PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[mfads]

Hey guys, I've been struggling with this issue for a while. I find that my brain almost turns off when i improvise and i struggle to see the notes quick enough! I've been primarily a rock/blues player and haven't had to think too much when playing. I was just wondering if anyone has had this problem, and how to deal with it?

cheers

[Gorecki]

I think it's safe to say in the context of learning anything is a conscious effort. Thought time, effort, practice things transcend to being more of a subconscious result when applied. Unfortunately (I've done this) sometimes we want to *hurry* this result and expect subconscious results prematurely. The most obvious answer as I see it.
_________________

Forums Admin for PlayJazzGuitar.com.

Do you know where all of your F'n B flats are?

[mfads]

I guess it comes down to achieving that level of consciousness.... one day

[cjm]

It is said that if you only own one tool, and that tool happens to be a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.

At the risk of being accused of being a hammer enthusiast, I'll mention humming, singing, scatting, as you play, just as I did in the recent thread about holding tempo.

You don't need a guitar to improvise a jazz solo, and in fact it is more natural to do this with your voice. It doesn't necessarily have to be loud enough for anyone else to hear...but it can be.

Herb Ellis used to do this, and I think there are some youtube videos where you can watch him -- looks like he's working a tough piece of brisket -- but what he is doing is very quietly singing an improvised solo and playing the same solo note-for-note on the guitar.

George Benson did the same thing -- audibly -- when he was still playing a lot of jazz. I don't know whether he does now with what he is playing, but he used to.

So anyway, try improvising the solo with your voice and play along with the guitar, note-for-note, and see if that helps get you where you want to be.

[Viper]

[mfads]

i think it's time to start doing and less "thinking." thanks for the advice guys!

p.s I've noticed also Kurt Rosenwinkel pretty much sings everything he plays.

[jazzerchick]

When you're reading, read ahead. Practice slowly and make your eye look
ahead. The really good reading horn guys do that.
I think most guitar players struggle with sight reading just because of the nature of the instrument.
For me, practicing arppegios helps with the improv.

[toddinjax]

[quote="jazzerchick"]When you're reading, read ahead. Practice slowly and make your eye look
ahead. The really good reading horn guys do that.
I think most guitar players struggle with sight reading just because of the nature of the instrument.
For me, practicing arppegios helps with the improv.[/quote]

I think the OP is talking about "seeing" the notes on the fretboard (perhaps going off his more well known path of pentatonic "boxes") when soloing, rather than sight reading.

[Tung]

The jazz lines that you play should be practiced until you can internalize it. Easier said than done, but I do this in a couple ways:
1- practice lines and then transpose it to different keys
2- play the same lines but with different fingerings and in different positions of the neck.
If you can do this then you really know the lick, not just memorized patterns.
I always find that playing along with chords backing really helped too, that's when I can really improvise with the lick instead of regurgitating it verbatim.
_________________
www.myspace.com/tungle