8 Must Know Tips to Improve Your Improvisation Skills

[@The-Lu]

This is such great info, I really need to spend more time learning my notes and what chords are being played so I can match up more.

[@kennyg63]

It is a guitar journey. We can get better as we consistently practice and play. Wish I had the commitment I have now when I was a lot younger.

[@tonyaxeman4381]

Thanks Steve . I have heard the fast everything and yes it does not make it. I like the last part of this .

[@Anywherestudios]

Always appreciate your insight!

[@Bobaganush26]

Nice lesson Steve.

[@paulc14]

Hi Steve! Thank you for another great video!

[@JeffreySwanson-o7r]

I like your video bro I've been playing 48 years and it's tough to teach this to people I've come to the conclusion either they got it or they don't and thank God that's what separates us from the others. I'm at the point where I don't even bother teaching people this stuff teaching folks this stuff because I think it goes in one ear and out the other you and I know but it's hard to translate our knowledge to other folks and it becomes frustrating. So if they don't have it I just don't play with them I'll just go and find someone else to jam with it gets it. I know I sound like an old grouch but I've spent my entire life studying this stuff and quite frankly I don't want to share it with anyone. Anyway I like your video you definitely have a great way of explaining yourself.

[@JeffreySwanson-o7r]

All right I have one more thing to say and then I'll stop being a grouch. A lot of people are impressed by these videos with 8 9/10 year old kids playing. If you really listened to him it seems like they're just going through the motions. And not playing with emotion. Music comes from the heart and the soul I know you know that. There are exceptions to the rule but for the most part they all are like little robots. Of course when I was eight and started playing classical guitar in 1976 there were no KZbin. It takes years of dedication to perfect this style you're talking about. And I hope it reaches some of these younger players brain.

[@patclark6032]

Sigh. Very good video, but a glaring expose of how much I don't know how to do!

[@brandonpoole1670]

I feel ya, but many famous artists are self-taught and have no knowledge of music theory. Much of what he’s talking about occurs subconsciously when jamming. At the end of the day, music is just art and expression. Or, you can boil it all down to mathematics and take away all the magic. Sometimes a sour note is just what the song needs, depending on the genre. Don’t beat yourself up. Play what you enjoy, record yourself, be your own critic, and don’t be afraid to break the so-called rules.

[@patclark6032]

@brandonpoole1670 thanks Brandon! Just retired from engineering, so I have plenty of time to learn and practice. I do appreciate the math AND the art of it. I started at 12, but work and family took all the time, so I'm pretty excited about getting back into it! Got chords, rhythm, scales going pretty good, but waiting for the art to kick in. I think I was looking the other way when that was handed out!

[@brandonpoole1670]

@@patclark6032 You’re welcome and congrats on reaching retirement! I’m certainly not a mathemagition, but more of an estimator who uses his ears and eyes as measurement devices. Creativity comes in waves and you need a blank canvas readily available to scratch out ideas. Assuming you play through an amp, a looper pedal that’s capable of storing a few of your chord progressions is an excellent tool for practice and creativity. You can lay down a rhythm part then add layer upon layer of soloing or ambient noises, etc. Anyways, keep at it and have fun doing so.🤘🎸

[@patclark6032]

@@brandonpoole1670 that reinforces my self Christmas present, a looper pedal, seen a lot of KZbinrs using them. Any personal recommendations, or are they basically all the same, and you just choose whether you want a Yugo or a Benz? Also looking at that Beat Buddy that GuitarAtWork pushes in his videos, haven't pulled the trigger on that yet either.

[@paulc14]

I hear ya! Just when I start thinking I'm getting pretty good, I listen closely to what others can do and it reminds me right away that overall I suck. But it is fun, and I keep learning more, which is good for an old fart like me.

[@JeffreySwanson-o7r]

All right damn it I got one more comment for the folks out there brother. I was playing at the beach with a girl last night and she said she had been playing acoustic for 10 years. It didn't take long for me to realize that it might have been once a month for 10 years which actually equals 10 months. You may have owned the guitar for 10 years but you did not play it for 10 years in my mind 10 years of playing would be 365 days for 10 years straight. I didn't say anything she didn't say anything but she knew I knew. She was using a cable all over the place and writing these little cute songs that girls do and I played solos over him and she's like wow that sounded really good and in my mind I said I know because I know what I'm doing but I didn't vocalize it I just kept it to myself. Once again I'm glad to see young folks learning and playing I'm just not sure if they have the dedication.