I recently was perusing some online guitar articles and guitar blogs and came across some interesting information that I’d like to share about playing the guitar. You may think improvisation is comprised solely of just that – free and on the spot musical expression. Even though you may think it is just musical genius at work, there is more to it than that. There are techniques you can use to help you improvise like the pros.
There are basically two approaches to improvisation: the vertical approach and the horizontal approach. The vertical approach has the player solo according to the current chord, whereas the horizontal approach has the player solo according to the current scale. Wrapping the chord where certain notes of the current and neighboring chords are played is a perfect example of the vertical approach. Another way to play the vertical approach is to play modes according to the chord changes.
The vertical approach demands a perfect knowledge of harmony and quick-thinking. However, sometimes the modes that the soloist plays may be too far out of the basic key of the song or the selection. For this, there is the horizontal approach.
If the current chord is the result of the harmonization of the basic scale of the song, then you can improvise freely throughout the scale. If you have a chord that contains one or two notes that don’t belong to the basic scale, you can still think about the same scale. Inside the scale you have the option of playing a variety of patterns from intervals and triads, to blues scales and full scales.
Even though improvisation is supposed to be free, you cannot escape the limitations imposed by harmony. You must keep this in mind as you prepare to improvise. Now you will be on your way to great improvisation.