Re: I want to improve my ability to improvise
There is a computer program called Band in a Box. It can take a "midi" file and decipher the sheet music (a lead sheet). Then you can select and key you want to play it in. You can "Jazz up" or Jazz down" the chords. Sooon you have a version of a song that you like . Then you can click on the guitar window and a picture of a fretboard comes up. Then you click on "Ch Sol" and select an artists like Joe Pass and it will kind-of/sort-of simulate how Joe Pass would play this (improvision and all). But .. since it is a computer the notes in each chord may be 10 frets apart (hey lots of luck on that) ... so you need to have a "chord chart" that shows the notes in the chord (you can make on in Excel). Take the name of the chord (such as "C") and then in the next thee columns enter the triad notes for 1-3-5 (C E G) and then in the next several columns enter the notes for Maj7th, m7th, 6th, 9th, 11th 13th, inverteds, diminished, augmented. Then you can "step" though the song one chord at a time and write down the chords. In time you get to where you can do it kind of quickly (like anything) and you can begin to get a smooth approach on playing some improvisions ... bear in mind thought that the above comments like "practice-practice-practice" and "listen to the radio" are all still operable because there is not ONE THING that work AND .. we never really stop developing. Others may say "Oh that was great" and you are thinking "yeah, but it was not what I was trying to do" (It will never be like Joe Pass or Herb Ellis). BUT you will be working in that direction. Also I was listening to the Allman Bros with Statesboro Blues .. incredible .. I have no idea how they create that "sound" -- you will not do it in your kitchen (for sure). I know what chords they are using (and all of that) but it isn't even close when I do it. But that's where it is ..
There is a computer program called Band in a Box. It can take a "midi" file and decipher the sheet music (a lead sheet). Then you can select and key you want to play it in. You can "Jazz up" or Jazz down" the chords. Sooon you have a version of a song that you like . Then you can click on the guitar window and a picture of a fretboard comes up. Then you click on "Ch Sol" and select an artists like Joe Pass and it will kind-of/sort-of simulate how Joe Pass would play this (improvision and all). But .. since it is a computer the notes in each chord may be 10 frets apart (hey lots of luck on that) ... so you need to have a "chord chart" that shows the notes in the chord (you can make on in Excel). Take the name of the chord (such as "C") and then in the next thee columns enter the triad notes for 1-3-5 (C E G) and then in the next several columns enter the notes for Maj7th, m7th, 6th, 9th, 11th 13th, inverteds, diminished, augmented. Then you can "step" though the song one chord at a time and write down the chords. In time you get to where you can do it kind of quickly (like anything) and you can begin to get a smooth approach on playing some improvisions ... bear in mind thought that the above comments like "practice-practice-practice" and "listen to the radio" are all still operable because there is not ONE THING that work AND .. we never really stop developing. Others may say "Oh that was great" and you are thinking "yeah, but it was not what I was trying to do" (It will never be like Joe Pass or Herb Ellis). BUT you will be working in that direction. Also I was listening to the Allman Bros with Statesboro Blues .. incredible .. I have no idea how they create that "sound" -- you will not do it in your kitchen (for sure). I know what chords they are using (and all of that) but it isn't even close when I do it. But that's where it is ..
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