How To Improvise On Guitar with Julian Lage | Sound Advice

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

Dude is a genius. Literally a living legend already

[@pursharthchawla8306]

Mr. Lage in his signature, effortless manner, simplifies concepts that have confounded and therefore been jargonised multiple times over generations. He has what most geniuses of 21st century lack, the pulse of all guitarists, their pain points AND the eager willingness to share his knowledge for the world to benefit from. What a beautiful mind and soul. thank you 🙏

[@evp854]

This is the sort of Julian Lage content I've been yearning for!

[@chrislink73]

Julian is just the best, totally down to earth and one of the most soulful players I've ever heard. Love his records.

[@JebMcIntyre]

Julian is one of the best teachers on the planet, perhaps because he's one of the best students. And of course there's no better player. Thank you Julian!

[@erichkaanikin3555]

Similarly, in colleges, my best teachers tended to be overwhelmingly PhDs. This was obvious on my first day at a major university after transferring from a community college (albeit the best in the state) where instructors overwhelmingly have only master degrees, in contrast to the university professors possessing at least one PhD, and sometimes several in different areas. Having been excellent students, they know better how to teach than less accomplished educators. I’ve also taught many academic subjects and was a successful guitar teacher in my teens. My own teaching skills noticeably and immediately improved upon myself learning more from better players and teachers. We all can benefit from other teachers.

[@KXGtr9s]

this is the best soloing lesson on youtube.

[@rdctd8690]

Just cannot get enough of this gent. So well and thoughtfully spoken, immensely gifted and hard working. Simply endlessly inspiring. I've been playing for about a quarter century, countless teachers, lessons and hours practicing, yet, any one of Julian's pieces and performances contain more music than it all combined.

[@terencehsu9576]

@Julian Lage is a genius.

[@grahamaldridge]

I started watching because I love Julian’s playing and approach, even though it’s all way (and I mean *waaaaay*) above me. I’m pretty much a musical illiterate and just play for my own satisfaction and the love of it. The explanation of the rhythmic variation, and the effect on what you might play, was brilliantly explained and beautifully demonstrated. Even sat here noodling on my partscaster it just made sense, and brought a bit of space and breath to my usual noodles. Wonderful.

[@quincytennyson6020]

Regardless of your level, those things he's talking about essentially timeless. I've played around some otherworldly jazz cats on guitar, and they talk about these fundamentals all the time, and it doesn't matter how many places you can fit melodic minor if you can't think of clever rhythmic motifs that you enjoy or phrases that you want to share. Something he didn't talk about here is his strong belief that you cannot play music for other people and expect them to like it. We can't know. So doing those things really helps you play music for yourself in a fun way. It's hard to tap into, but so good when you do.

[@grahamaldridge]

@@quincytennyson6020 It’s kind of my ethos. I play for myself but take great inspiration from others. :-) Julian just blows me away.

[@diegoesandi]

Julián is the guy that open the road and the sky, we always love his music, I mean how music take his fingers and reach our heart. Gracias Julian.

[@JulianLageofficial]

🎶🎶

[@daddarioandco]

A pleasure as always ❤

[@kwyatt261]

I do understand everything that you're saying Julian... My problem is going from my eyes and thoughts before playing into the full on flow, moment and musical conversation at the beginning of playing. The middle will be great; I'll improvise exactly what is in me, but when I become consious at the beginning and end is where I struggle.

[@christianstrums]

Beautiful wisdom ❤ Also, are you by chance doubling your lines with your vocals (softly)?? Maybe it’s just the way it was recorded, but I’m hearing something more (could be them overtones of that Collings)

[@detodounpoco37]

Musical philosophy can expand our potential in deep ways. Is not about how much notes can you play, but ultimately letting go and let Music flow through us.

[@davidfleming1012]

as usual.. such patient way of discussing his method. A totally approachable way of looking at guitar improv from such an irreproachable talent.

[@daddarioandco]

Maybe one of the most comprehensive and approachable players.

[@Paralung]

I could listen to him speaking for days. He has such an insight when it comes to music. And the best part is you can hear it in his music.

[@quincytennyson6020]

​@@daddarioandco The stuff he talks about is really the essence of musical improvisation as well - it can be hard to understand at first if you haven't had a lot of time with improvisation, but as you get a little bit of experience what he's saying becomes, clearly, so critical. He superbly synthesized a hefty chunk of Hal Galper's "Forward Motion" in the latter half of the video. He's also talking about being kind to yourself, and truly mindful of your playing - something that is rarely talked about particularly in guitar.

[@msydski3676]

SUCH a beautiful bit of advice. It would be awesome to get this video re-mixed.

[@tiesergrote]

This is really insightful - what goes on in the mind of an improviser, what is the experience. Thank you Julian Lage for paying such close attention to yourself and for being so articulate, and for the wonderful music.

[@LEOPORT5]

This is the most inspiring lesson ive seen! Julian is one of the best out there!

