Getting flustered trying to improvise over changes

Lestratcaster

I use the Roots/3rds/7ths thing as well in my lessons. Stops the solo sounding too scale like and you can get some really nice phrases if you articulate them well. It also helps you learn the intervals all over the fretboard as you know where it is in relation to the note you're going to play.

viz

Always amazes me the tunes you can pull out improvising over Gaint Steps. It's really really hard (I think) but worth it. 

finest1

I won't add anything that hasn't been said above. they are all great ideas and thoughts. there is one thing I will leave you to consider. sometimes practicing and focussing can have a detrimental effect. take a day off, relax, do something else. maybe don't even play the guitar, certainly don't listen to anymore jazz! listen to something else, do something else. sometimes having a break and returning to the task, you will hear, feel and think just that little sharper.

good luck 

octatonic

Slow down and work on things in chunks- there is no other way.
It takes years and years- I'll let you know when I get there.

IMO the best way into it is to transcribe the solos of other players.
You do go through a period where you are essentially imitating other people but it is a necessary stage in your musical development.

Clarky

octatonic said:

Slow down and work on things in chunks- there is no other way.
It takes years and years- I'll let you know when I get there.

IMO the best way into it is to transcribe the solos of other players.
You do go through a period where you are essentially imitating other people but it is a necessary stage in your musical development.

perfectly put.. have a wis

bingefeller

octatonic said:

Slow down and work on things in chunks- there is no other way.
It takes years and years- I'll let you know when I get there.

IMO the best way into it is to transcribe the solos of other players.
You do go through a period where you are essentially imitating other people but it is a necessary stage in your musical development.

Yes you're right there, with regards to transcribing and learning licks from other players I read something that made perfect sense to me. I think it was in Jason Lyon's Jazz Pentatonics book, and he said that when you're growing up you learn words and phrases from your parents, the people around you, and TV, and you copy what they say.  As you get older you don't talk exactly like them, you develop  your own way of using these words and phrases.  When I read this suddenly the process of learning licks and phrases made sense.   

GuyBoden

Throw all your books into the bin and use your ears. The answer on how to improvise is on all the great recordings, you just need to listen obsessively and then copy what you're hearing.

AndyJP

I find it easier to think in terms of triads rather than scales. For each chord improvise using the triad. You can do substitutions too.