How to Improvise Over Unrelated Chords
One of the biggest challenges of improvisation involves coming up with melodies that make sense over chord changes that are highly chromatic.
Much of the standard jazz repertoire from the post-bebop era includes songs with...
How to Improvise Using “Constant Structures”
A “constant structure” is a fixed set of relationships between pitches. It is related to the ideas of a “pitch cell” that can be transposed and/or sequenced.
Constant structures are great for creating motivic units...
Jazz Improvisation Made Simple: A Step-By-Step Guide
You and I are not that different. We both want to become better jazz improvisers. We both have a passion for jazz music and we daydream about taking killer solos the next time we...
How to Consistently Play to Your Full Potential on the Gig
(This is a guest post by Mark Morely-Fletcher.)
Bird said it best.
At least, I don’t know of anyone who’s said it better since.
“You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then,...
2 Pro Tips For Maximizing Your Jazz Practice Routine Results
As jazz musicians, we dream of becoming great soloists. For the vast majority of musicians that is the ultimate goal to achieve. However, it is not an easy task, and very few get to...
“Super Blues” Scales for Leveling-Up Your Jazz Blues Improv
The blues scale is a very useful scale, but I’ve found it doesn’t always adequately capture what jazz musicians actually play when improvising over a blues in a “bluesy” way.
I distinguish the “bluesy” moments...
3 Classic Patterns All Jazzers Should Know
I’ve mentioned surrounding tones here on LJS before, and I want to expand on this idea and offer a few more useful ways to practice surrounding tones in a melodic context.
Check out this post...
Developing Your Hi Hat Technique: An Introduction To The Third Voice
In jazz drumming, The use of the hi-hat cymbals has evolved throughout the years. In the early years, time feel was mostly played on the hi-hat, instead of the ride cymbal. Or on the...
Killer Rhythmic Tool to Develop Your Solos Like the Pros
When we improvise or solo, rhythmic variety and development are as important as the melodic and harmonic content we are putting out. However, for some reason, the rhythmic aspect of soloing or improvising is...
Why Jazz Isn’t Defined By Your Personal Taste
In recent years I’ve noticed what I feel is a troubling trend among some – but, to be fair, not all – jazz musicians and enthusiasts. Sometimes, when someone hears a style, sub-genre, or...