This is a confusing question to ask. Eventually a musician doesn’t rely on scales for his/her improvisational purposes. So how do they manage to express their improv so well when they solo? I’ve practiced all modes in major, harmonic minor, melodic minor, pentatonic major/minor, diminished, whole tone, chromatic, bebop, blues,etc and every time I listen to a real jazz musician they seem to nail everything and manage to make it sound musicially. My querstion is how?
I am classically trained and can’t get the hang of this…
When I was a child, I could hear classical music in my head. I could improvise. I heard violins, cello, piano etc. I could hear complete pieces. Compositions. I was not born into a home with enthusiastic fans of classical music. In fact, hearing classical music in my home was extremely rare. At the time, it was a nuisance, and it disturbed my sleep. I am still able to think about classical music, and improvise, but the music has stopped playing by itself, in my head.
I’m a classical trumpet player at the University of Miami and have never improvised, though I’ve played jazz. Any tips on how to begin the process towards well-rounded trumpet playing and improvising for someone who knows their way around their instrument but zero knowledge about improvising?
I have a heavy classical backround, (I used to play the flute for a long time), and I never bothered to learn chord shapes up and down the fretboard so I don’t know how to improvise. What is the most effective method for going about this? Should I just learn a chord a day up and down the fretboard?