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Improvising... building on the very first idea that comes into your head


Terje

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Posted

I've said this before, but it bears repeating... :)

 

I took a lesson from a jazz guitarist once. We jammed a little, playing some 12-bar blues. After the first little jam he looked at me and asked what I thought of my own playing. I said that it was a bit aimless and he agreed.

 

- What to do about it? he asked.

- Well, perhaps I should just stick with the first idea and develop that, huh?

- Exactly! Let's try that!

 

So we jammed once more and this time I just stuck with the first idea that came. Repeated it, changed it around, came up with variations, went back to the first version... my teacher looked at me and smiled.

 

- OK, so what did you think of that?

- Much better!

- Exactly!

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Posted

So true. If you get a good idea, don't throw it away. A perfect example of manipulating an idea is Sonny Rollins' solo on St. Thomas. It's actually one of the most incredible solo ever. He takes an idea, and manipulates it through the chord changes for more than a chorus, and it's absolutely breathtaking. I think it's Barry Kernfield who called it pretty much the closest an improvisation gets to a composition, in that he displays a remarkable ability to think on his feet.

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Posted

Originally posted by bardsley

If you get a good idea, don't throw it away.

 

 

Hm... no, I'll go further than that! Even if the idea isn't good at all, stick with it. The thing that makes it good is the creativity you use to manipulate that idea, not idea itself.

 

That Sonny Rollins solo, which I love for so many reasons (it was my dad's favorite tune among other things and we played that recording at his funeral), is a great example of it because the idea itself isn't that spectacular. It's not like he stumbles on a long lost musical gem when he plays those first two notes. The genius comes in when he starts repeating the idea, changing the notes, the rhythm slightly, but staying with the same basic idea.

 

And what that is, now this is gonna get deep, is your creativity's victory over the ego. The ego wants to find a fantastic idea, while your creativity can use anything to be creative with, even a "bad" idea.

 

In fact, try this just to show yourself it can be done. Take a really stupid musical idea, one that you don't even like. It doesn't have to be long, OK. Just a part of some silly melody that you hate. Use that as a springboard in your next improvised solo. Record this solo and listen to it in a week's time.

 

The best part of this is... if you practice like this you'll develop your attention which means that when a great idea comes your way you'll know it and you won't throw it away.

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Posted

This is where raw talent meets the requirements of musical knowledge and competence ... and usually loses. And it doesn't stop with theme and variation either. All the issues that composers and arrangers must deal with can come into play and must be dealt with and navigated "musically", AND on the fly. Cake! :D

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Posted

Terje,

This post really reminds me of drawing. Not sure if there are any folks out there who like to draw, but I notice that when drawing and actually capturing and recreating the world around me on paper, I very easily get into an ego-less state of mind- time flies by, the right side of the brain definitely takes over and allows me to create.

When I'm done, I put my pencil down and return to 'normal' thinking - ie. my ego-driven, logical typical self. The perception of regular time comes back. After getting a cup of coffee or taking a pause, I'll go back and look over what I drew, and often find that I surprise myself by what I drew and was able to express.

Now, I'm not a great drawer, and I've been drawing for a far shorter amount of time than playing guitar - HOWEVER, I can shift into this interesting, and very engaging, 'improvisational' right-brained thinking mode so much easier when drawing than when playing music. Why is this?

For music, (and for me), I find that closing my eyes helps me to activate this creative side, but its still not as easy for me as when drawing.

I wonder if anyone here has any additional thoughts on this, and suggestions on how to get into the 'creative' mode when playing.

Cheers,
Tommy

PS - Excellent post Terje!

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Posted
Originally posted by tommy_is_here

Now, I'm not a great drawer...



Your'e what then? A small drawer? What can we put inside you? Little things?

Sorry, counldn't resist it :)

...and I've been drawing for a far shorter amount of time than playing guitar - HOWEVER, I can shift into this interesting, and very engaging, 'improvisational' right-brained thinking mode so much easier when drawing than when playing music. Why is this?



I don't know. Maybe it is with you like it is with me that drawing and painting is your real love and music comes second. For me drawing came first and I have a deeper relationship with that part of my creativity.

When I draw I definitely go in and out of a different state of mind. Recently I made this pastell thing. I haven't worked with pastells much and it got very intresting for me as I slowly was getting results I've never had before. I remember the TV was on and it was a program I wasn't interested in. I remember noticing it now and then and thinking that I should turn it off but never doing it.

I couldn't tear myself away from the drawing long enough to reach out with my to use the remote :eek::)

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