Improvising for Dummies - Megan Lynch Chowning

1. Improvising for Dummies…
Learn the basic melody
*Find a simple version of the tune, or learn the vocal melody of a
song
Learn the chords
*Look for them in a book, online, or write them down when you see
them at a jam
Horse Donkey Horse Cow
*Break your solo into manageable sections in your mind
Change the rhythm
*You must clap before you can walk
*Try syncopating straight quarter notes
*Double time simple phrases
Add notes
*Turns and trills
*Extend intros and outros
Subtract notes
*Create spaces between the notes to change the feel of the melody
Add chords or droning strings
*Strum the appropriate chord in the middle of your break to create
more dynamics
*Fiddlers and mandolin players add droning strings to fill out the
sound
Try it in a different octave
*Start in the regular octave for the first half of your break then
switch to the other octave to finish the second half, or vice versa
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