Does anyone know some good books or tricks on how to learn to improvise?
I've already bought "Rock Guitar Secrets" by Peter Fischer, which deals mainly with improvising, but it is quite a big leap regarding my own playing skills.

Try to listen to a lot of music...Practice some licks you really like and build more to them. The best thing to do is to listen to music.

Try creating a lick, even a simple one based on 2 or 3 chords record it and then try to play with what you just recorded.

Learn the pentatonic first (if you haven't done it already that is)

Silent_one wrote:

Learn the pentatonic first (if you haven't done it already that is)

I agree....I've been working on learning the minor pentatonic scale and it has helped me to learn some lead guitar. Now, I just need to learn to improvise a little better.

assuming you've worked on memorizing your scales (starting w/ pentatonic) I agree w/ Abraziel; record a chord progression (12-bar blues is a great place to start!), loop it, and practice till your finger bleed! (DISCLAIMER - not Dr. recommend...)
If you don't have the ability to record, put on your favorite CD and try to play along with it. Aside from helping you with your improvising, this will also help you develop your ear and groove concept.

Some excellent reference material:
[url]http://www.guitarlessonworld.com/lessons/index.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.jazzguitar.be/jazzguitar_lessons.html[/url]








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learning the pentatonic scales to start out with is a good move, then moving on to the diatonic modes (maj-locrian)

getting backing tracks off sites like

guitarbt.com

is a good move and just finding the key and jamming to them is great, but like, they key is, try to REMEMBER the sound of each little lick or position in the scales so when you're soloing, you dont just play whatever note comes next in the scale, but actually think the lick before you play it

its pulling all these little licks and notes out of the palette in your head and arranging them that really brings out the beauty in improv

good luck =]








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scales, scales, scales.

Once you've learned these very well, you'll be able to link different ones together. Then practice your linked scales, then create new links, mix them with your old linked scales, then start over.








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Agree, scales help allot. I started with just chords. For years, thats all I did, played only songs I liked. I have a friend that went to school for music and he said scales are the key.

So practice those scales.

As someone else said, start with pentatonic.
just listen to everything in detail. Listen to what different players do with similar idea
You cant LEARN to improvise really. Thats like someone trying to teach you about your own life. Improvising is what comes from you
Fearless improvisation is a good term which helps me. Learn pentatonic, then randomly throw in notes here and there and see how they fit in, experiment

Improvising is just becoming very comfortable with your scale shapes and where they lie on the fret board. The easiest one to do this with is the pentatonic(as previously stated). its all about practice and knowing your craft.

good luck.








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parting hard but playing harder

Improvising starts when you know so many licks that you can apply to your own playing. From learning as many solos or licks from your favorite artists and knowing scales will make your improvising IMPROVE.








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I like guitars because I love to control the strings, and make them do what I want.

In my mind, the single most important thing you can do when learning to do improv is learning the notes of the fretboard. Learn every note of every fret of every string, and teach yourself to recognize them instantly while playing. Doing this will help you to improvise smoothly and surely, no matter what key or mode you're in. Not only that, but it will help you break out of those restrictive box scale patterns and find creative licks to take you in new directions.

This approach has been the one that worked for me. Though admittedly it isn't the easy way to approach improvising, how often is the easy way the thorough way?

http://www.bluesblast.com/ has a wide range of backing tracks in a variety of keys and tempos, all free.

I'm an old school blues boy - the easy way is the only way with 2 fifths of whiskey in you -

If you can, jam with a friend, watching what they are doing will help you to find what you can play over/ with them.

In my first band we would turn out the lights and free form. At that point you find out how well you know the fret board! Study some live jam albums where there might be some improv - ( i.e. BB Live at the regal). Listen to how they transition over (possibly) unexpected changes. Learn every scale you can and learn the sounds your guitar makes!








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