Funk Vamp - how would the PT guys solo over this? - Page 4

scotty_b · August 21st, 2006

I am curious to see how the PT guys would approach something like this. It is just a one chord vamp over a drum beat I put together to practice with.
It goes for just over a minute, which can be an very long time when there is nothing going on harmonically, and so all interest has to be generated by the soloist.
Looking foward to hearing some takes and approaches to this

OldG · #46 August 28th, 2006

Real nice,Jim!

I really liked the phrasing and tone on this, nicely fitted with the bt and had a lovely 'loose' vibe goin' on, sweet!

Jim · #47 August 28th, 2006

Thanks OldG!

Usually once I latch onto a melodic motif, then I'm home free. I can always play the melody, or do a variation on it, or go off someone totally different - but I always have 'home' to return to and shape what I'm playing around, so I get an organic feel to it (or at least I hope to!). It's tougher to get inspired over a single chord, but it's certainly been done a lot (as in the Beatles "Tomorrow Never Knows" which I love). More Eastern music is played over a droning background, and it's just requires adjusting ones thinking a little away from Western harmony and then something usually comes to mind that fits nicely, using the rhythm, tone, etc. as other aspects besides harmony.

I've never composed an "classical" piece over a drone, but now that I think of it, the opening and closing segments of my "Essay for Trombone and Orchestra (written in 1970)" have extended segments of solo melody going on over single suspended chords and it's actually kind of fun to see what can be done with it. But I digress...

(except that improvised soloing on guitar IS composing on one's feet, on the fly - which is harder, IMO, than planned composing on paper. The great composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc all could improvise on the piano better than most people can compose with weeks of planning and work).

Jim

scotty_b · #48 August 28th, 2006

Ok guys
I have finally had a chance to clear some headspace and record something.

Jim · #49 August 28th, 2006

Real nice Scotty!

I liked your playing and your tone is right on the spot.

Some very interesting and creative moments in there - well done!

Jim

Kirk Lorange · #50 August 28th, 2006

Nice one Scotty ... I take it you're thinking Mixolydian? Nice sound too.

Jim, I thought you were in Em ... it's an interesting juxtaposition against the A7 chord. I must say I was wanting you to come home to A at some stage, though.

As this thread proves, there are many ways to skin a cat! Playing a solo is a combination of so many things, but I think the bottom line is to try and tell a story, doing so in a series of phrases and sentences that hopefully come to some pleasing conclusion.

scotty_b · #51 August 28th, 2006

Thanks guys
I was thinking of Larry Carlton when I did this, so yeah the mixolydian mode was always going to be there with LC as inspiration. I also used the Lydian b7 at one point (very briefly) where I played a B triad over the chord, and another idea I pinched from LC was using the A - G - C triads consecutively. I really like Mike Stern's playing too, and another way this could be approached would be to use the Stern or Mike Brecker idea of alternating the A minor pentatonic scale with the Eb minor pentatonic. It offers some really interesting possibilties for consonance and dissonance, and allows one to play some very long lines.
I absolultely love the strat I used on this, and I had Kinman pickups put in it. I am a huge fan of Chris' work. The neck was recently broken, and the luthier I took it to did a great job, but he has advised me to not use anything heavy than 9's on it, and I find the intonation is a little out on the E string, especially up on the 17 fret and beyond. Before that it was awesome. I really like this neck, so I am in two minds as to whether or not I should replace it.

737blues · #52 August 30th, 2006

Nice one scotty. Very fine line between Jazz and Funk, I reckon. Great interpretation.

WernHalen · #53 August 30th, 2006

737, a fine line between Jazz and Funk... Maybe we should call it JUNK...

Only kidding scotty, I think it came out very nice. I was only playing on 737's words, it reminded me of the movie Robots.

scotty_b · #54 August 30th, 2006

Thanks guys
I thought that 'junk' line was the best part of the movie.

cshude · #55 September 3rd, 2006

Nice playing, everyone- I've run through this a few times on my own and haven't gotten anything worth recording out of it. Always something to work on.....

Garry · #56 September 15th, 2006

Don't ask....it just came out, I chuckled, and went with it. Gotta kick out of it, so I posted.

allthumbs · #57 September 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garry

Don't ask....it just came out, I chuckled, and went with it. Gotta kick out of it, so I posted.

Ha, I could hear you were having fun with that. Made me chuckle myself.

Garry · #58 September 15th, 2006

Thanks for"seeing"the humor in that one AT...my eyes were tearing at the intro while playing...it got kinda rough to regain composure:

SlickCat · #59 September 15th, 2006

Here is my slide version...open "G"
This was harder then I expected...

SlickCat · #60 September 15th, 2006

Scotty and Gary prove that Blues and Jazz work well with Funk!! Very cool.