7 IMPROVISING SOLOS

Play a solo on the spot with three easy ideas

If you’re stepping into the spotlight to take an impromptu improvised solo, TG’S advice is to apply some practical limitations to your playing then develop your ideas from there. The idea is to focus on easy techniques so that you don’t become overawed by the seemingly limitless other ways that you could be improvising.

1 START WITH ONE NOTE

Sticking to one note might not sound like a recipe for a world-class ad lib, but as a way to make up a solo on the spot, it’s brilliant. Assuming you know what key you’re in, we advise starting on a root note. By ditching all other notes, you can focus on playing a simple rhythmic lick, getting a feel for where to play on the fretboard. Then, as your ideas take shape...

2 INTRODUCE MORE NOTES

And which notes should you use next? Well, before you go deeper into potential scale choices, start with a note that’s nearby on the fretboard, using your ear to make the choice. Build a one‑note rhythmic lick up into a two-, three- or four note phrase – you’ll probably be starting to spot scale patterns you already know now.