Day 9 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
Sorry, no video today. Was learning new licks around the A/D/E chords as I found I was just reusing the same licks and wanted to expand my lick vocabulary so I can vary my improv more. Tomorrow, I’ll do a video incorporating the new licks. 
For another dsy Rachel, challenge yourself.
Pick one lick only.
Use it through an entire improv.
After multiple repeats you will find that you simply can’t help yourself from making small alterations or extensions or change ending note or when you start in a bar and the space you leave.
But, at heart it remains the core, substantial part of the original lick.
You can say many, many things with a single lick as a 12-bar chugs along.
*Day 9 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
Tried adding some different licks, wasn’t my best effort today, but getting there…
https://youtube.com/shorts/5v0M_a0u88Y?feature=share
Hm…. I thought it was your best effort so far! Quite enjoyed that. Well done.
Ahhh thank you David 
Day 10 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
New backing track :
After listening back to me playing, I think, something is amiss, feels like the licks and phases don’t go right with the music… I will have another go tomorrow.
Hey Rachel,
Heres a tip.
Stay in 1 pattern for the time being.
Use the 3 root notes of the chords (eg. A,D,E) as your anchor points, or ‘home bases’.
Hit these root notes of the chord on the chord change.
Play a few other notes in between.
You will be surprised at how very melodic you can play just by doing this. And it will dramatically improve your phrasing.
This stuff works. It will ground you in the basics of the Blues 145, from which you can then expand confidently.
Cheers, Shane
Day 11-14 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
First few solo’s are using the same backing track as before…
The last couple or using a new backing track:
I got slightly carried away with the amount of solo’s I recorded as I’ve been practising the last few days and enjoying the weekend…
They are all short and tried to use shorter more meaningful licks and phrasing,
Have fun listen to them…
Day 15 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
Using a different backing track:
It’s a D minor backing track.
On these video’s, I’m just trying to use Triads and see how I get on. I’m only using Pattern 1-2 of Dm.
I felt I was getting slightly bored and on the recommendation of @Richard_close2u, decided to change things up.
Day 15 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
Decided to just relax and practise a 12 Bar Blues Shuffle 
Used this backing track:
Just having a laugh and some practise…
This is exactly what you need to be doing more of.
I know it seems basic, but its melodic, has a solid structure, and allows the listener to go with you.
Its a much more musical sound.
From these basic structures, you can build more elaborate and colourful lines. But its this type of underlying movement that holds it all together.
Otherwise, one can be prone to wandering around the fretboard aimlessly, trying to hit ‘good’ notes, but with no structure.
The triad use in the above minor progression is a great method of connecting the melody to the underlying progression. Keep that in your toolbox, and develop it over time; the possibilites are endless.
Cheers, Shane
Day 16 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
Slightly different licks and style using the ‘Black Magic Women’ track
Tried a different slow D minor backing track:
After listening to the recordings, I found the solo’s are soulless. I will need to work on that.
I think I need to take a few days off as we’re coming to Christmas, but I’ll keep on practising and try and get more soul into my playing. Also I need to figure out some more phrases etc. for D but I might go back to A Minor and polish that up better.
May I make a suggestion?
Spend some time working on this Solo of Peter Green’s “Need Your Love So Bad”.
It is very short and will help with Bends, Vibrato, Phasing, and it has to be played with feeling. Don’t worry to much if you can’t add the Vibrato to the full note bends. It’s very advanced and will take time but the rest isn’t all that hard and will teach you alot.
Hi @stitch (Rick)
Thsnk you for the suggestion. I watched the video and had a go at playing it yesterday. Seems like a lot of bends and timing involved, which is good. I’ll learn the solo over the next couple of days.
I’m also looking at video’s of people doing improv and trying to understand and analyse what chords, notes they are playing over the relevant chords etc.
I will keep on plugging away at it as I know improvisation doesn’t come overnight…
Getting the bends to pitch is the most important thing to get right when learning to improvise. If your bends are not to pitch it’s the same as hitting the wrong note or playing out of Key.
I know I sound like a broken record but it is very important to learn to bend properly and to pitch.
Also Peter Green plays with emotion which comes out in his playing. So don’t just learn this short solo. Learn to feel the emotion in this short piece and bring that to you playing. It’s not about the notes its about the way you play them.
It’s also stunning how much music Peter got from just 4 or 5 notes (if you don’t count the bends).
I’d forgotten how good this was - I just transcribed it again 
Hi @mathsjunky,
I do agree, it’s amazing how much can be achieved with so few notes, reminds me little of BB King
Day 17 - Blues Improv 30 day challenge
So back from a little break over the Christmas period, hope you all had a wonderful Christmas 
Learnt some new licks and did some research on the BB Box and mixing Major and Minor keys.
So I created a little solo over A using both Major and Minor and tried to use the BB Box in different positions.
Practising my bends etc as well.
Used a new backing track:
Just a quick added update:
I’ve learnt the intro solo to 'Need your Love so Bad - Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), just learning the outro solo and then will then post a video of both together.
Intro Solo: Need Your Love So Bad - Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
I’s not perfect but I think it’s nearly there…
Used the following backing track:
My version: