How to incorporate licks into improvisation
- Thread starter Dabatross
- Start date
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
You have to get the new licks into your "mental toolbelt". Try this:
1. Play one of the old familiar licks along with a metronome, repeat eight times
2. Do the above again, but this time play the old lick seven times and follow with the new one once.
3. Continue like this: old 6 times, new 2 times, old 5 times, new 3 times, etc.
4. Repeat 1-3 for each key
It sounds boring, but the idea is to get accustomed to the new lick and hearing it played with the old ones.
You have to get the new licks into your "mental toolbelt". Try this:
1. Play one of the old familiar licks along with a metronome, repeat eight times
2. Do the above again, but this time play the old lick seven times and follow with the new one once.
3. Continue like this: old 6 times, new 2 times, old 5 times, new 3 times, etc.
4. Repeat 1-3 for each key
It sounds boring, but the idea is to get accustomed to the new lick and hearing it played with the old ones.
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
If your are playing with scales mostly, branching into arpeggios (notes within the chord you are currently playing) is another way. Now there's an excellent method out there that shows a new way (1992 but new to me) of seeing them on your fretboard. I always found memorizing arpeggios for all the chords to be a pretty tall order. Check this guy out ... Kirk posts here occasionally. If you like what you hear there are links to his PLANETALK website there. For the price of a cheap pedal, his material can help.
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?bandID=156391&content=videos
I won't say much more ... get accused of being an infomercial ... but I wish I'd have run across this in '92.
If your are playing with scales mostly, branching into arpeggios (notes within the chord you are currently playing) is another way. Now there's an excellent method out there that shows a new way (1992 but new to me) of seeing them on your fretboard. I always found memorizing arpeggios for all the chords to be a pretty tall order. Check this guy out ... Kirk posts here occasionally. If you like what you hear there are links to his PLANETALK website there. For the price of a cheap pedal, his material can help.
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?bandID=156391&content=videos
I won't say much more ... get accused of being an infomercial ... but I wish I'd have run across this in '92.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
Licks....is it not more fun to hear what fits in???
Instead of a lick?
Use your ears more I guess??
Licks....is it not more fun to hear what fits in???
Instead of a lick?
Use your ears more I guess??
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
play an easy rythm line in the same key & throw the riff in every once in awhile
then do a solo for that rythm & use the riff in the solo
then repeat with like 2 or 3 more different rythm lines
play an easy rythm line in the same key & throw the riff in every once in awhile
then do a solo for that rythm & use the riff in the solo
then repeat with like 2 or 3 more different rythm lines
\m/(00)\m/
HeadBanginologist
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
something I did was try to add more chromatic runs and passing tones. An easy one is this...
-------7-8-10-6/7-----------
--8-10------------8-5-----8-
-----------------------7/9---
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
I think it sounds good.
Octaves sound cool too.
But like Rid said..use your ear.
something I did was try to add more chromatic runs and passing tones. An easy one is this...
-------7-8-10-6/7-----------
--8-10------------8-5-----8-
-----------------------7/9---
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
I think it sounds good.
Octaves sound cool too.
But like Rid said..use your ear.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: How to incorporate licks into improvisation
The thing is to learn licks, but then make them into phrases.
Try to envision how a new lick will sound over the musical backing you're playing over, and then attempt to play it as part of a series of different musical ideas. Play with the rhythm of the lick, and the end notes. You have to learn not to just play a lick, but get in and out of it. Link the lick to others you know. Slowly the lick will lengthen and smooth into your other lines.
Another way to stretch licks into phrases is to try and learn them in as many variations as you can. Don't just learn a lick in one position. Move it around various string groups and positions, and link them together.
If you learn a lick in a single position, you're locked into playing that lick in that position, and your playing will sound like you're constantly setting up for THE BIG LICK. Just look at youtube: it's full of dudes who start soloing away, noodle along for a bit, and then you can literally see them pause for a bit and GO FOR THE BIG LICK. -which of course means that THE BIG LICK sounds disjointed when it comes along. You don't want the listener to hear the seams, you want your playing to sound natural.
The thing is to learn licks, but then make them into phrases.
Try to envision how a new lick will sound over the musical backing you're playing over, and then attempt to play it as part of a series of different musical ideas. Play with the rhythm of the lick, and the end notes. You have to learn not to just play a lick, but get in and out of it. Link the lick to others you know. Slowly the lick will lengthen and smooth into your other lines.
Another way to stretch licks into phrases is to try and learn them in as many variations as you can. Don't just learn a lick in one position. Move it around various string groups and positions, and link them together.
If you learn a lick in a single position, you're locked into playing that lick in that position, and your playing will sound like you're constantly setting up for THE BIG LICK. Just look at youtube: it's full of dudes who start soloing away, noodle along for a bit, and then you can literally see them pause for a bit and GO FOR THE BIG LICK. -which of course means that THE BIG LICK sounds disjointed when it comes along. You don't want the listener to hear the seams, you want your playing to sound natural.
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