How a Jazz guy improvises VS how a Classical guy improvises

I will teach you how to improvise: brandondeon.com/survey-page?e...
Are you a fookin n00b? brandondeon.com/14-day-guitar...
My Instagram: @Brandondeonmusic
52 Week Guitar Player Instagram: @52WeekGuitarPlayer
Do my students suck? Click here to judge for yourself / @52weekguitarplayer
I have nothing left to say.
#shorts
Except you're a bitch.

[@BrandonDeon]

I'm looking to help 100 guitar players improvise anywhere on the neck in any key over the next 12 months. In 2023 I will no longer be having calls with people who are interested in 52 Week Guitar Player. So if you'd like to have a call with me personally (yes me) then book a call using this link: brandondeon.com/video-page2?el=yt-short-jazz-vs-classical

[@jaquarius5700]

I need mf help

[@nosheenkhan-yf3xn]

I am smarter, just smarter

[@chaselee86]

I've seen classical guitarists that can improvise, but mostly because they have also learned other playing style, like flamenco or fado.

[@Justin14379]

“You played that note .000568342 of a microsecond to soon. Sacrilegious. Practice more.”

[@AlexBaillie]

It's not a mistake it's just JAZZ BABY

[@babyinvasion]

You two would make a good couple

[@andreyemelianchik15]

Classical musicians' timing is terrible. They don't use metronome cuz "it kills emotions"

[@call.me.whatever2391]

Fellow LingLing? 👀

[@eurly93]

LING LING approves of this message

[@the_quadracorn]

So real. At uni when I was studying composition I couldn't find anybody confident in improvising that had a classical background. Meant I could never jam with a flautist or a violinist because they didn't get it. Which is BEWILDERING because they knew more theory than me

[@WhiteCranK]

Haha i have that one violist friend and guess what..? You're right

[@the_quadracorn]

@@WhiteCranK I've only ever been able to jam for real with 1 classically trained musician and it was a viola player. Massive dork and legendary human

[@awesomeal2.027]

More about music theory or the compositional style of 18th century western musicians

[@the_quadracorn]

@@awesomeal2.027 yes that is accurate. But that's western harmony, anything diatonic really. So in theory with that knowledge you should be able to improvise like a boss, provided I don't throw them any atonal jazz stuff

[@akingscraft]

@@the_quadracorn I agree. It’s also odd that they would need to count in their head as opposed to just coming in when it’s known for the then to come in.

[@BigMossyBank]

The classical guy is just reacting to you handing him a steel string

[@nengmesangma6277]

Lol

[@mopacwestgate]

My thoughts exactly...

[@tasosdiaforetico7377]

Exactly , I'd played jazz for 8yrs before doing a licentiate in classical, gotta know your shit. Guitar is hot thus century

[@fredgoh]

The classical guitarists will hang u on a cross and burn u alive for the desecration...^^v haha

[@EvaluateAssimilate]

Reminds me of the adage: "how do you stop a guitarist from playing? Stick some sheet music in front of them. How do you stop a classically trained guitarist from playing? Take theirs away."

[@mudfightmaster4275]

spot on

[@DoktrDub]

Lmfao

[@Ramdas_Devadiga]

Take their guitars away and they both should stop playing.

[@vinisilva_guitar]

​@@Ramdas_Devadiga lol

[@sathira_anuk5179]

​@@Ramdas_Devadigabrh 😅

[@simonmaskell9431]

it's because classical music is treated more as a museum than actual performance now.

[@jamesmiles3341]

It was actually a fun entertainment. People make music for fun and money of course back then, ppl like bach, chopin, mozart was improviser, do you really think bach composed all those thousands of pieces every week? No he just improvised it and if he think it’s cool then he writes it down

[@jamesmiles3341]

When i said thousands i’m not exaggerating, also Beethoven literally did so many "jam" with other musicians of his time, you know like showing of their skills in real time situations with no sheet, he literally became popular because of that. Music school just ruined it, same with jazz actually, you need to learn atleast 100 standards to be a jazz musician like wtf jazz was a peasant music no offense, jazz became a serious music since bebop era

[@Julian-um2om]

@@jamesmiles3341add on top of the insane fact that rock bands are not common classes in public schools in the us and u start to realize how fucked art education is in this country

[@brodiebehrmann9295]

Bach would be so disappointed..

