In this video
This live stream tackled jam track improvisation, particularly how to get started without just mindlessly running through scales. The main idea came from Andy's advice: target specific notes rather than playing bluesy licks right away.
The key concept of 'targeting notes' can be as simple as you need it to be. Even improvising around three notes can sound strong when you a little bit of rhythm and phrasing - like a singer might do.
Sometimes these notes are called 'Chord Tones' (notes from the chord) So, in an A blues for example (chords A, D and E) try hitting...
Root notes (A, D and E)
By limited to just those 3 notes, you're actually playing some 'powerful' intervals -
A note to E note is a Root to 5th
A note to D note is a Root to 4th
which sound good basically! and in any other order between the 3 notes, it simply works well in this musical context and keeps it simple!
Different genres got different approaches in this Live Stream.
For fast punk tracks, hold notes longer and don't try to match the speed - plus try playing the melody lines. (Eg. Teenage Kicks melody line as a 'solo' and improvise around these notes - super fun exercise!)
Country and Rockabilly use 12-bar blues format - so we can hit just the root notes if we want! (If It's in the Key of A or E or anything else, we can just use the minor pentatonic scale shape 1 - it's winner!)
For 'British indie' sounding tracks in major keys, we can target the major thirds.
Over D major chord try F# notes
G major it's B
A major it's C#
Playing these major (or minor) thirds creates more melodic sounds in your solos - that is a very useful tip across the board!
LINKS TO BACKING TRACKS USED