When someone says “take a solo” we all get stuck to varying degrees.
In this session we’ll look at an easy, ‘safe’ approach to producing some great improvisation based on simple principles. The aim is to simplify our options and provide us with some headspace to play ‘safe’ notes and sound competent and great.
Being able to improvise is a fantastic facility to have on any instrument and all guitarists should strive to master it.
Improvisation is a should-have facility on any instrument; it’s the freedom to just express a feeling there and then – to compose on the spot. This can sound incredibly difficult and unatainable but there are ‘easy’ ways to get into it.
We’ll explore the major pentatonic scale and how specific patterns straddling a particular fret can be used to great effect. In addition, a stock of ideas and licks will be provided to help get you started straight away.
The art of improvisation covers all types of guitar: acoustic, electric, nashville, baritone (ukelele, you name it). It doesn’t have to mean a 3 minute solo, it can be as simple as little licks intermixed with chords.
Knowing the notes, their relative pitch positions and qualities is really important but here we’re playing by ear using patterns with ‘safe’ notes blended with our imagination?
Backing tracks with repetitive chord progressions will be used throughout
With ‘safe’ notes identified and keeping things simple you can later take it further to ‘following the chords’ and eventually ‘breaking free’ of the patterns.
Related course – check out our Picking Power course. Improvisation usually requires a plectrum (Mark Knopfler, Wes Montgomery, and a few others, excluded!).
High beginner to intermediate acoustic and electric guitar players.
Beginners will gain a lot from the session – it’s a fundamental approach to learn.
More advanced players should also be able to use the approach acting as a springboard for new and fresh ideas.
These sessions are layered to allow different player levels to learn and play along at the same time. Whatever level you are at, you’ll have lots of takeaways to work on later.
You’ll receive:
The session is 60 minutes long; don’t expect to master everything during the session. The tutor will go through all the key parts, demonstrating them and discussing the associated techniques and know-how.
The real work is done by you afterwards. Armed with the materials (PDFs and video recording), you’ll have all the tools to work on things at your own pace.
When you book you’ll have two options:
1. You want to join the live Zoom session.
You’ll receive the joining instructions on the day. Being live, you’ll be able to put your own questions directly to the tutor during the session. Choose option 1, Lesson and materials.
2. Maybe you’d like to attend but can’t make it on this occasion?
You can buy the materials and receive them after the session (i.e. lesson PDF(s) and access to a Zoom recording of the live session). Choose option 2, Materials only.