[@x3-LSTR-512]

​@@zeppelinfan9360 most classical and baroque musicians improvised on their own pieces, I would rather look at 100 different takes of the Mona Lisa than the same thing over and over again

[@tonylee1667]

​@@zeppelinfan9360 And he seems to be pointing out the unfortunate state you have explained

[@ggdk2865]

Exactly, thanks.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

​@@x3-LSTR-512 improvisation started even before baroque period. They didn't improvise on one of their pieces, they improvised whole structured pieces... the thing about jazz being improvised is just a lie, they learn a harmony so they know what works over it... It can be impressive certainly, but calling that 'improvisation' is not correct at all

[@eliottveyrier6253]

​@@JulioLeonFandinho This is not a very informed take. Baroque basso continuo improvisation relied on partimenti a lot of the time which are basically the same as lead sheets in jazz just written with a bassline instead of the melody Improvising harmony can only be done consistently alone, otherwise people clash. And even then pianists manage to do it without clashing with the band using chord transformations and substitutions on beats where others don't play Also, "whole structured pieces" are also done following formulaes, like sonata form or others. As soon as you play notes that were not planned precisely beforehand, it's improvisation

[@robertshafer8968]

This is so true, my aunt could play any song on a piano, as long as the sheet music in front of her, could not and would not play anything without it.

[@Sledgehammers_Nail]

Is the joke about reading sheet music? I thought it was because the guitar was an acoustic steel string. Maybe it's both sheet music and the guitar.

[@scottfriery9091]

So, because your aunt refuses to play without sheet music, this is the rule?

[@tristanheath4037]

I never would understand that, I thought the whole point was self expression?

[@tongqiustb847]

Sad thing is that ppl like chopin and Bach improvised all the time but apparently that didn't get passed down

[@pondreezy]

It did, just not usually taught. Look up Partimento and rule of the octave.

[@garycitro1674]

Yep, and Mozart and Beethoven were genius improvisors as well. Franz Liszt? Maybe the greatest pianist of all time and a great improviser

[@Izakaya.Kairyuu]

A friend who was trained in classical music described her experience as "knowing the artists intentions" rather than being trained to produce good music. The kid was trained to follow the sheet music to a T and to be fair, I'd say she was pretty good at her job. But godayum was it limiting because the teachers only cared about perfecting a piece rather than teaching why it is so good in the first place.

[@conforzo]

​@@pondreezy True. The style pf Rameau became the standard way of learning music during the 1900s. Partimento is a better way of learning music.

[@slapmyfunkybass]

Every piece of music started out as an improvisation.

[@MisterNiles]

Ever heard of JS Bach? He could improvise multi part fugues. Unfortunately, people who study classical music often become institutionalized and there is no room for improv in the current institution of classical music . It used to be a large part of classical music. Mozart could sit down and improvise a sonata on command. Now it's all about pleasing the professor.

[@EvaluateAssimilate]

Spot on. I'm teaching a few classical students at the moment and my usual discipline is the rockschool curriculum. I'm always shocked at how rigid the abrsm curriculum is, and how much it stunts students in their ability to freely express themselves musically. It's painting by numbers for musicians, basically.

[@oliverholland7236]

Ive also read that beethoven would mark his sheet music with several bars saying improv here. Now improv for 32bars here. It seems to be only modern classical players who are never taught how to improvise.

[@nik021298]

​@@castleanthrax1833Improvising is not improving a song. Improvising in a classical style would be playing partimento, using rule of octaves, improvising in "baroque style", playing a cadenza, playing in "free fantasia", playing a prelude non mesure, ornamentations, or playing variations on a melody. You wouldn't be improvising in Für Elise or in The Shape of You (Ed Sheeran), because then you wouldn't be playing those songs. However, if a song includes improvisation then you could improvise on the song while still be playing it, improvising being playing spontaneously/freely within a certain framework, you wouldn't go from a Jazz to progressive rock and then back to Jazz. The point of improvising a Bach piece (depending on the piece), could be, playing it as intended.

[@ccaa7674]

Based

[@jimjimalabim]

@@castleanthrax1833what’s astounding about your argument is that the composers themselves DID want players to improvise and add on to the music. Improvisation isn’t about “improving” a piece it’s about making it your own and making each performance of it have something fresh or interesting.

[@carlaandressa2473]

Classical musicians: We don't do that here

[@NylTheMC]

How a metal musician improvises- sweep picking, trem picking, and a lot of random shreds.

[@misterghee1]

Yeyyyyy

[@NylTheMC]

The only reason I know this is because I’m a guitarist, and I really like metal.

[@TheWarningRockBand]

This is very true, it is fun though

[@NylTheMC]

@heela yeah it really is. I like to play whatever I think would challenge me and if that means go full metal on it then I will.

[@TheWarningRockBand]

@@NylTheMC exactly metal all the way with a tint of classical jazz stuff

[@nedu3905]

As a classical musician I felt offended by being represented with the steel strings

[@psammaudi]

Classical composers: "Let the silence speak just as much as the sound"

[@johnaustinkaohelaulii8224]

When I heard Classical Musicians improvises I was like-- *HOW?!*

[@EllissDee4you4me]

Ha I knew the punchline before you got to it. I went to music school and anytime you wanted to talented classical musician to look like a deer in the head lights you just asked them to improv.

