[Live Stone]

Originally Posted by StickMan

Hmmmm

I see what you're saying, but I have to disagree back at you.

Jazz is really intimidating to improvise over. You need to learn about a whole wack of arpeggio shapes, all kinds of theory to do chord substitutions, learn when to play "outside" to build tension and such before you can really just improvise effectively in a live situation.

And jazz moves fast, the rhythm section does strange things and they substitute chords, do bizarre exentions and voice leading that makes the changes harder to follow.

So when you start out, you simplify it. Start with pentatonics and learn how to add chord tones to tie solo into the harmony. Eventually the chord tones take over and the pentatonics drop away. In the meantime, at least you can do it.

More than half of improvising is coming up with lines that express yourself and work with the harmony. It's really, really hard to do extemporaneously with Jazz if you don't have a lot of experience. So why not take the time, slow the song down and work out those lines that express yourself beforehand? Then play that live, and build up some experience and confidence.

Have already moved past that point. Been playing a while. I find working around the Chord Tones produces a much better melody line and is always on target with the somtimes out of the key jazz chords. All your scales, modes, bends, licks, hammor ons are right there in the Chord of the moment if you know the method that is taught by my teacher and mentor Kirk. We are not boxed in by any scale because we play all scales which are actually just modified major scales and are all parts of the scales in the PT methodology. Spring for the money and come join us at the Pt forum. You will learn a new midset about scales and learn to have more fun with your aquired skills. Take yourself to a higher learning curve fast. You will probably never use pentatonic again or rarely. I must confess I somtimes slip back to modal playing deliberately. You will be able to improv from your soul and never really sound like you just copied someone elses style. You will develop your own sound. Just a thought. Everyone has to do their own thing. I think you would really get into the PT groove. Listen to Kirk do some of his stuff. He never thinks scales and plays what he hears in his heart, mind and soul. His fingers do what he hears in his head. It don't get better than that.

Hope to see you at the PT forum. We do enjoy ourselves a lot as we learn a new mindset that people have searched years to find. A no nonsense way of playing the entire fretboad and knowing where you are at at all times without blowing a circuit in your brain.

There is a video of Kirk improving over a jazz piece that I posted with Band in the Box. Does anyone know where it is.? Stickman might enjoy hearing it.

Best regards

Danny