Hey there, in this lesson you're going to learn how to improvise on guitar
by jam and the blues. Let's do this.
Hi there, I'm Tomas Michaud from Real Guitar. This is the second video in the series. In
the first video, I showed you the fingering for the scale that we're going to be using.
I am going to review that scale quickly but if you're new to scales I really encourage you
to go and watch that first video. I'll put a link to it up there somewhere. With that,
let's go ahead and get on with jamming, soloing, improvising whatever word you prefer to use.
Let me do a quick review of the scale that we'll be using. First part one
and optionally part two.
Now as I mentioned I did do a complete video on this scale alone and the link will be in the
description. We're going to divide this lesson into three steps. Now before we get going,
I want to lay out one guiding principle that is very important both for improvisation and
for this lesson. The principle is, if it sounds good to you - it is good. Now I remember when I
first started improvising, I knew I had doubts about if that was the right notes or not or if
I was doing it right. If you find yourself wondering if you're hitting the right notes
keep this guiding principle in mind. If it sounds good to you, it is good. And keep
that in mind as you practice, keep looking for what sounds good to you. And of course, as you
practice more you'll kind of get educated into what sounds good to you and know it right away.
The first step is to get accustomed to hearing these notes along with a backing track.
To do that, I want you to play the scale with the backing track and just go up and down the scale.
By the way, you can get access to the backing track from a link in the description. I want
to give you a little demonstration to kind of give you a starting place to work from.
Now I want you to play the scale with the backing track.
Go up and then come back down. Something like this - - -
and then come on back down.
Don't worry if you're playing the notes in rhythm or not, that's not an issue at this point,
just practice listening to how the notes sound with the backing track and get used to going up
and down the scale. I'll show you what it sounds like if we do two parts or two octaves - - -
So
once you feel comfortable with going up and down the scale you don't have to get
perfect but just somewhat comfortable. You can start creating phrases and that's what I
call little combinations of notes. We're going to start by just picking 3 - 4 maybe 5 notes
and then find ones that you like together and play them more than once.
Let me show you what that looks like - - - so here's a phrase
and I'll repeat it. Here’s another one. I'll try a little longer one.
There we go
and again you can take it up to the second octave.
Now for the third step, we'll start adding a little rhythm so all the notes don't
have to be equal. I'll give you an example, something like this. Hold it twice as long or
you can create simple phrases by varying the rhythm and the combination of the notes that
you're using. So think of it a little bit like you're talking. You're going to speed up or slow
down depending on what you're trying to get across. Again, I'll show you some examples
with the backing track but keep in mind if it sounds good to you,
it's good You don't have to imitate me. You can make up your own phrases.
Here's a phrase.
I'll start here and try this one.
I kept the same rhythm. Now I'll change the rhythm and maybe a little faster.
Now I'll add some. I like that one.
Just a little variation.
You get the idea.
So just to recap you're going to start by kind of going over the fingering for the scale.
Get that backing track and then try playing the scale
over the backing track. Listen carefully to how the notes kind of fit with the chords.
There's no right or wrong. Keep in mind that if it sounds good to you it is good.
Step number 2 is to start creating little phrases. Combinations of notes 3 4 5. They can't be longer
but I suggest starting small and something that you can kind of repeat and then step number 3
is start varying up the rhythm in your phrases and little by little you'll start
hearing it sound more like you're talking with musical notes. Try creating a phrase and then
extending that phrase a little bit or simplifying the phrase a little bit. And probably one of the
most important tips is to make time to do this. Do it a little bit maybe every day even if it's
only five or ten minutes. It's not only fun but you'll see that you get better and better at it.
Thanks for joining me today. If you're into uplifting guitar lessons
and real guitar learning advice subscribe to my channel. If you haven't already, you can access
the backing track from a link in the description or I'll give you a link right here at the end.