Guitar Improvisation Tricks, Concepts & Techniques
Introduction • Besides writing and playing songs, improvising rock • •
music is fun too! Practice melodic patterns, licks , triads, arpeggios everything that will spice up your improvisation skills. Just keep in mind that you can never stop growing. There is always more to learn and explore. Improvising is one of the most fun and fulfilling aspects of guitar playing, but also something that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You might be a good guitar player, but in order to become a better guitar player, you must include improvisation.
Pentatonics / blues • • • •
Learn to play the pentatonic/blues scale all over the neck in all five shapes. The pentatonic / blues scale is the corner stone of all soloing in blues, pop, country, rock and metal. Along-with the scale, learn how to improvise. Practicing regularly it will really pay off.
Major Scale • Next to the pentatonic scale, the major scale is • • •
the most important scale to learn. Learn to play the major scale all over the neck in every position starting from the root note. Play one part of the scale in the first position, continue the scale in the second position and then go on to the third position. Experiment and try different combinations. Learn how to improvise with the scales.
Triads • • • • • • •
Triads are used to open up your playing and get away from playing diatonic and pentatonic scale runs. Triads are 3 note chords. Triad can be started from the first/root note (the root position triad), from the second note (the 1st inversion) and from the 3rd note (2nd inversion). Example: Major scale = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, Cmajor scale = C D E F G A B C Major triad = 1 3 5, Cmajor triad = C E G (= C) Minor triad = 1 b3 5, Cminor triad = C Eb G (= Cm) Augmented triad = 1 3 #5, Caug triad = C E G# (= C+) Diminished triad = 1 b3 b5, Cdim triad = C Eb Gb (= Co)
Modes •
Learn to play all the 7 modes of the major scale to expand your improvising skills even more. • The 7 modes: – Ionian = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 – Dorian = 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8 – Phrygian = 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8 – Lydian = 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 8 – Mixolydian = 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8 – Aeolian = 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8 – Locrian = 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 8
Solos • Transcribe & learn solos from the greatest • •
guitar players to be inspired. You should learn from others and make your own out of them. Study how they phrase and use rhythm in their soloing. Learn solos in varied styles & genres; Blues, rock, country, metal, pop, etc. You can learn a lot from different guitar players.
Arppegios • Arpeggios are like triads, used to open up your • • •
playing & create more color & variety to your improvisation. Fact: A triad is actually an arpeggio if it is played note by note, ascending or descending. Note: A triad contains only three notes while an arpeggio can be expanded with a b7, maj7, a 9th, 11th, etc. Learn arpeggios & incorporate them in your playing to be a better player.
Licks • A short series of notes that creates a • •
cool melodic line which can be used in your improvisation. It is an ongoing process to learn licks in order to keep your improvisation sound fresh & becoming a better player. Increase your lick vocabulary.
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