How to Learn Simple Jazz Improvisation

Improvisation is creating in real time. Some musicians are superb at this skill. It involves risk, and the rewards are very enjoyable. Start with small steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music Stands
• Musical Instruments
• Sheet Music

1. Choose a simple tune you're confident with. Memorize it on your instrument of choice.

2. Play it through as written, with absolutely no changes.

3. Play it and change two notes by altering the pitch or rhythm. For example, "Are You Sleeping?" is F G A F (to name the pitches of the four quarter notes). Normally the F G A F is repeated. However, play four eighth notes in place of the F and G.

4. Try this: F E F G (in eighth notes), then A F in quarters to complete the first phrase.

5. Use the same pattern in "Brother John": A Bb C (in quarter notes); A G A Bb (in eighth notes); C (as a half note).

Tips & Warnings

• Be relaxed and have fun.
• There's no one way to do it.
• Do this in a private location.
• Group sessions come when skills are developed and you feel comfortable.

[guitarkitchen]

on 3/29/2009 I think this article has truth to it. Just make up a melody or take a melody and change it a bit. Sort of like a variation. My suggestion when anyone asks me how to play jazz: listen to Miles Davis and try to play some of his lines. You'll learn so much. 1. Take the song So What. His solo (trumpet) is for the most part using all the white keys on the piano (C major or D Dorian). Try to pick out the notes and play them when he does. This might take some time but you can do it. 2. After you've listened to Miles for a bit, now try to play you own solo. I bet you'll be surprised with the result! Just let it flow! You can check out an article and video I made about this at : http://www.guitarkitchen.com/main/lessons/jazz/jazzadvice.php

[orgeti]

on 9/28/2008 to play jazz with saxophone it is easy then other instruments i mean

on 2/21/2006 If you are just beginning jazz improvisation, use the blues scales more often. You can find these anywhere on the Internet. For intermediate players, you should try learning the bebop scales and pentatonic scales. Of course, a teacher would help. It's a good idea to listen to recordings of people improvising, but I would suggest that you listen to more of your instrument, because there are different styles for different instruments, and different tricks and nuances exclusive to certain instruments. For example, with a saxophone you can bend notes, but with a clarinet it is less prominent. Then again, with a clarinet, it is easy to run up and down scales, but with a saxophone it is much harder. In addition, I would suggest listening to players such as Lester Young, as he is well known for his melodic, yet simple solos. As for play along tapes, they are very useful if you don't have anyone to play chords or baselines for you at any time, and I would recommend the Jamey Aebersold series.

on 1/18/2006 Listen to a player or a piece of music that you enjoy, and pay attention to the improvised passages. Small improvised phrases are called riffs. Step one:
Listen to a riff and sing it back. Step two:
Then play it back on your instrument.
Many solos are clusters of riffs. An unimaginative player with a memory of many riffs can still have a good groove, while an excellent player starts with a memory of many riffs, and improves on them.

The best players will (among other things) mix an encyclopedic memory of riffs with scales and arpeggios and with freshly invented melodic lines.

on 11/22/2005 Listen to all types of music. You will find a lot of new ideas on how to improvise.