[@mandrewcurry9416]

Thank you so much. I often have angst about improvising while absolutely being drawn toward doing nothing else. There's a great permission I have to give myself- to be brilliant or otherwise, make mistakes, be gross, fall completely flat. The best teaching, eg: Swim coach- let the water teach you how to swim. There's technical skills most people will not achieve. After that letting the music be the teacher seems to work best for me. Very Frank Zappa, if you will. And again, thank you for this sharing.

[@lrpelkey]

man...there's a LOT to get out of this video. thanks, man. you're awesome. and what a great journey playing music is. walking the endless road. keep playing, y'all. or start, if you ever wanted to!

[@volt0z]

The man is brilliant in every possible way!

[@mikek9955]

this is the best advice, and the best demonstration of 'feeling bigger beats' ive ever seen. kudos.

[@tonybaloney6656]

I love the concept, “let the music play itself” and “take a breath” breathe life into solos. Articulated very well a subject kinda hard to put into words . Thanks man , great lesson.

[@valentineikediashi1091]

I noticed that when i tap my feet while playing, i tend to play more rhythmically, and the type of rhythm i play depends on how fast or how slow i tap. So I've been using that third part to my advantage, now I'm hearing it from a master, that's amazing. Now I'll try to incorporate the first and second part to my playing. Although I'm currently learning to give space in my solos. Wonderful lesson.

[@It_is_now]

I really admire his charismatic approaches in music. Extraordinary artist describing his approaches to his art is spiritually compelling. If there is one thing, I would really like to hear him play overdriven guitar tone just because I know that he would really take it to the next level with his approaches.

[@steelcityspeedshopj.r6942]

id love to see a time when Julian was learning . everyone starts somewhere and this man has become basically my favorite guitarist

[@matthewcasey892]

Great ideas, how lucky are we to be given this wisdom

[@gitarmats]

It really is amazing how much a shift in mindset can impact our improvisation. Really cool to see him demonstrate this. Genius guitarist.

[@aleguitar01]

Thank you for this, it was an amazing lesson. Julian is a true genius

[@robhead22]

What a great lesson!! From a true master of the instrument! Thank you!

[@athansklavis5665]

Julian you're on smooth cat, I appreciate your ethereal and wise advice.

[@athansklavis5665]

Lari Basilio uses top notch gear and her signature guitars are beautiful but man...what a fantastic player ! She's one of those rare gems that really gets emotions across in her playing, beautiful phrasing, the space between notes and lightning fast passes. Lari it's a joy listening to u play .

[@Greenjagsurf]

The profoundly simple goal of playing the guitar in ideal is the intrinsic joy and bliss of playing the guitar. Improv is the enjoyment of enjoying the sandbox.

[@imrolimra]

Thanks Julian. I learnt something new here

[@aggemusic]

This is gold! Thanks for a great lesson Julian.

[@GigaBrowser]

A man whose words on the guitar are both poetic and gospel. Long live King Julian

[@shamsamokhber8973]

this was literally a master class workshop thank you JL and thanks for sharing

[@dominicklawrence3726]

Wow, I love this guy.

[@Squareheaddude]

Thank you, Julian and D'addario!

[@brianj4090]

Lesson from Julian- what a treat!

[@jeffersonshuck1934]

I really appreciated this exercise idea of feeling the bigger beat or playing in a widened beat. What it did for my ear was change the expectation of resolve. I think it also loosens the correlation of rhythm, beat, and tempo.

[@tejasousep]

JL ! what an amazing musician, person. love the philosophy behind the music. its as important as technique.

[@emilybalcerak7861]

What a soulful and unique player

[@eastoedave]

Very useful indeed.... especially the wide rhythm idea...

[@JackT13]

What a wonderful person. And I don’t mean that in a sycophantic way. Regardless of his musical ability, you can tell he’s just a genuinely kind and caring man.

[@portcherish]

wow i needed this

[@jarvrc65100]

Amazing. I need more

[@marshallplexi]

Great stuff. Let the music breathe, speak and lead the way. One thing I sometimes do is try to catch a phrase, pause, then repeat it rhythmically. For example, if I just played 5 notes you can repeat the same rhythmic pattern of those 5 notes with different notes or even one single note representation. It creates a pattern that the listener can latch onto. People can relate to patterns and we're the listener too, after all. Drummer Benny Greb did an Improvisation Lesson video on this and talked about the same thing.

[@MartinFabricius]

Thank you for sharing!!! ❤

[@atquinn1975]

This was an excellent lesson!

[@darrenofdrivers]

What a lesson this is!

[@dadudezpr]

5:19 beautiful “ let music unfold and don’t override “l

[@marcoborge2128]

Thank you Julian, thank you D’addario!

[@jadynstewart2470]

Appreciate your work with the Emancipation Proclomation

[@Pinko_Band]

I think here, he is still just a member of the House.

[@RomainVuillemin]

Love Julian !!!

[@amoblahblah]

That was awesome 👏👏👏👏

[@pwmahon]

Amazing ideas, beautiful person ❤

[@pawszu]

this is very good concept actually

[@toreilly100]

Fantastic!

