soloing

when I record I tend to use my head to create and my heart to play. I craft a solo for the song.
when jamming or letting it all out I play from the heart and gut. my mind takes the back seat as I rely on instinct and things learned.

Well, I'm still a noob. My solos are written after I noodle around and try out all sorts of riffs. If I find something I like I'll memorize it and the try to consciously build upon it. I'm guessing that one day I'll be at the point where I transcend thought like SRV. I can't imagine how there could be any room for thought during improvisation. Nothing wrong with composing solos though.

I say if you're good enough, plug it into a computer or a recording device and just go for it, don't even think about it. I don't care if something doesn't sound perfect because there's no such thing when it comes to this stuff. "The grass will always be greener on the other side," in other words, it will always sound like somebody else can solo better, let others be the judge of that because you'll always be too hard on yourself.

I say if you're good enough, plug it into a computer or a recording device and just go for it, don't even think about it. I don't care if something doesn't sound perfect because there's no such thing when it comes to this stuff. "The grass will always be greener on the other side," in other words, it will always sound like somebody else can solo better, let others be the judge of that because you'll always be too hard on yourself.

Good words.

I like to have a good idea of where a solo is going before trying to commit anything to a recording. Actually getting my head into how the solo is going to sound requires a lot of playback and noodling to find something I like, but once I've got it more or less committed to memory I reach for the record button.

A :-)

I like to have a good idea of where a solo is going before trying to commit anything to a recording. Actually getting my head into how the solo is going to sound requires a lot of playback and noodling to find something I like, but once I've got it more or less committed to memory I reach for the record button.

A :-)
I agree. I do hit the record button. that way I can listen and self critique for needed improvements. when I get a good track I leave it in.

if i know where i'm going with the solo, then that solo would sound great. but if i don't, usually it's just random play of notes... and sometimes, within that 30 seconds of random playing, there might be a few seconds of great sounding licks. that's when the recording is a very good idea. :wink:

For GN jams, I always thought it more instructive to just get a feel for the track and then record 1-3 takes and submit your best one. You can't really get feedback on your spontaneous playing if you plan everything, and without feedback that spontaneous playing may not improve.

I sometimes have a vague structural idea in mind, sometimes am lookingto test a new idea (so it's all an experiment and about setting up and executing that idea), sometimes just go blindly and try to figure things out as I go. Tends to depend on the tune, my mood, how much I've practiced lately, and how impromptu the whole set up is.

At home I practice scales, runs, and other patterns that go over chords.

When I learn a new song I analyze the chords, figure out what fits and doesn't fit, and then play over the changes with all the different things I think will fit (discarding the ones that don't do anything for me). Then I practice it a while.

When I get on stage, I've done the fundamental work already, I shut of my "left brain" and get in that place where there is no space, time, or words, just pitch and rhythm, and play.

I have enough experience to know (without consciously thinking about it) that there needs to be some repetition, some predictability and some surprises in my solo, and that there should be some development of the motifs that I am using. For some reason, this just happens when I am playing (of course, some nights are better than others).

Sometimes it feels like the music is coming through me instead of coming from me - when this happens, it's the best.

Soloing on my sax, guitar, wind synth, flute or whatever is one of my very favorite things to do in life.

Notes

Soloing on my sax, guitar, wind synth, flute or whatever is one of my very favorite things to do in life.

Notes
Oh Yeah,

Or as I like to put it.......As Much Fun As a Person Can Legally Have :D

Pat

Soloing on my sax, guitar, wind synth, flute or whatever is one of my very favorite things to do in life.

Notes
Oh Yeah,

Or as I like to put it.......As Much Fun As a Person Can Legally Have :D
Pat

Or the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Leilani and I (The Sophisticats - duo - pictured in my avatar) like to say, "It's our second favorite thing to do." :wink:

Notes