This is very helpful. Improvising was mysterious to me until very recently because most of what I thought I knew about it either came from writers who couldn't play or from musicians who couldn't (or wouldn't) explain. Everyone I read or heard made it sound like the musician was "channeling cosmic forces," at which time the music "just came flowing out." Once I started reading how some of my favorite players learned to play, I realized how much time they spent learning tunes, copping licks, and jamming to apply what they learned.
"instead of playing from my heart, I play from my mind, and that's where I run into trouble" stevie's own words :) great advice anthony, keep it coming
This is a very insightful post. You master the mechanics so that you can focus on the expression. In all performing arts, the artist rehearses his lines, music, dance steps to the point where he doesn't have to think about them consciously--the operational part of the brain just executes the task. Once the artist has mastered the mechanical part of the performance, he is free to focus on the expression of the piece.
The simple shit I learned as a kid seems to be the stuff I can really play without thinking and make it sound natural. I hate that forced sound when your looking at the neck. You hear the music in your head and the fingers know where to go. Mastering licks like you say puts them in your tool box and I find myself combining Hendrix with Gibbons and BB King and Albert Collins all the time. Parts of licks from other tunes recombine to make new licks. I know where they are coming from sometimes other times it's just parts I have put together myself not knowing where they came from. My problem is running too many notes together and not leaving space in between. Going too fast and running over the end point and finding yourself way out in left field doing 110 in a 40... It was interesting to think about. Some people can really say a lot with few words. Others who never shut up don't say a whole lot sometimes.
Wow Anthony, you hit it right on the nail!!! I liked your last lesson " 10 rules in Blues soloing " and this lesson. I feel like I'm in this deep whole (rut) that I can't climb out of and you've given me a latter to climb out. I'm going to listen to these lessons over and over until they're engraved in my brain.
Once you know your fretboard by heart. I believe pure improvisation is possible. You can basically write music in your head and translate it instantaneously to reality. I think that's how master guitarists improvise. I have recorded an improv i did 2 years ago and when i listen to it, there are riffs and licks that i had never played before and that i haven't played since. Now, i'm not saying I improvise like that all the time. Like you said, i mostly improvise with stuff i've learnt before.
Yes but they always start playing stuff they played before and are totally familiar with, then get fired up after a little while and start reaching around for notes and riffs, trying to see what sounds good with what they already play all the time.. It is not just stuff from outer space they never heard or played, like a totally different player or style..
The best form of improvisation (IMO) is to lay out and plan out the key melodic lines then totally play impromptu in between to buy the time to let you execute the pre meditated good phrases. I usually play and record myself for hours upon hours playing over a single backing track and when I'm done, I'd scour out of what I think the good notes, the timing patterns and phrases (accidental or not) and listen to it again and again, spot the weak aspects like weak vibrato, hesitant slides, unnecessary notes etc. It's very important to be self critical.
Most guitarists just rehash licks anyway (including this guy), so I'd say that this improvising-at-lick-level thing is what sets great guitarists apart.
Muscle memory plays a big part in improv. But hitting the right target notes cant be stressed enough. Not enough teachers mention the importance of target notes. They are A number 1. Wished someone would have taught me the importance of that early on,would have shaved years off my playing.
i really dig what youre saying, i play guitar and i was always was reluctant to learn lead guitar parts from others since that improv dogma and i thought that everything Id need i could find in me without copying anyone, big mistake
That's why bands like say, "The Tractors" or perhaps "Boston" (and I'm sure you can name others), didn't continue to develop as a band. They couldn't (or wouldn't) break away from their own mold. Either because of a lack of desire, time, .....whatever it was.........they ceased to sound "unique." What catches "my" attention with regard to those who I admire, is their ability to grow, to change, to develop. Uniqueness helps at the beginning, but is not that which carries my attention.
