Today I feel that I should talk about a simple improvisation exercise that is great for beginners. It seems that many beginners are totally lost when it comes to learning improvisation, or else the advice that is given to them is just too complicated or hard for them at that moment. So the question they typically have is something like this, "What is a simple way for me to learn to improvise?"
Today I hope I can give a good answer to this question for all you beginning improvisers.
Recently, well looking through some threads on Cafe Saxophone ,I came across a post where a beginning player was having some trouble with improvisation and feeling confident about their scales. After reading this I thought I should share a simple improvisation exercise that is great for beginner players. The following is a part of this gentleman's post.
"However, when it comes to the improvisation 'slot' I freeze. The teacher is very laid back and encouraging and often suggests that we just play a few notes from whatever scale we're using. This sounds very easy at one level, but the things I worry about are:- whether I'll remember and stick to those notes that are contained within that scale (I'm not very confident about my scales yet); what order to play the notes in; what length of notes to play; how to achieve a sort of rhythm that matches the backing track.
I usually have a go but I really don't like it. It's not about making mistakes or feeling that I should be good at it or worrying that I'll sound rubbish. For me, it's more an anxiety about not knowing what to do. This feels very different from playing from a music score that provides direction (that's comforting even when I know I'm killing the tune!"
I suspect that this individual isn't alone in their feelings of not knowing what to do and not being confident in their scales. So here is the improvisation exercise that I suggested that helps a player both become more comfortable with their scales and also learn how to make simple melodic ideas at the same time. We all know that simple melodic ideas are the foundation of a good improvisation, so this exercise is great in helping a beginning player take their first steps into the world of jazz improvisation.
To get started with this improvisation exercise we are going to simplify the scale that you want to work on. Then later we will add to it until you have the whole scale mastered. For this example I will use C major. To start we will only focus on the first three notes C, E, and D.
You have the notes you’re going to use now it is time to practice making simple melodies. An example of something you can do is the following. Play the notes C, D, E with the rhythm being quarter, quarter, followed by a half note. Then follow it by C, C, D, E being played eighth, eighth, quarter, half note. You can come up with many different kinds of variations with just these three notes when you add different kinds of rhythms. You don't always have to start on C either.
The thing to keep in mind with improvisation is that you are making your own melody and expressing yourself. Learning to make simple melodies out of the tools you have such as scales and various rhythms is a great starting point to learning to improvise well.
Once you have the three note scale down add to it. So now try using the notes C, D, E, F, and G. With this you have five notes of the major scale. After you are comfortable with the first five notes of the scale add the rest, the last two notes being A, B. You can do this with any scale.
Something else that might be helpful once you are fairly comfortable with a scale is to practice it in a flexible manner. Basically flexible scale practice is going up and down a scale any way you want. Ex. you could play something like, C, D, E, F, E, D, C, B, C, D, E, F, G. Basically you play the scale but you switch directions whenever you feel like it.
The above improvisation exercise is a great starting point for beginners who need to get more comfortable with their scales and who want to learn to improvise at the same time. After performing the above improvisation exercise you will have a better idea of how to create melody's in real time, and you will have the confidence and direction that will lead to better and better improvisations as you continue to practice. One thing I should point out about this improvisation exercise for beginners. It is a starting point, but if you want to sound like a jazz player you still need to develop you style and jazz feel by listening to the music.
The Best of luck
Caruso
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