[@fulltongrace7899]

When I listen to large symphonies I always pay attention to the development sections. Feels like the composer’s written improvisation.

[@CollieNike3]

I was WONDERING what the heck the classical musician was going to do haha

[@Kori5101]

Cool skills classicman

[@nuberiffic]

Classical guitarist would probably use a classical guitar too

[@sergeantslowpoke1550]

I was expecting this punchline lmfao Classical improvisation is such a niche field and it's a shame because it's really fucking cool. It's luckily still quite alive specifically within organists because they are required to learn and play figured bass which sets the fundamentals for intuitive musical understanding really high, but from what I've heard from classmates, even that is starting to die out...

[@DyingBobby]

Was going to mention figured bass but it's niche and fairly obsolete with a few exceptions. Also it was common for composers and musicians back then to improvise as sheet music was written and not perfect (the ability was seen as masterful as the more famous composers of the day would be able to compose on the spot.) Kind of ironic that now it's all about the sheet music and you have masterful players that I would hardly call musicians because they can't/don't compose. I believe in the classical world the focus shouldn't be strictly on technique and sight reading. It's important but musicians should also be able to use their ear and write/improvise

[@sergeantslowpoke1550]

@@DyingBobby I'd say the high artform with modern day classical music is interpreting repertoire. Because all note choices are preplanned, the microinflections get more attention in the improvisational aspect. It's what I love about it and why I continue to study. But I think we should be training musicians to understand what they play and not turn them in to muscle memory robots.

[@jr1648]

@@DyingBobby classical musicians have highly trained ears. Definitely should be more focus on improv though. The composition program is a specialized program in music universities and is oftentimes reserved for comp majors. So even if classical performance majors want to take comp classes, they can't.

[@leostadt3164]

As a guitarist who started on classical.. I can confirm, this is true

[@thelastperfectman4139]

I new that was gonna happen🤣

[@AmJustMaiko]

yeah as someone who got some idea in music, I saw it coming at the end lmao

[@cutecatgirlnya]

Feeling kinda attacked rn ngl lmao

[@BababooeyYcho66T]

Good. Get better at improv 😂

[@mattganci4731]

@@BababooeyYcho66T Lmao 🤣

[@justinhamilton8647]

skill issue

[@vanessayan3684]

same man, been classically trained but i’d love to learn how to improvise as well

[@notmyname3681]

Haha, classical singer when I was younger, and a flautist.. but yeah, never once improvised. Been playing guitar for three years and there's nothing quite like being in a room full of musicians improvising when the magic happens, it's sublime.

[@crankyreed]

There should be more improvisation in classical music. It can work, especially for cadenzas. I also know that when classical music was big, improvisation was more common.

[@catvideosftw5650]

Organists would like a word with you

[@Teseracts]

Bro looking at me like I stole his cigarettes 😢😂

[@rcredmon]

Reminds me of school of Rock. The kid that played the piano had been classically trained since he was really little and literally could not improvise.

[@tomerbrosilow5402]

Dude you're hilarious!! I'm dead😂

[@jadenkeith6257]

Wait till bro finds out what a cadenza is

[@rockerbob949]

I literally had to stop everything I was doing because that is fucking hilarious OMG

[@jaceveleigh]

my good sir, your fingers dance elegantly across the frett board, i'm so jealous

[@Lanearndt]

I lol'd but improvisation was all the rage in the baroque era! Bach was a masterful improviser!!

[@methyod]

then why don't modern day classical musicians learn how to improvise?

[@packratty]

​@@methyod Some do, I've seen Pekka Kuusisto go to town with the Toronto Symphony. But indeed it is no longer normal (Beethoven was also a prodigious improviser).

[@richardhaughton7367]

I have that guitar!

[@a_little_flame589]

Bro wasn’t counting in for when his next bit is absolutely outrageous

[@iamnanirandom2158]

As a jazz musician just go with the flow of the music as long as it sounds right and doesn’t mess with or clashes with other parts within the music it should be fine

[@Yash42189]

classical music education has globally turned into a program for producing robots that can convert sheet music into sound waves with the use of musical instruments

[@Johnnysmithy24]

Fully agree. Without improvisation and spontaneity, music wouldn’t be my passion. I swear there is nothing cooler than jamming, you just feel so free and it’s like you’re manifesting your own momentary thoughts and emotions into sound waves in reality like a magician. If I had to be a robot that reproduces the same sound over and over I would fall into depression

[@anthonyparkernearlifeexp]

I was like 'wait, classical musician's improvise??' haha nice

[@andreguitarist]

Research the life of Bach and Beethoven to what relates to improvisation and you might change your mind....

[@fulltongrace7899]

I would say baroque composers definitely improvised, later Mozart and yes Beethoven.

