I just Wanted to share with you something wonderful that happened to me…
I just picked up a guitar and thought about playing base and then some notes on high e string. Pretty fast I found a pattern how much I need to “jump” so the notes fit and then I just started to hit randomly these strings.
I dont think about time or something… in my head is just listening to notes and I feel like I am telling story a fairy tale story.
I cant play again the exact same thing… Its everytime different.
Only thing I noticed I am using one short phrase that comes naturaly into my fingers. Somehow.
I dont think about time. When I checked video I can see foot tapping, but I dont think about that all…
Is this good way to let myself improvise? I am pretty sure there could be problem with proper base beats, but… somehow it sounds beatiful for me.
If I can do this now simply on one string… imagine what I could do in 2 years… 5… 10… this is it. I cant explain my feeling enough about this and makes me really happy.
My very humble advice (based on personal experience) regarding your improv practice would be this: if you could find a way to record even a very simple chord progression, or just one chord, then use it as a backing track and try to improvise over it, you’d make progress much faster. You’d be learning by ear, even without a deeper knowledge of theory, scales, etc., which notes sound good with a given chord.
Nonetheless, what you do is a good try with a certain value for improving your skills.
Good luck!
@Coda Thank you.
Believe me or not… year ago I bought Digitech Trio + looper with pedal and I have Boss Katana MK2 50.
My main Acoustic Guitar can be plugged in.
All the time that gear lays on table because I was lazy and was not sure how to use it. I guess the time is here.
Can someone please point me a little to direction about theory in this case?
I figured by ear when I start on high e string with note F#, then move whole step to G#, following by half step to A and then jumping whole step to B and C#…
Its pattern of Whole Half Whole Whole… why does not it work for my ear when I start for example on note G and not F#?
I always thought that notes without sharps sounds “better” but it does not apply here.
Does it have something to do with playing E as base note?
I think understanding this could open other strings for me too.
Bravo on using feel and exploration and your ears to make nice musical sounds.
I will come back to that …
You have a good ear and you know the note names too!
1st string … open, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th frets = W, W, H, W, W, W
You only missed one of the seven interval jumps that make up the major scale.
W, W, H, W, W, W, H
You are playing the E major scale.
Which is perhaps why you hear the notes working so well together. Our ears are so familiar with major scale melody. We have been listening to such things from being very young babies. Nursery rhymes are basically built on simple major scale melodies. Which brings me back to your ‘fairy story’ feeling.
Different keys have different combinations of natural notes and sharps or natural notes and flats. Sharps and flats don’t get placed together in the same key.
There is only one key with no sharps or flats.
Currently, your explorations are giving your ears a chance to guide your fingers. You can also learn a little musical knowledge and allow your understanding of music to also work with your ears and fingers if you wish to accelerate your learning.
It is worth learning from Justin’s practical music theory course to understand this better. Check it out here. The first two modules are free to access. https://www.justinguitar.com/store/practical-music-theory
@Richard_close2u Thank you very much, Richard.
I am definitely gonna try that course… I can remember “long” time ago I was watching some parts of this course but I did not understand everything that clear.
Based on my guitar journey… I am sure now there will be some things that will “click” to me. Somehow everything is connected, its magic.
