What happens when you’re in a jam and someone says ‘take a solo’? Do you gravitate to a minor pentatonic box and play up and down the scale? We look at how to improvise from the groud up, keeping things simple so that you have something practical to work with straight away and produce some cool-sounding improvisations.
Improvisation is music nirvana. What freedom to just be able take a break, solo, jam, etc. i.e. not have to follow the music/TAB.
The course adopts a ‘from the ground up’ approach i.e. we start at the beginning and then gradually layer the various techniques and bits of know-how. Pretty much non-stop playing with exercises galore and lots of great songs.
Beginner-level players will learn the basics and the more intermediate-level player will take on more challenging elements. Everyone will be able to play together throughout the day.
At a glance
The overall aim is to start at the beginning and add things in gradually; stiring the ‘improv pot’ slowly as we go . We’ll keep everything at a practical level with lots of playing and as theory-free as possible.
For this course, we’ll take lots of videos of the tutor’s demonstrations for reference afterwards.
The course is ideal for relative newcomers to the art of improvisation but it will also provide lots of lightbulb moments for experienced improvisers. Easy-start exercises galore, practice routines, great songs to learn (and maybe some backing tracks), no information overload.
We encourage most levels of acoustic, electric and bass guitarists to come along; it’s definitely not for a Beginner. You could be a total newcomer to improvising or a seasoned jam nighter – everyone can learn something from this one.
Beginner level players you should leave the course with core tools and knowledge to enable you to improvise and the confidence to just have a go.
More experienced players should pick up new and wider ideas, consolidate your current approaches and challenge you with additional things to try out and bring into your playing.
Any hand-outs will be provided during the course we’ll make available all supplementary PDFs, copies of flip chart diagrams, any audio and video recordings (and maybe some backing tracks).
Play Rhythm Guitar is a Day-Only course running the day before with the same tutor at the same hotel. In case you want to stay over before/after a course please contact the hotel directly at 01748 850900, [email protected] for B&B availability and cost. There will be differences in booking close to the course time and in advance. The fee will be around £100. Dinners are available from the restaurant which has a wide selection menu.
If you decide to book both this Start Improvising and Saturday’s Play Rhythm Guitar there is a discount offer of £20 per course on offer i.e. £40 total discount.
Simply book this course and let me know that you’d like to book into the Saturday course as well. I’ll then contact you to arrange the discount.
Unlike our online sessions these Day-Only courses can only accommodate limited group numbers – book early to avoid disappointment.