I've been doing this for years; can't really master anything. It took me 3 years to learn Reconsider Baby as played be Eric Clapton (From the Cradle). I have learned some licks, but they fall apart at jams...
i really dig what youre saying, i play guitar and i was always was reluctant to learn lead guitar parts from others since that improv dogma and i thought that everything Id need i could find in me without copying anyone, big mistake ... so where do I learn any good licks?
@CarlosMacMartin Not sure what your saying I have books by Mick Goodrick I thought they were jazz piano. I know they go deep into chordal harmony. Far deeper than I go , I play some Jazz , but prefer more Blues based Jazz or old old Jazz.. Gershwin ,Cole Porter, about any song Tony Bennett would play.
There are some Jazz guys who can truly improvise. But this is true,composition is the way. I see people noodling playing basic pentatonic stuff and say it's improvisation. I have some very old books and the word improvisation without any composition. Sounds like part of a Scott Henderson Lesson LOL
This is very helpful. Improvising was mysterious to me until very recently because most of what I thought I knew about it either came from writers who couldn't play or from musicians who couldn't (or wouldn't) explain. Everyone I read or heard made it sound like the musician was "channeling cosmic forces," at which time the music "just came flowing out." Once I started reading how some of my favorite players learned to play, I realized how much time they spent learning tunes, copping licks, and jamming to apply what they learned.
"instead of playing from my heart, I play from my mind, and that's where I run into trouble" stevie's own words :) great advice anthony, keep it coming
This is a very insightful post. You master the mechanics so that you can focus on the expression. In all performing arts, the artist rehearses his lines, music, dance steps to the point where he doesn't have to think about them consciously--the operational part of the brain just executes the task. Once the artist has mastered the mechanical part of the performance, he is free to focus on the expression of the piece.
The simple shit I learned as a kid seems to be the stuff I can really play without thinking and make it sound natural. I hate that forced sound when your looking at the neck. You hear the music in your head and the fingers know where to go. Mastering licks like you say puts them in your tool box and I find myself combining Hendrix with Gibbons and BB King and Albert Collins all the time. Parts of licks from other tunes recombine to make new licks. I know where they are coming from sometimes other times it's just parts I have put together myself not knowing where they came from. My problem is running too many notes together and not leaving space in between. Going too fast and running over the end point and finding yourself way out in left field doing 110 in a 40... It was interesting to think about. Some people can really say a lot with few words. Others who never shut up don't say a whole lot sometimes.
This guy deserves an award for being able to verbalize something in a way that most musicians can't!
Wow Anthony, you hit it right on the nail!!! I liked your last lesson " 10 rules in Blues soloing " and this lesson. I feel like I'm in this deep whole (rut) that I can't climb out of and you've given me a latter to climb out. I'm going to listen to these lessons over and over until they're engraved in my brain.
Once you know your fretboard by heart. I believe pure improvisation is possible. You can basically write music in your head and translate it instantaneously to reality. I think that's how master guitarists improvise.
I have recorded an improv i did 2 years ago and when i listen to it, there are riffs and licks that i had never played before and that i haven't played since.
Now, i'm not saying I improvise like that all the time. Like you said, i mostly improvise with stuff i've learnt before.
Yes but they always start playing stuff they played before and are totally familiar with, then get fired up after a little while and start reaching around for notes and riffs, trying to see what sounds good with what they already play all the time.. It is not just stuff from outer space they never heard or played, like a totally different player or style..
You can download the backing track used in this lesson by visiting StevieSnacks (dot) com and finding this lesson in the Free Lessons section.
This is probably the best guitar lesson I have ever had... thank you so much!
Wow. This needs to go viral in the guitar community. The word sentence paragraph section is a great way of framing the sections.
You're the best, Anthony!! The best thing about friday is your free lessons!!
I´m working hard on improvising, and this video really made it easier to see how to set up my goals. Thanks man.
Awesome lesson! I'm going to apply This to my playing every day from here on out!
Philosophy friday are the best lessons!
