Topic: How to Improve Adlib/Improv (Read 2035 times)

aideh20 · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 06:28:37 PM »

So I'm a lead guitarist thats been playing for about two years. I just started last year playing for my church as the lead guitar. Ive improved a little but it seems that I've gotten stuck in simply playing up and down the scale for adlib and my music director has been getting on me for that and referred me to this site. Does anyone have any advice on how to improve my lead playing? Thank You and God Bless

gtrdave · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:40:47 PM »

Start listening to simple lead lines by other players and then try to copy them. A lot of blues, gospel and classic rock songs have great little guitar riffs and licks that you could pick up on and then incorporate into your playing.
Also, you could borrow a trick from old scat singers and learn to riff what the singer is singing. Play their exact melody that they sing on your guitar. Be sure to get not only the notes, but get the attitude using bends and hammer-ons and pull-offs and pinch harmonics and pick attack and all that. Copy the notes and the expression...make it your own.

uriahsmusic · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:55:34 PM »

Start at the top and apply each riff to something that you do!..you can hear where it should go!

HAVE FUN!

Fenix · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2011, 01:48:56 PM »

I have to repeat Dave's advice: Listen to other guitarists and copy their lead lines. THis has really helped me. Along the way, you will be able to add to a few things on your own until you can make up your own lead lines.

Fenix · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:25:55 AM »

I guess i should also add that when you are listening to other players solo, try and be aware of which chord they are soloing over and how they are soloing over those chords.

I have seen my share of guitar players who just focus on lead playing and scales and have very little idea of the chord progressions in the songs they play to.

jlynnb1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2011, 09:56:34 PM »

for me it's learning music, period. theory, different styles, etc. i don't dig learning a bunch of licks before you know how and why to use them....otherwise you'll just know certain licks you can use over certain things, with no idea who it translates to anything else. Music is a language, and you can settle for either knowing some commonly known phrases or being fluent.

I'm not against licks, we all know them, have them and use them....but it's important to know the why before you know the how.

uriahsmusic · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:25:41 AM »

Quote from: jlynnb1 on April 01, 2011, 09:56:34 PM

for me it's learning music, period. theory, different styles, etc. i don't dig learning a bunch of licks before you know how and why to use them...

.I hear you!....where I came from theory didn't hang from trees....you had to pay for it!...so what people did was copy from the people they liked. This allowed them to learn and play professionally and learn the language along the way. Having done many professional things I would also say that people that know the reason for everything cant play nearly as well as people who practice playing itself. I liken it to asking for directions while driving and the person spits out engineering theory for roads and bridges, just so you will know. SO HOW DO I GET TO THE GAS STATION?????
Why am I explaining this?....because I am bored this morning!.....and This is the way I learned, a hole lot of playing....a little theory....I still don't know the reason for every riffs existence in a piece....I tend to feel it out a lot and explain it later...and only if I have to...so I say....look at the riffs....play the riffs....play them against anything that works and some things that don't. Hear how they sound.....internalize their sound...and use them....you will sound like a pro tomorrow!

I am not bored anymore...got to take my son to his basketball game.

Author Topic: How to Improve Adlib/Improv (Read 2035 times)

aideh20

How to Improve Adlib/Improv

gtrdave

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv

uriahsmusic

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv

Fenix

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv

Fenix

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv

jlynnb1

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv

uriahsmusic

Re: How to Improve Adlib/Improv