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Assessment of B minor Improvisation
Hey Jon
You've shown a thorough knowledge of the minor pentatonic scale and a good command of phrasing on/off the beat, using repeated motifs to add interest. As you've no doubt noticed, it can be hard to sustain interest over a free-form improvisation for more than a few minutes however, so here are some ideas you could try implementing to add spice to your playing:
1) The solo backing follows the chords Bm - A - G (chords 6 - 5 - 4 in D major, or 1 - 7 - 6 in B minor). Therefore, since B minor is the relative minor key of D major, you can use the additional notes found in the B natural minor scale (also known as the Aeolian mode) to add interest. These would be the 2nd and b6 intervals (C# and G). The note G is a strong choice over the G chord since it is the root of that chord.
2) Use double-stops or partial chords instead of all individual notes.
3) Follow the chord cycle using matching diads or triads, or arpeggios.
4) Include slurs such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends and slides.
5) Incorporate some open strings into part of the improvisation. Check which open strings work best over each of the three chords.
6) Approach each cycle of the backing chords differently (using different techniques or registers on the neck) to create distinct sections.
7) Structure the solo over the length of the piece so that it has a beginning, middle and an end which climaxes in excitement (perhaps running high up the neck and including some expressive string bends?)
Hope that gives you plenty of ideas to work on, Jon. Well done so far!!
Hey Jon
You've shown a thorough knowledge of the minor pentatonic scale and a good command of phrasing on/off the beat, using repeated motifs to add interest. As you've no doubt noticed, it can be hard to sustain interest over a free-form improvisation for more than a few minutes however, so here are some ideas you could try implementing to add spice to your playing:
1) The solo backing follows the chords Bm - A - G (chords 6 - 5 - 4 in D major, or 1 - 7 - 6 in B minor). Therefore, since B minor is the relative minor key of D major, you can use the additional notes found in the B natural minor scale (also known as the Aeolian mode) to add interest. These would be the 2nd and b6 intervals (C# and G). The note G is a strong choice over the G chord since it is the root of that chord.
2) Use double-stops or partial chords instead of all individual notes.
3) Follow the chord cycle using matching diads or triads, or arpeggios.
4) Include slurs such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends and slides.
5) Incorporate some open strings into part of the improvisation. Check which open strings work best over each of the three chords.
6) Approach each cycle of the backing chords differently (using different techniques or registers on the neck) to create distinct sections.
7) Structure the solo over the length of the piece so that it has a beginning, middle and an end which climaxes in excitement (perhaps running high up the neck and including some expressive string bends?)
Hope that gives you plenty of ideas to work on, Jon. Well done so far!!
