We can now use any of the licks you have learned to improvise over any of the audio backing tracks that are included in this course! However, many people struggle with where to start with this, so this page can be used a guide to get you started!
5 Steps To begin Improvising With Scale Notes Alone
Step 1 - Play the scale over backing track or song
E.g. for backing track in the key of A and is of a rock/ blues style, we would improvise using the A minor pentatonic scale for example. This is where you have to bite the bullet and just start, hopefully you will be surprised how fine this sounds!
Step 2 - Pause, then turn around every 2 - 6 notes
Still play the scale in scale order, but add pauses. After each pause, either change direction or continue in the same direction. You can either let the last note ring or let it stop. There is no right or wrong, what you play is only a matter of subjective taste. The only thing I recommend at this step is to not miss any notes out, or you may play notes that are not in the scale.
Step 3 - Miss Out Some Notes
No need to do this after every pause, but choose any other note to start from so long as it is from the scale. Starting from the highest note, or any of the root note octaves, is also a good idea when you are new to this.
Step 4 - Shake Up The Rhythm
Once you have had a few attempts at improvising and are reasonably satisfied with what you are playing, try using a different rhythm for your lead line. We could even just improvise using 1 note and keep it interesting using a syncopated rhythm i.e. a rhythm that uses a more complex rhythm.
Step 5 - Just Keep Playing!
So long as you only play notes from the same major scale as the key of the song i.e. C major scale over a song in the key of C major, it will sound at least acceptable. It can be a tough thing for many people to get used to, especially non singers or those from completely non-musical backgrounds.
However, if you truly want to learn intermediate or higher level lead guitar in any genre, you must learn basic improvisation and have a practical grasp of the concept of musicals keys. These skills can take time to bed, but learning to improvise is the equivalent to learning how to make the guitar talk, so don’t expect that to happen overnight, but I believe if you follow the steps above, learning how to make the guitar talk will be inevitable!
