Theory & Impro Recommended Listening for Improv

[trimmy]

The main chords were A7, D7 and E7.

Why not use triads of the chords, less notes to worry about and lots of combinations to choose.

 

[Targa]

It's the Blues - feel it - play it.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Why not use triads of the chords, less notes to worry about and lots of combinations to choose.

Er... Because it's really boring and not remotely bluesy? And not actually that easy.
Minor pentatonic or blues scale is a lot easier.

 

[trimmy]

blues backing tracks

and not remotely bluesy?

Missed the ‘blues’ it happens !

Blues scale too

 

[Dibbs]

If you’ve got iReal pro just pick a chord (sayF7) and put it on loop, come up with your on ideas using just the triad, not as easy as you think, lots of combinations to choose from.
...

That's a really good idea. Also just learn how each note of the chromatic scale sounds against the chord.

 

[Dibbs]

I am confused about major and minor blues.
If the chords are A7, D7 and E7 then we are in A major. (If it was A minor, the chords would be Am7, Dm7 and Em7.)
So am I correct in assuming that we should use an A major blues scale?

My confusion has been increased by a "simple introduction" book I bought which says it is giving the notes for a C blues scale, but actually lists the notes for a C minor blues scale and suggests that these can be used for a C major blues, but then says that one can equally well use an A minor blues scale for a C major blues.

I know that the major blues scale notes are the same as the relative minor blues scale, but that doesn't help. My question is which notes should I be using if the backing is in a major key. In other words, for A major, should I use A, B, C C#, E, F# or A, C, D, D#, E, G

The book is right. You can use either scale, or both, and others too. Part of the sound of the blues is the clash of minor third against a major chord. That's why the C natural in the minor blues scale works. The D# in the same scale has a similar effect against the 5th.

The relationships of the notes in the scale to the chord are different for each chord. Try to be aware of which notes in the scales are chord tones for each chord. After a while it'll become obvious and you can forget all about scales and chords and just blow some blues.

 

[JayeNM]

I am confused about major and minor blues.
If the chords are A7, D7 and E7 then we are in A major. (If it was A minor, the chords would be Am7, Dm7 and Em7.)
My confusion has been increased by a "simple introduction" book I bought which says it is giving the notes for a C blues scale, but actually lists the notes for a C minor blues scale and suggests that these can be used for a C major blues, but then says that one can equally well use an A minor blues scale for a C major blues.

The book is right. You can use either scale, or both, and others too. Part of the sound of the blues is the clash of minor third against a major chord. That's why the C natural in the minor blues scale works. The D# in the same scale has a similar effect against the 5th.
The relationships of the notes in the scale to the chord are different for each chord. Try to be aware of which notes in the scales are chord tones for each chord. After a while it'll become obvious and you can forget all about scales and chords and just blow some blues.

Yup. Which is exactly the point of approaching/learning improv starting with the Blues.

This is not an unfamiliar suggestion (using minor blues scale over a blues progression which is major) , you see it done regularly. So, as Dibbs says: yes, you can use the minor blues scale to solo over your A7-D7-E7 progression.
Or you can try the major blues scale over that progression (major pentatonic with b3 added - and note ! : you get that minor 3rd in there regardless, eh ?) .
Commonly if one is intentionally tethering themselves to the major blues scale for a tune, they will tend to modulate to the IV and the V chords when soloing...whereas when sticking to the minor blues scale, you are just staying home on that scale throughout the entire progression.
If that makes sense. You can give both a shot , see which you like.

 

[Jeanette]

@IGoddard you might also want to listen to some of the impro of the month threads, you can hear how members approached these in different ways

Jx

 

[IGoddard]

@Jeanette I had completely overlooked IOTM. It seems to be the old forgotten resource! I'd love to see it up and running monthly like SOTM & BOTM. They have proven invaluable to me up until now, even if i haven't managed post as many recordings as i'd like.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Mastering what's already there will take quite a while. It's very time consuming coming up with material and themes for improv every month. Nothing is forgotten. It just sleeps like sleeping beauty waiting for prince charming's kiss. Fancy a snog 😉

 

[6441]

How about SOTM, solo (unaccompanied) of the month? Nah, too much work! 😛

 

[Jeanette]

@Jeanette I had completely overlooked IOTM. It seems to be the old forgotten resource! I'd love to see it up and running monthly like SOTM & BOTM. They have proven invaluable to me up until now, even if i haven't managed post as many recordings as i'd like.

I would love to see it up and running again but is quite a commitment and needs an experienced player willing to take it up. 🙂

Jx

 

[saxn00b445]

just listen to all sorts of stuff and youll start finding things you like, and then just listen to more of the stuff you like. i used to listen to a lot of old bluesy guys and then started listening to more jazz over time but still a lot of jazz blues stuff.

 

[John Laughter]

If you can read music, then you might consider finding tunes on Youtube that you enjoy. Then check Curtis' site, saxsolos.com to see if he has the chart. Order the chart and listen to the tune as you follow the score. Just another way of following the notes as they are being played. A good way to pick up some ideas.

https://saxsolos.com/?srsltid=AYCX9vKMdR9gZGKe3GZHlUq48hs-gY8yDsLa_Ne-_vbPifGlTyraG6-0

 

[Grumps]

Old thread revived. But I'd just put on any sort of music on the stereo... so long as you don't know it. Then you try to play along with it.

 

[saxn00b445]

just listen to all sorts of stuff and youll start finding things you like, and then just listen to more of the stuff you like. i used to listen to a lot of old bluesy guys and then started listening to more jazz over time but still a lot of jazz blues stuff.

and the more u listen and practice the instrument youll start to find lines u hear in recordings become easier to learn and transcribe or even just simply you can sometimes just play some licks one day by ear. also playing along with recordings you like helps, even just noodling along with the soloist or transcribing stuff from the recording