Improvisation is the epitome of musical expression, allowing musicians to create spontaneous musical ideas. When it comes to improvising over chord changes, understanding the underlying harmony and employing musical techniques will help to ensure that you will play a great solo.
In this post, we’ll explore 8 tips and strategies to help you navigate chord changes with confidence and musicality.
What is Improvisation and Why Do So Many People Think It’s Challenging?
According to Wikipedia, improvisation is “a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation”.
If you think about this definition, you will realize that we improvise all the time.
When you have conversations with people, you improvise. When you make a meal without following a recipe, you improvise. When you add sugar into a recipe that doesn’t call for it, or use half a teaspoon of salt instead of a full teaspoon, you’re improvising.
If you are able to improvise so easily in daily life, then why does it become such a daunting task for so many people when it comes to music?
The answer is simple. MINDSET!
One of the guiding principles of The Music Educator is the ability to find similarities between music and things that we do on a regular basis to make music (and life) easier.
Music is a language with its own form of rules, words, phrases, and syntax, which can easily be compared with the English Language. The reason we are able to communicate with each other effectively is because we have have memorized these guidelines and can draw inspiration from them at any time to help us express ourselves.
Once you learn more musical words, phrases and syntax, you will find yourself welcoming ideas that you would’ve never thought of before.
Now lets get to the tips that will start the process!
8 Tips for Improving Improvisational Skills
- Know The Chord Progression
Before diving into improvisation, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of the chord progression of the music you are trying to improvise over. Study the chords and their relationships, recognizing the root notes, chord qualities (major, minor, dominant, etc.), and any alterations or extensions present. This knowledge serves as a roadmap for improvisation, guiding your melodic choices.
2. Internalize the Sound of Each Chord
To improvise effectively, try your best to internalize the sound of each chord in the progression. Train your ear to recognize the tonal qualities and emotional impact of each chord. This familiarity allows you to respond to the harmonic changes in a more intuitive and melodic manner.
3. Outline Chord Tones
When improvising, a reliable approach to use while practicing is to emphasize the chord tones within each chord. Chord tones are the notes that make up the chord (root, third, fifth, seventh, etc.). Start by playing the chord tones on strong beats, allowing them to serve as anchor points within your improvisation. This creates a strong connection between your melody and the underlying harmony.
4. Understanding Scale Choices
While chord tones are crucial, incorporating scale choices is equally important. Select scales that align with the chords in the progression. For example, playing the major scale over a major chord or the Dorian mode over a minor chord. Experiment with various scales and modes to find the ones that create the desired tonal color and mood.
5. Use Target Notes and Approach Patterns
Target notes are notes within a chord that you aim to emphasize during your improvisation. They are usually chord tones or other important melodic tones. Utilize approach patterns, such as chromatic or diatonic approaches, to lead into these target notes smoothly. Using this technique adds tension, release, and melodic interest to your solos.
6. Develop Melodic Phrasing
To create pleasing solos, focus on developing strong melodic phrasing. Explore techniques such as call and response, rhythmic variation, and dynamic contrasts. Aim for a balance between repetition and variation, allowing your improvisation to unfold with melodic coherence.
7. Practice with Backing Tracks
When you’re finished studying chord progressions and identifying the scales they come from, its time to put it into action! Load up some backing tracks and improvise! The only way to get better at doing something is by DOING IT!
Record yourself and listen to see if your lines are melodic and if they move seamlessly from chord to chord. Make sure that they don’t run on too long, (nobody likes run on sentences) and make sure that people are able to remember things from your solo. (you’d want people to remember what you say to them, right?)
8. Listen To Others!
Listen to people who are better than you at improvisation as much as possible. Try to play along and analyze the different techniques in their solos.
The more you listen, the more you will be able to start receiving ideas similar to the ones that they play.
Monkey see, monkey do!
Conclusion
To conclude, improvising over chord changes is an experience that allows you to express your unique musical personality. By using the tips mentioned above, you have the ability to elevate your improvisational skills!
Remember that improvisation is an ongoing journey of exploration and self-expression. Embrace the process, listen as much as you can, and trust your musical instincts. With practice and dedication, you’ll soon be able to navigate chord changes with confidence, creating memorable solos that captivate both yourself and your audience. So, grab your instrument, learn the language, and start “speaking”!