[@Silverburstnelson]

Wasn't ready for that one, that's quite funny 🤣

[@AddilynneLastname]

the jazz lines clearly need some work, but the point is completely based

[@fulltongrace7899]

Had a more blues feel than jazz

[@kaandemirkiran4583]

You know that this guys knows his stuff because he stares into the camera devoid of any facial expression

[@fr_2137]

where you get this guitar??? it's look really cool!!

[@MCYTJHONY]

Maybe I haven't ventured far enough but I ain't ever heard jazz like that, any other music like that

[@donstrong9195]

I feel like dis was my choir director

[@brandonichavez5700]

“Jazz improvisation “ *proceeds to only play blues licks*

[@rafsanrafat7160]

Improvisation Classical musician : we don't do that here

[@Aerlioz]

I actually laughed so hard from that hahahaa thanks for that brotha

[@sidanx7887]

Sooooo true - I think of them as amazing super genius typists

[@BazColne]

That's what I was thinking.

[@argirisroute5640]

cannot unerstand

[@brokenskull1786]

cries in winter sonata

[@nbt3663]

Lol! I knew that was coming!

[@luismatias5051]

😂😂😂 you're awesome dude!

[@BlasterJunos]

This is how a jazz musician improvises plays bluesy lick*

[@stv-hammond]

well done!

[@Haysnairatko]

Very like your stuff dude

[@Chocolate_19]

What is that jazz piece anyway? Sounded great

[@garethhillary2302]

"How a classical musician improvises..." *Picks up STEEL STRING GUITAR AND HOLDS IT WRONG* Classical Musicians do improvise often, Romantic era classical music especially valued improvisation.

[@emeraldreefnriver6205]

I was honestly looking forward to some cadenza 🥲

[@NoahRatliff181]

I love how Brandon stared into our souls

[@guillermoschultz-no9qb]

I was waiting "the lick"

[@Evsta]

Needless to say This was funny as shit

[@capncrush6729]

The glasses killed me

[@subfreq3339]

That was pretty cool man. Wan.luv all

[@AliennKurt]

bro starring my soul

[@xmilox8086]

no no no u did me dirty there i have to improv every session and its so fun but annyoing

[@JohnRaraAvis]

This is gold 😂

[@francisthompson6470]

So? Improvisationan doesn't indicate talent, nor does it indicate greater musical acumen. The greatest guitarists are still classical ones.

[@stoicnotsad]

Brandon's hair on this is just Super Saiyan 2

[@jacobgetlan5609]

Big fun in the sun

[@pbabiesinspace6112]

Indeed. Jazz sees shapes, classical sees movement. Hard to improvise when the chord of the song moves 6 times in 2 measures.

[@JDazell]

Classical guitarists improvise all the time. Ever piece is an improvised performance. Only not in the notes bit the whole way a piecs is played which can sound totally different between player to player and performance to performance. Its just a different kind of improv. A fantasia in classical guitar music is also an improvised piece

[@chrisdurhammusicchannel]

These days you're right! Sad how things have changed from the time of Mozart!

[@Minimojojoy]

I was expecting it, but it was still funny!😂

[@fragmanialains]

Respect to both!

[@karaokeitaliano]

I knew it!

[@danieljacobson74]

I love how you're staring down the audience like that one you money. LOL.

[@angeloostjen7819]

Perfect. 👌

[@ZurlHammerdoom]

OMG, I just laughed so hard.😂

[@boblet5828]

Guitar snob final boss

[@johnjohns3651]

SO TRUE!

[@j.kyronhanson5644]

So spot on. Close friend: PHD classical guitarist, owns a music school... can't and won't even attempt improv.

[@babyinvasion]

This is so fucking funny

[@callumkeating5981]

Love to see him play a bit of classical

[@hazybunk]

Moment of silence for those who didn't get the joke

[@Kanine80yt]

I Play sax, and the trick is just know what notes you can and can’t play in the scale and then use the tried and true method of fuck around and find out until your solo is over

[@Noejjkkkj]

You should do one on how a jazz musician sight reads vs. a classical musician

[@TabascoVolta]

reminds of the breaking bad scene "it's like I'm classical, and you're jazz"

[@liambrya6952]

jaw line💯

[@EagleScout2019]

I’ve played saxophone for 10 years, never got to learn jazz, always studied classical in high school, I wanted to learn jazz but couldn’t at the time. This is so true, I have no clue where to start on improvising but I want to learn

[@wroughespetals780]

that's brutal, but also true

[@justinweisberg1634]

I saw that one coming 😂

[@CNNBlackmailSupport]

I was waiting for that shit.

[@ralphgleason1461]

Haha love it

[@eddie11426]

Omg hysterical and so true

[@yurigtx2023]

Jazz: IT'S THE LAW!!! Classical: We don't do that here...

[@DoodlesHD719]

Fierce gaze, fierce gaze!

[@morganbroderickk]

Staring into my soul