[@DaveElke]

Thank you Julian!

[@guitarfumar]

How do we get Julian and Guthrie together for a jam session? My new years birthday jam possibly? 🤪

[@marioreznik3654]

Curiosity sparked.

[@julesbrunton1728]

Haven't even picked up my guitar and I'm playing better already! Brilliant teacher

[@RoyalWe14]

I appreciate this so much

[@rossanoevangelisti3642]

Thanks Julian...

[@rolandkalus]

I love it! Yes - music is a language and improvisation is a conversation, sometimes with others or with yourself. And phrasing is the way we pronounce our content.

[@daddarioandco]

Very well said!

[@KIREGREBRON]

Thanks! ❤🙏

[@markvanloon3015]

Very grateful that you are sharing experience and guitar and personal wisdom As Peter Erskin said to me also create space and it will speak to you ❤

[@EmilioConesa]

More please 🙏🏽

[@Alexandre-gb5rp]

Excelente!!

[@uneedtherapy42]

13:36 that’s the sauce

[@elrafa782]

I wanna be Julian. Always smiling, sparkles in the eyes, and yes, he’s not bad with a guitar 😉🙏

[@dimitrispapadopoulos9245]

In improvisation sometimes u catch the magic but noone is there to listen and u havent recorded it... and then u start to write this improvisation but never is the same and dont remember what u did causw u were so lost to another dimansion.. nice video!

[@DudGolfer]

Thank you❤

[@ScottStentenFilms]

so wild to think like that,,, very cool

[@deancholakis2047]

At 7:47 it reminds of a Wayne Shorter composition, “Prince of Darkness,” from the Sorcerer album by Miles Davis.

[@nayarlopez8655]

Excellent

[@aleksandrekordzakhia4406]

Thank you

[@DavidGatto]

Like Blackmore says keep that brain and emotions [of your audience] engaged in the process, sometimes it can get to be like an Olympic sport; Which has a time and place❤ What comes first the Tempo or the Melody.

[@rhollard]

brilliant

[@davidb0064]

Wow that second part was ear opening!

[@opedroarte]

the audio is very weird, don't know why. anyway, hearing julian is always a pleasure

[@graymurray4952]

Great lesson though!

[@opedroarte]

@@graymurray4952 yeah, it sounded like that. my thought is that they used AI to remove backgroumd noise or some kind of filter and sometimes it doesn't work

[@daddarioandco]

In a lot of segments he often hums and orates the melody he's trying to play along with the guitar playing.

[@mikehallvideos]

@@opedroarte yeah it definitely sounds like some of the audio is getting transformed into some weird little vocalizations.

[@dangreenwood]

@@opedroarteyes, I agree with that. Listening with headphones and there’s some really odd artefacts in the sound. He’s still amazing though!

[@Joe8string]

Zero accountability - I think the vulfpeck guitarist , Cory Wong talks about this a lot. Great video thanks.

[@yuyutsusharma6977]

Bob Ross of guitar 🙌

[@johnstillwell4353]

I think to improvise at a high level the most important thing is to not think when you are doing it. Thinking is for preparation or the autopsy after you play, but when you are playing, play what you hear with the notes going straight to the fingers and skipping the process of thinking as at some tempos, it's not possible anyway and if you did do it, it would broken up and choppy. My 2 cents (worth every penny).

[@iainmcnally6704]

inspiring :)

[@daddarioandco]

Let us know which artists you would like to see a lesson from down below! 👇

[@zachindes]

Julian for the second time please and thank you

[@perpetuus.flamma]

Jacob Collier!

[@grahamaldridge]

@@zachindesamen.

[@serafinocroce9335]

Blake Mills!!

[@darrenofdrivers]

Derek Trucks

[@tangotommi]

I think you should have the chord progression in the background to help hear the harmonies. Thank you!❤

[@Spike-w5o]

❤

[@DanSchroeder-j5r]

A hundred years from now people living will be saying how lucky we were to have lived in his time, the same way we talk about the generation who watched Bird, Monk, Mingus, Miles, Coltrane etc.

[@stevenbeecheymusic]

🙏🏻

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

The first rule of soloing club is ... dont suck ;) Just kidding ....

[@1alopezg]

this is brilliant advice for any artist in any discipline

[@guitarfumar]

Also… who setup/mixed this audio???

[@daddarioandco]

In a lot of segments he often hums and orates the melody he's trying to play along with the guitar playing.

[@nodompa]

Love the video but is anyone noticing something strange with the audio? It feels like it gets "wobbly" at times

[@Sean____.]

Nelson Veras would be a great choice next time

[@bluebooper]

Thank you Julian. With that said, I don't know what you're doing with your recording/editing situation but this sounded like it was recorded on a Zoom call :/

[@MR_MU516]

[@TaiChiBeMe]

I just don't want to suck... LOL

[@kwyatt261]

This is psychology.

[@o5try708]

video proof of Julian being a cyborg. His voice generator is malfunctioning

[@joelwilliams4953]

When I look at him I see Abraham Lincoln.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

He is!