What is your thought process when you're soloing over changes?

[Blille]

It goes like this:

”Sounds like E, E blues it is!”
”ooh that note doesn’t sound good. Let’s bend.”

In all seriousness playing the changes is something I was trying to do, but I never got very far.

The let's bend is a great trick. I also like to play again the wrong note a few times to justify it while I figure out how to resolve it. Sometimes the chord changes and you're saved.

[Mincer]

It goes like this:

”Sounds like E, E blues it is!”
”ooh that note doesn’t sound good. Let’s bend.”

In all seriousness playing the changes is something I was trying to do, but I never got very far.

I also do things like: This solo sounds like I should bend here, so I will completely avoid it. Or, its in E? Let's avoid the 1st and 12 positions. Sometimes taking out the most obvious (or What Every Guitar Player Would Do) leads to some interesting places.

[beaubrummels]

Thought process? Sheet. Talk to me after a few beers and I loosen up. I fire all my guns at once, then explode into space.

[Clint 55]

You guys are a bit belligerent and anti-intellectual but you've actually offered way more wisdom than the guys on the jazz forum lol. They're scrooged over there.

[Blille]

You guys are a bit belligerent and anti-intellectual but you've actually offered way more wisdom than the guys on the jazz forum lol. They're scrooged over there.

Hold my beer while I go there.

[Clint 55]

Lol

[Blille]

Came back. Yeah, a bit rough. That's why I like it here. Lol

There's a few good folks that hopefully will contribute. I'll bump it in the morning.

[Clint 55]

It's not a big deal. I know what I'm doing with how to build solos. I have too many devices in my head to even have the time to practice. The main thing I was wondering is when it comes to what notes to draw on, does anyone use a device other than trying to outline the changes or just using a broad parent key/scale or key center scale.

[LLL]

You guys are a bit belligerent and anti-intellectual but you've actually offered way more wisdom than the guys on the jazz forum lol. They're scrooged over there.

[GuitarStv]

The let's bend is a great trick. I also like to play again the wrong note a few times to justify it while I figure out how to resolve it. Sometimes the chord changes and you're saved.

Haha, I don't remember where I heard it . . . but a long time ago someone told me that if you play a bad note the best thing to do is play it again a few times to make it seem like you meant to do it. :P

[Ascension]

Since a great deal of what I do is straight improv I try to find a melody line that is some thing a vocalist could sing. Also try and remember less is more and to stay in the pocket.
Example would be this .Absolutely no idea where we were going find a key and flow with it. Have played many 2 hour sets with several folks like this. Also in the video note the droning sound from the girl with the real rams horn Shofar playing it in tune still don't know who she was. PS selling this guitar was one of the stupidest things I have ever done. It was a Peavey Geration S1 and was a monster. Made a killing on it as it was a Pawn Shop rescue but man I miss it!!

[Ascension]

Couple more examples of straight up spontaneous improv live Worship sessions with different folks. We rarely have any idea where we are going till we get there.
This one got a little aggressive at times

https://app.box.com/shared/x9bzd9cdm8

Little more flowing and sweet session.

https://app.box.com/s/hi3so3xhrf4m758wxbvw

Thought process stay in the pocket add to and flow with the melody line as it evolves.
Here we got off track and had a trainwreck. I had to force the issue with this simple pattern to get things back on track then as things developed back off and just flow with where it went when the rest of the band kicked in.

https://app.box.com/s/la36ozti7k2bm6ob8u4b4r13fdjoe9i4

[alex1fly]

It's not a big deal. I know what I'm doing with how to build solos. I have too many devices in my head to even have the time to practice. The main thing I was wondering is when it comes to what notes to draw on, does anyone use a device other than trying to outline the changes or just using a broad parent key/scale or key center scale.

Well my jazz teacher would have said you anticipate the chord change and either
emphasize a note in that chord to highlight the chord change
don't emphasize a note in the chord to downplay the chord change

And literally play a different scale for every chord change

Do a bunch of modulation around the circle of fifths with the scale changes (next chord is a Cmaj7, so let's switch over to a Gmaj scale, heyo)

There's nearly always lead charts with chord changes in the jazz world. Lots of cats will make their own charts. Jazz players aren't expected to memorize music

[Clint 55]

Yeah, I try to outline the changes and then will bail back to the key center if I lose the progression. I memorize the tunes that I work on. I don't like a lot of tunes with all 2 changes per bar.

[NegativeEase]

I love reading peoples thoughts on this -great thread.

So, I listen through a few times and then let my brain visualize some sounds and passages before tinkering on the fretboard usually.

I don't typically let scale pattern option under the chords lead my approach, which honestly makes me less spontaneous with sounds when playing with people, but ultimately I think it makes me more creative because I'm building sound ideas internally and then applying them to where I know they can exist on the fretboard.

Because of this, I'm great in the studio with interesting ideas, but also not as good at wanking for long periods like I'm some kind of virtuoso type player with solos