[Tradjazz] Improvising--McNichols . . . .

[Bruce McNichols]

Hi Ken,
  I have a few comments (not that you asked).
In my case, the main turning point in learning to hear chord changes, came from when I started to play a chording instrument.

I started out (as a kid) on alto sax.  Later I switched to tenor and by the time I started a band, I was playing soprano sax.  It was when I started playing banjo, that it slowly began to come together.

My suggestion to any of us who are learning to improvise and to hear chord changes, is to take up a chording instrument.  Piano is best, but as I see it, the most difficult to learn.  Banjo or guitar would be good, but if one is doing it as a vehicle to facilitate hearing chord changes, I suggest baritone (or tenor) ukulele.
  I found that the standard (small) uke is difficult in that the fingerboard is so small, it's awkward (for me).  A baritone, or tenor, uke is just right.
Usually banjos and guitars have steel strings.  That plays havoc on one's fingers.  It takes awhile to build up calluses and get where it doesn't hurt.  That's a negative which might well make one give up, early on.

A ukulele usually has synthetic (plastic?) strings which are far easier on the fingers.  I've taught a song or two (on uke) to people who have never played it before and I've done so in five minutes.  Of course, I pick simple tunes with few chord changes and with chords that are easy to play.  Technically that's not the way to teach an instrument.  You should really learn to play scales and to develop a technical proficiency.  Trouble is, that's work.  My way is the easy way.  When you can actually play a song, in minutes, it doesn't seem like work.

Years ago, I taught a friend of mine to play uke.  Each week or so, I'd give him a new tune and teach him another chord or two.  It was easy (for both of us) and today, that guy (although not a professional player) can thumb through a fake book, and play most any tune, in it.

As I've written before, when I started playing banjo, I started to learn the relationship of chords to one another.  I also realized that certain changes in song B, were following the same patterns as those in song A, which I already knew.

Learning that stuff changed the way I play horn.  It opened up whole new avenues of improvising ability.  That said, I'm still learning and presumably, always will be.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
**  I learned early on that listening is much more important than playing.  In our music, the coherence of the band starts with teamwork.  Virtuosi need not apply.

**  Herb Gardner, the talented trombone/piano man in my band, tipped me off to a profound concept, regarding improvising.  Solos based on the melody are best.  When not basing a solo on the melody, one should at least play a melody.  Don't just play a bunch of notes.
  I'm talking like a big shot here so I must say that I am not.  I'm still trying and I'm still attempting to follow these rules, which I know intellectually, but don't always follow, when I'm in the heat of battle.
McN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Gates" <kwg28 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <tradjazz at list.okom.com>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 2:18 PM
Subject: [Tradjazz] Improvising--McNichols

> Bruce--
> Interesting and insightful post.  Yes, my present state of development is how you describe
> your earlier state.  Notes are okay (not wrong)---but not melodically interesting.
> 
> I know lots of tunes----I can't possibly memorize the chords.  So I have to rely on my ears.
> And they need improvement.  There are good ear training methods out there---if I were to
> devote two hours a day to the exercises---my ears would improve a lot, I'm sure.
> Motivation to do that has not arrived thus far.
> 
> So there you are.  Those who really want to improve can find a way.
> 
>  --- Just a few really good notes will suffice---I think Bix said something along those lines.
> 
> Ken Gates

========================================================

> Bruce McNichols wrote-----
> >
> > I tried to form my solos, around the chords. It worked, sort of. My solos (and ensemble > > playing too), were rather stilted. Just a bunch of notes. Simply "not playing wrong notes" isn't really good enough. I had to memorize the chords, for each song. I had zero ears.
> 
> ===========================================
> 
> 
> 
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