02/22/2021 12:02 PM
When first learning to improvise in the jazz style, it can seem like a very daunting task. There are so many different songs and so much vocabulary associated with improvisation, it’s hard to know where to start! Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way as a jazz musician that I think every beginning improviser should start with:
KNOW YOUR MAJOR SCALES
Improvisation may seem like a “do whatever you want” kind of approach at first, but we quickly learn that improvisation uses many different rules and structures to make your playing to sound its best. An understanding of all 12 major scales will greatly help your journey towards improvising over any and every song. This means having the scales memorized!
Knowing what key a song is in gives a great indication of the scale most often used over it, and many jazz songs go through several different keys in the chord changes. Being able to recall these scales fast will prove useful as you figure out what notes to play.
Major scales will not be the only scales used in improvisation, but having a solid foundation of your major scales will help you learn other scales, like major and minor pentatonic scales and minor scales.
A big inspiration for our improvisations can come from the melody of the song we’re playing. That’s why I always have my students practice improvisation on specific songs and chord changes. It gives the player something to work from as a source for their solos, and real-world examples of song forms and chord changes.
There are a wealth of backing tracks on YouTube for you to practice playing along with a song as its played by a rhythm section. Simply search for “(Song Name) Backing Track” and you will find many options of accompaniment for your improvisation! Some of my favorite songs for beginner improvisers are the 12-bar blues, “Take the A Train,” and “Autumn Leaves.”
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!
Learning to improvise means learning how to come up with our own melodies and ideas. That can be hard if you’ve never heard someone else do it. Actively listening to improvisers gives examples on how it’s done. Listening to master improvisers is often awe-inspiring, and motivates us to go back to the practice room!
Listen to different versions of a song you’re working on to see how different people approach it. If you hear something you really like, you can try transcribing it, too, which is the process of learning a song or melody note-for-note so you can play it yourself.
If you’re wondering where to start with listening to jazz, try some of the legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and Charlie Parker! Some other great examples from our hometown of New Orleans are: anyone from the Marsalis Family (Ellis, Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason), the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Jon Batiste.
LEARN TO ANALYZE CHORDS & PROGRESSIONS
A key component of improvising is knowing the chords and chord changes within a given song. There are many different types and qualities of chord, but the three most basic/often used "jazz" chords are the major seventh, minor seventh, and dominant seventh chord.
If you are able to outline these chords these on your instrument by playing an arpeggio containing all 4 chord tones (1 3 5 7), you will know which notes will sound right and fit with the chord changes at different parts of the song. A great exercise is outlining chords in time with the progressions (use the backing track!), or trying to improvise with only the chord tones.
The most common chord progression in jazz is known as the ii-V7-I (“two five one”) progression. It shows up again and again and in all 12 keys in different songs. Being able to identify chords within the changes helps you understand what the chords are doing and where they’re going, like the ii-V7-I progression.
KEEP LEARNING
These are a few helpful tips for getting going with improvisation, but they are certainly not the only things to do when learning to improvise! Intermediate and advanced players continue into topics like chord extensions, chord substitutions, chromatic voice leading, transcribing solos and phrases and taking them through all 12 keys, recording and listening back to yourself, trying to sing ideas, and beyond!
Don’t worry if this seems scary, it is! Improvisation can take minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. All of the best musicians are always trying to improve their playing and come back to these fundamentals time and time again.
For more tips on improvising and jazz progressions, sign up for lessons with Nick F. or another of our NOLA School of Music instructors!