One Man Jamming - The Art of Improvisation

For many of my students working on improvisation, I suggest that they learn to jam by themselves some of the time. The reason why I suggest this is that many guitar players are immediately disconnected to the chords of a song once they go to single note runs or solos. If you have to supply both the chords and the solo, your going to connect the two much better and think more in a conversational way: chord - notes -chord - notes - or statement - response etc... type of thing.

So, in a typical blues progression I can hit the first chord and respond with a run that takes me to the next chord then another run that takes me back to the first chord, and with each change I am challenged with fitting not only the timing of things but leading the notes in the direction of the next chord in the progression. This type of exersice not only helps me get a good balance between chords and notes, it brings out chords in my runs and the runs in my chords: it integrates all the elements of playing together, like what naturally happens on an instrument like piano.

Taking this skill into a band situation can bring out a very lyrical approach to lead playing. I can weave through the chords seamlessly, blow off a classic rock run, add a blues cliche, and finish off with a rapid scale passage for the climax. I become multi-dimensional and more connected with the musical surroundings or settings because of the awareness of the musical backdrop of a song.

The two main features ( music as conversation and music in unity ) of this approach are present in every great soloist I've ever heard. You can clearly trace or analyze the unity of chords and notes in players like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Slash and John Mayer as well as hear the obvious conversation going on between support musicians and soloist throughout the music of guitarist such as Jeff Beck, David Gilmore, Jimmy Page, Eric Johnson, and Angus Young.

Practicing jamming by yourself can be difficult at the start and needs some acquired skills of being comfortable with some air (space) between chords and notes: but it can help you achieve some great results in the improvement of your solo playing.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

Victor Hugo