When you are learning an instrument - one of the first things you learn are simple melodies. Eventually you learn about scales and chords and how they interact. Improvisation is an art form when done well (think Jimi Hendrix). For the rest of us Improv can be a form of practice (rather than playing scales) - it can be a form of expression - or it can be both.
I don't usually view the acoustic guitar as a solo instrument - its more of an accompaniment type instrument in the 21st century. I've been playing my old Taylor non-stop recently. Improv for me - especially on the acoustic - is about practice - but its also about trying to play something interesting. It's something very few people ever master and something many guitarists are very uncomfortable with. Its not about trying to be Stevie Ray Vaughn - its about exploration - making your mistakes fit into the song - playing at different speeds, incorporating chromatic notes - and trying to find your own "sound" - every player has one!
Ryan Geddes is a writer, musician and entreprenuer located in Toronto Canada. When he's not writing, hes helping with House&Canvas Furniture Paint.
Hi Ryan, nice choice with 'Round Midnight in the background. Are you into jazz?
Love that you recognized 'round midnight without the melody! I am a huge fan of the standards.. I find jazz to be a little too frenetic at times - especially with guitar players like Joe Pass. Its something I feel I have to really pay attention to while listening. I really like Wes Montgomery - I find him to be very subtle.. much closer to what a horn would play.
I like to take bits and pieces of every style and carry it into the next song.. Jazz, blues, country, rock - they all end up fusing together and creating a style. I do like the free form of jazz - its the one musical style where you can never really be wrong.. I have about 20 standards that I play with.. 'round midnight just happens to in Eb which is what im trying to play with this week!
Cool, glad to hear that. Love that you freely take from bits and pieces of every style and fuse them together - I think that's kind of what a lot of my favorite musicians do - Julian Lage and Martin Miller come to mind. Wes Montgomery is great - love his Smoking at the Half Note album - I think that whole record is beautiful.
I'm mainly a jazz guitarist and educator myself so it's always nice to see anyone exploring jazz! Let me know if you ever have any questions on jazz that I might be able to help or answer.
Keep making music and videos! Thanks for replying. :)
Great playing! I tried numerous times to learn an instrument. But I always get bored of learning and give up. So kudos to to all the aspiring learners. :D
Guitar is one of the hardest instruments to learn.. just being able to press hard enough so your fingers make a sound is challenging for most people. I started learning when I was 10 - it was a pre-internet world back then which may have made it more interesting - but its certainly a lot easier with all the youtube instructors!
Improvising has been the hardest thing for me, been playing for 6 years (self taught) but never learnt scales till last year, it's really a completely new area for me and really enjoying the challenge of slowly progressing my improv skills
Its difficult.. I had a friend show me on piano once that you go back and forth between a couple notes in time - and build from there. Thats the approach I take with it - but im certainly not a prodigy.. Guitar continues to have my attention because its something where there are no right or wrongs - there's also not a perfect - you are never really a "master".. I find it just as challenging as the day I first picked it up! Good luck with your playing,
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Very nice work! I wanted always to learn the flute and hope to do it soon. Keep up the good work, and enjoy your weekend :)
Music is important to humans for some reason. I think being able to replicate sounds with an instrument creates a deeper connection with a song. I learn every song that I hear - I couldnt imagine not being able to do that. I hope you do learn the flute!
Thanks for this post. Actually I started with keyboard, and I am still learning chords which I believe it is part of the basics of learning an instrument.
I play Piano as well.. I only started learning it a few years ago so I got to experience learning an instrument all over again. Piano is easier than guitar.. Guitar is probably easier to learn once you learn Piano... Either way you have to be dedicated!
This post has so much to offer to the one who wants to learn. Sometimes the simple insight, offers relief to empower a person to take action into learning. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks.. Most people dont show what their practice sessions sound like!
what a wonderful song! Love the lyrics too.
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