That wonderful john mayer intro from gravity! :D
The best form of improvisation (IMO) is to lay out and plan out the key melodic lines then totally play impromptu in between to buy the time to let you execute the pre meditated good phrases. I usually play and record myself for hours upon hours playing over a single backing track and when I'm done, I'd scour out of what I think the good notes, the timing patterns and phrases (accidental or not) and listen to it again and again, spot the weak aspects like weak vibrato, hesitant slides, unnecessary notes etc. It's very important to be self critical.
Thanks Anthony for all your great lessons !!!!! All the best for you......
Incredible lesson! One of the best I've ever watched! Thank You very much, Sir!
i think that the main thin that leaves your mind free to do
things in the same time
is a good feel of the groove
Most guitarists just rehash licks anyway (including this guy), so I'd say that this improvising-at-lick-level thing is what sets great guitarists apart.
Muscle memory plays a big part in improv. But hitting the right target notes cant be stressed enough. Not enough teachers mention the importance of target notes. They are A number 1. Wished someone would have taught me the importance of that early on,would have shaved years off my playing.
Stevie Snacks out here lookin like Tony Soprano with that shirt. The Don himself.
Cool post Dude. Very intelligently put together, and all 100% true.
i really dig what youre saying, i play guitar and i was always was reluctant to learn lead guitar parts from others since that improv dogma and i thought that everything Id need i could find in me without copying anyone, big mistake
This video was the first time I ever understood how improvisation works.
that first lick is from john mayer's gravity...hehehehe.
awesome lesson man!
great,great lesson
Holy shit, 20 minutes long. time to grab a coke and some skittles.
I think I'm stupid. Thank you for this lesson. You really help me
Your not alone.
GRACIAS ANTHONY !
That's why bands like say, "The Tractors" or perhaps "Boston" (and I'm sure you can name others), didn't continue to develop as a band. They couldn't (or wouldn't) break away from their own mold. Either because of a lack of desire, time, .....whatever it was.........they ceased to sound "unique." What catches "my" attention with regard to those who I admire, is their ability to grow, to change, to develop. Uniqueness helps at the beginning, but is not that which carries my attention.
your videos are really great! How do you record? Mic or direct?
I've been doing this for years; can't really master anything. It took me 3 years to learn Reconsider Baby as played be Eric Clapton (From the Cradle). I have learned some licks, but they fall apart at jams...
It looks like about 95% of your picking was downwards.Is that common for this type of Blues playing ?
high five for an awesome explantation.
i really dig what youre saying, i play guitar and i was always was reluctant to learn lead guitar parts from others since that improv dogma and i thought that everything Id need i could find in me without copying anyone, big mistake ... so where do I learn any good licks?
So true. Improvisation is a gathering of small licks!
very cool vid bro
If somebody here knows "I'm gonna find another you" by John Mayer you'll see he uses the same progression.
@CarlosMacMartin
Not sure what your saying I have books by Mick Goodrick I thought they were jazz piano.
I know they go deep into chordal harmony.
Far deeper than I go , I play some Jazz , but prefer more Blues based Jazz or old old Jazz..
Gershwin ,Cole Porter, about any song Tony Bennett would play.
Best lesson ever
Shades of Peter Green "Need your love so bad" :)
hello , this baking track is "G" ?
hey bro if its not too much trouble could u do a lesson teaching the drill of awesomeness at 18:20 D: \\m//
@viccolfari2canibals write the progression out on a piece of paper...i think you know the answer the already. Have faith in your ear, bon chance
There are some Jazz guys who can truly improvise.
But this is true,composition is the way.
I see people noodling playing basic pentatonic stuff and say it's improvisation.
I have some very old books and the word improvisation without any composition.
Sounds like part of a Scott Henderson Lesson LOL
Drill at 18:24...
Great video! Clapton here says basically the same thing at /watch?v=AGe4HBLinDc about learning stock phrases that he always plays.
:D