These exercises are based on Hal Crooks book How to Improvise. They are often referred to as ‘play-rest techniques’ as they help you to shape your melodic phrases, maintain continuity in your developments and make sure that everything you play, is deliberate (and not just because you can). Each exercise can be applied to vamps, 12-key harmonic practise and any piece of repertoire.
Developing Your Solo Shape
Do you find yourself playing solos with the same shape? If so, then this lesson will help you break free and find new energy, direction and help you to respond to any on stage solo scenario.
Gear Changing
If you’re playing quaver lines, over and over again. Why not try some ‘Gear Changes’ practise. It will help you break free from quavers and remember those other note values!
Chromatic Approach
If you’ve been working hard on your chord scale relationships, you might be looking at ways to sound more ‘be-bop’ and break free from the diatonic. The tensions and releases introduced in this lesson will help you add chromaticism to your playing.
Want to challenge your chromatic knowledge further? See if you can work out what’s going on in the five phrases in the PDF below 👇
Mixing Up Your Phrase Lengths
Do you find yourself playing phrases that are always the same length? Perhaps they’re always four bars long, or always last the duration of the ii V I progression in your jazz standard? If this sounds like you, then this lesson will help you to build your phrases in new ways; changing the length, the frequency and forcing you to tackle the gaps between comfortable sections in the harmony.