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Uke Improv 4-08 - Ali Lexa PDF
Uke Improv 4-08 - Ali Lexa PDF
This is a basic introduction into improvisation. There are numerous techniques and philosophies on
improvisation. Here you'll learn some basic starting points, and a few methods you can build on.
Before you can improvise over a song you'll need to figure a few things out:
1. What key is it in? Is it Major or Minor? Hints: Look at the key signature, the melody, the
chords. A lot of times you can look at the last chord in the song.
2. What is the structure? 12 bar blues? Verse, Verse, Chorus, Verse? Etc.
3. On more complex songs, you may want to break it up into sections and analyze each
section separately.
Once you have this information use the tips below to start improvising!
● A good starting point is the melody of the song. Learn the melody and then play variations
on it by altering the rhythm and/or introducing the methods above
● Sing! This is the most natural method, Sing an improvisation and then try to play what you
just sang. Eventually you can work up to playing what you “hear in your head”.
● Fall back on the approaches mentioned above at any time in your improvisation, this will
keep you on track and give you new ideas.
● Don't worry about wrong notes! Some of the most creative ideas come from hitting
unintentional notes.
● For the Blues, use the 'magic notes', also incorporate the Blues scales and 'licks' .
● Useful and easy scales for improvisation are the Major and Minor Pentatonic and the
'Blues' scales.
● It's always good to practice improvising with other people, back each other up, trade
phrases, learn by listening, exchange ideas, etc.
Blues turnarounds are usually played over the 11th measure in a 12 bar blues. A good way
to end a solo or signal to go back to the top.
A|--------------------------1--3----
E|----------------1-(2)-3----------
C|----------0--3--------------------
G|-----0--3-------------------------
2nd Position
A|---------------------------3--6------
E|---------------------3--6------------
C|------------3--5-(6)-----------------
G|------3--5---------------------------
3rd Position
A|---------------------------6--8------
E|---------------------6--8------------
C|------------5-(6)-7------------------
G|-----5--8----------------------------
A|--------------------------0--3----
E|--------------------0---3---------
C|-------------0--2-----------------
G|------0--2------------------------
2nd Position
A|-------------------------3--5----
E|-------------------3---5---------
C|------------2--4-----------------
G|-----2--5------------------------
3rd Position
A|------------------------5--7----
E|-----------------5---8----------
C|-----------4--7------------------
G|-----5--7------------------------
4th Position 5th Position
A|----------------------7-10------ A|----------------------10-12-----
E|---------------8-10------------- E|--------------10-12-------------
C|--------7--9-------------------- C|-------9-12----------------------
G|--7--9-------------------------- G|-9-12----------------------------