This session is one of our Music Corner series with Jamie McCredie. Generally we run them weekly as one hour drop-ins delving into a broad range of subjects relating to technique, theory, know-how, practice or something topical in the guitar world.
This session covers looks again at the initial concepts of improvising and then builds on them to introduce some more ideas and approaches. It’s formally for intermediate level but most players will get lots from these sessions.
Overview
In this one we review and build on a previous Music Corner covering the amazing technique/skill/art of improvisation.
The freedom to spontaneously ‘compose’ and play a solo over a rhythm part or inject little fills into songs is an essential skill built on core knowledge.
The tricky thing is how to start doing it – even if you know a major or minor pentatonic scale, what do you do? Copying a solo isn’t the same thing.
You’re in a jam night and it comes to your turn to take a solo! Panic! Yes, confidence comes into it but confidence comes from knowledge and practice. Where do you start to learn this skill? This session looks at the basics of improvising to help kick start things or maybe add some additional know-how for players who are already accomplished improvisers.
Everyone will get something out of this session – it builds on knowing your chords in a key (probably as numbers rather than just names), being able to master the barre, learning notes on fretboard, etc.
Music Corners in general
These weekly one hour sessions are designed to give us the tools to self-improve and widen our knowledge in the following general areas: rhythm, reading music, improvising, understanding music theory, getting good tone, how to play a solo, how to play with a group, how to develop your ear, learning the rules of music through transcribing the history of a genre. Our tutor, Jamie McCredie, will share key things he has learned over years that have helped to make him the professional guitarist and musician he is today.
Materials:
Relevant materials will be available for each session.
Session suitability
This lesson is most suitable for intermediate players but players of all standards will register some lightbulb moments and pick up some great ideas and approaches.