"Melodic Improvising" is a systematic, detailed method to help the intermediate to advanced guitarist create melodies over harmony. Using techniques developed through his 15 years of teaching improvisation at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music, Bruce Saunders' book teaches guitarists the same techniques used by pianists and brass and woodwind players to create melodic solos; a necessary book for any guitarist wishing to play outside the box.
If you ask anyone who's been playing guitar for a while how to turn scales into solos, you'll likely get a variety of answers. They'll tell you to learn licks, work on your arpeggios, even learn your favorite players' solos note for note. While this is all good advice, I've had some particularly stubborn students that wanted to go beyond that; they wanted to be able to improvise using any scale up and down the fretboard, but at the same time break free from those deeply-ingrained scalar lines and patterns. It was then that I suggested the zonal approach to improvisation; by working in reduced areas of the neck with specifically designed patterns, they were soon able to create melodic, flowing lines that didn't sound at all like scales--they sounded like real music! This is the approach you'll find in this book. We dissect 15 of the most common scales, beyond the pentatonics, and break them down into zones which can be practiced either by scale, or for any particular scale across the fretboard. The objective of this book then is to provide a structured reference to make the transition from playing scales to playing, improvising and creating musical lines when soloing. It’s aimed at the intermediate to advanced guitarist looking to be able to improvise confidently and freely on the instrument in a wide variety of styles. It is also aimed at guitarists that want to move beyond rote pentatonic/blues soloing and incorporate other scales and modes into their playing, as well as building up a vocabulary to solo fluently over chord changes.
This book and accompanying audio offer a unique, simplified approach to using arpeggios when improvising. The material is for guitarists of all levels looking to improve their technique and improvisation skills. This method makes it possible to seamlessly incorporate arpeggios into jazz improvisation. Included are over thirty arpeggio-based licks spanning major, minor, dominant, blues and ii-V-I categories. The book also presents straightforward methods for using arpeggios creatively. Most guitarists view arpeggios and scales as separate entities - this book solves this problem by illustrating the relationship between eight simple arpeggio fingerings and scales/modes. Several etudes are also included. These simple mini-arpeggios will provide the reader with an entire world of musical possibilities.
Improvise for Real is a step-by-step method that teaches you to improvise your own music through progressive exercises that anyone can do. You'll learn to understand the sounds in the music all around you. And you'll learn to express your own musical ideas exactly as you hear them in your mind. The method starts with very simple creative exercises that you can begin right away. As you progress, the method leads you on a guided tour through the entire world of modern harmony. You will be improvising your own original melodies from the very first day, and your knowledge will expand with each practice session as you explore and discover our musical system for yourself. Improvise for Real brings together creativity, ear training, music theory and physical technique into a single creative daily practice that will show you the entire path to improvisation mastery. You will learn to understand the sounds in the music all around you and to improvise with confidence over jazz standards, blues songs, pop music or any other style you would like to play. And you'll be jamming, enjoying yourself and creating your own music every step of the way. The method is open to all instruments and ability levels. The exercises are easy to understand and fun to practice. There is no sight reading required, and you don't need to know anything about music theory to begin. Already being used by both students and teachers in more than 20 countries, Improvise for Real is now considered by many people to be the definitive system for learning to improvise. If you have always dreamed of truly understanding music and being able to improvise with complete freedom on your instrument, this is the book for you
In this remarkable book, Carl Verheyen teaches his philosophy and techniques for improvising. Rather than hashing out scales, Carl teaches how to play lines with strong melodic content. By approaching melodies through intervals and chord qualities, infinite lines can be generated. Carl stresses the importance of collecting lines that can be used in improvised settings. These lines and examples will provide outstanding material for any guitarist yearning for melodic ideas and inspiration. Presented in standard notation and tab.
Jazz Pentatonics is for intermediate to advanced players wishing to expand their melodic and harmonic vocabulary. The music is in standard notation as well as tablature and audio is included in which the more difficult exercises are played at a slower as well as faster tempo. The audio was recorded with live drums, acoustic bass and guitar. All the exercises are included on the audio recording as well as play-along tracks that enable the student to play with a rhythm section. The book covers the minor 7, dominant 7, minor 7(b5) and major (b6) pentatonics and gives the student many etudes and exercises from which to draw improvisational ideas. Includes access to online audio.
This book is written -with the guitar at hand- to help you as a fingerstyle guitarist, improvise in a contemporary way on the guitar. Every musician can learn to improvise. You just need to study and practice the right tools. Each chapter focuses on a different improvisational approach. An extensive theoretical knowledge is not necessary. This book is written for all levels: the beginner, the intermediate and advanced player. Every guitarist will find new insights and concepts to broaden his improvisational skills. Studying this book will increase your confidence for improvising, stimulate your command of the guitar with scale, interval, arpeggio studies and above all stimulate your imagination and musical creativity. In every chapter there is a 'Your turn' section, following the examples. The aim is to create your own improvisations. The book contains standard notation and tablature. Include access to online audio.
(Guitar Method). A thorough presentation of rhythms commonly found in contemporary music, including 68 harmonized melodies and 42 rhythm exercises. This highly respected and popular book is also an excellent source for duets, sight-reading and chord studies.
Modern Blues is for intermediate to advanced players wishing to expand their melodic and harmonic vocabulary. the music is in standard notation as well as tablature and a CD is included in which the more difficult exercises are played at a slower as well as faster tempo. the CD was recorded with live drums, acoustic bass and guitar. All the exercises are included on the CD as well as many practice tracks that enable the student to play with a rhythm section. the book covers such topics as reharmonization, exotic chord/scale combinations, intervallic and triadic exercises, alternate pentatonic suggestions and exercises and many other topics.
