Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 6:53 am Post subject:

It’s daunting. One thing I do regularly is take a simple standard and play it in all keys, just trying to get it under my fingers. It seems to take forever, but it really does help.
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