Jazz Guitar lesson#10 single note improvisation

[demejiuk]

refreshing approach thanx

[musictakeslife]

"Hard to play when you're not drunk" ahahahaha

keep the vids comin:) they help alot!

[freddym223]

@musictakeslife thx for watching ! and try to drink a lot while you practice ! LOL !

[qutqut]

man really thnx for everything

[freddym223]

@qutqut your very welcome !

[ashdinbharucha]

hi freddy, thanks for these beautiful lessons - simple and effective...

could you suggest some jazz albums i could listen to, the ones which had an impact on you/your playing. thanks

[freddym223]

thx ashdinbharucha ! i listened to barney kessel for chords. for single note, i used to scat along with a 24 hour jazz radio station without a guitar.then when i played jazz in the nite clubs it would automatically come out in my playing

[pickinstone]

freddy, you learned the right way. Music is an aural art and shouldn't be impeded upon my theoretical meanderings. Theory is good to COMPLIMENT your learning, but learning by ear should always be the priority. Watch Hal Galper's masterclass. Great playing as always, freddy.

[freddym223]

thx pickinstone ! i do know theory,but i don't like to think when i play. it's like singing to me.when you sing your not thinking of modes,scales,chords,arpeggios etc. music comes from inside you.at least for me. :-) i just checked out Hal Galper.good stuff ! thx

[demejiuk]

@pickinstone I checked out Hal Galper man he's awesome that was a great tip thanx. So much knowledge being shared on youtube.

[jazzbluesshred]

wow freddy! you rock! i was wondering, it look like to me you are actually playing arpeggios without even thinking :O i was wondering you say you sort of "jazz" around the chords, how do you know what the right notes are, is everything done by ear? ;O

PS youd make the coolest damn grandpa ever!

[freddym223]

thx jazzbluesshred ! i've never studied arpeggios.i just play by ear what i hear in my head.when i was younger i listened to a lot of jazz so i think some some of what i heard stuck in my head.i really don't think when i play.it's like singing.you don't think when you sing.if i'm playing arpeggios it's by accident. :-)

[glainz]

thank you freddy this is a very inspiring lesson for us struggling guitarist. very helpful. hope you will post more lesson million thanks

[freddym223]

thx glainz ! always nice to know my lessons are helpful !

[rajemmott]

Freddy, your lessons are incredible. You are a great teacher of this music. I have learned a great deal. Thanks so much!!!

[freddym223]

thx for letting me know you like the lessons rajemmott !

[getupanddosomething]

Freddy, I want you to know that I'm in school studying jazz improv for guitar, and no one has explained things as simply as this. It's infuriating to see such fundamental aspects of jazz being glossed over like they are at my school. I know my playing is suffering. We never learn anything WELL, we always change songs or genres before we can really dig in, and therefore I have a passing knowledge of things. A passing knowledge is worthless. Thank you for your explanations and examples.

[freddym223]

thx getupanddosomething ! if you learn one tune very well and understand it before moving on,you will learn more than slopping over a bunch of tunes

[kyoshiromibu12345678]

I've really learned from this lesson!!! THIS IS THE BEST JAZZ LESSON I'VE EVER SEEN!!! THUMBS UP SIR FREDDY!\m/

[freddym223]

thx a lot kyoshiromibu12345678 ! it's a pretty primitive way of playing,but it works for me.your comment means a lot as i consider you a very talented young guitarist !

[SIRONEDRAGON]

Fabulous information : )) Great ideas !!

[freddym223]

@SIRONEDRAGON thx Ken ! i guess i learned to play by just playing what i hear in my head and trying to add the pretty color tones

[SIRONEDRAGON]

@freddym223 Freddy Keep playing those pretty color tones : )))

[tromboneJTS]

Freddy, you are a wealth of knowledge. Thanks very much. I learned a ton.

[freddym223]

thx tromboneJTS ! glad you learned something here.i'm not much on theory.i just play the old fasshioned way.

[candyshop1398]

freddym223. Your very generous with your time and knowledge.Thanks for your no nonsense straight ahead stuff. It's good.

[freddym223]

thx for the kind words candyshop1398 !

[lee95757]

Nice to see someone is not full of themself and think they know everything when they actually play like crap.

[freddym223]

thx lee95757 ! i know just enough to get by.i'm kinda lazy :-(

[BanjoMan550]

I'm 59 and I've been playing since I was fourteen. A Gibson L48 that I still have. A lot of water under the bridge since. Bar bands, bluegrass bands, pop bands. I studied and practiced theory and scales and all the things every teacher told me to do. Because of you now I can play music from the heart. You are a true teacher.

Thanks.

Jim

[freddym223]

thx so much Jim ! i think musicians get to wrapped up in theory and forget about the music

[d10msaclassic]

Hi Freddy. I have been copying the chords so I can get them memorized. I play steel guitar and guitar but not professionaly. I have learned that doing single note parts is a matter of knowing the melody and having the right timing. Thank you for your videos they are a great help to me.

[freddym223]

thx d10msaclassic ! i checked your channel . i like that i can hear the melody on your many instruments !

[ferdiez1]

No wonder why you are on my faves! you are the man!!

[freddym223]

thank you very much ferdiez1 !

[clewi1091]

i wish i could find someone around here that played jazz but i dont know of anyone. is there a way you could post something like backing tracks on here so we could play along with them and come up with lead lines while playing along with you? then people that have a camera (i dont have one) could respond to the video and everyone could see different things people come up with. this may be stupid but its just an idea i had. thanks for the vids freddy.

[freddym223]

i'll write you clewi1091

[shallyshal1]

same tec\hnique the old jazz cats like louis armstrong used, way back then.. still works beautifully.. you dont need to follow chords, modes or scales. you can start with the head or a motif, and work around with it a little.

i love it !! you dont have to over complicate something that is already beautiful..

shally

[freddym223]

well said shallyshal1 !

[MrBoboTheClown69]

Thank you for your series of videos. They have helped me out a lot.

[freddym223]

thx for letting me know your getting something out of my lessons MrBoboTheClown69 !

[guitarforfree]

we love you

[freddym223]

thx from one youtube guitar teacher to another guitarforfree !

[TheGreenOrchestra]

Wow, your great. 60 years? yhats amazing. I got some of my playing in my videos.

[freddym223]

thx

TheGreenOrchestra! i checked out your vids,tasty playing man!

[highintel]

so..would you think in leading tones and triads?

If you get a second.. check out my Cool Jazzy Jam and see if you can see what my roadblock is?

Been listening to Conti, Benson, Pass, Diorio, etc... but...I don't see what thinking you need to avoid bad notes without modes.

Unless you naturally hear modes and didn't know they have a name.

Like you mention everybody hears melodies like that...I do to..I just cannot play them without working them out....my vid is all improv but the licks arn't.

[freddym223]

hi highintel.i dont think of any of that stuff.just the melody

[freddym223]

i'll write you after i check out your channel highintel

[echo680]

@highintel while patterns memorised in fingers r good, I can get "stuck" in the same old patterns I'm used to. If i compare those to the sounds in my head,or to lines I can HUM or SING, sung ones are better. as an exercise u cld try improvising by IMPROVISING A VOCAL LINE (while playing it simultaneously) eg NOT voice following guitar,but guitar following voice...BUT IN UNISON& try to discipline self to not drift back to trying to sing what u play. see george benson etc ? just a thought

[electro257]

sharp11 is that lydian ie sharp4th?

[freddym223]

don't know modes,but 4th and 11th are same but 11th is higher.i just play what i hear in my head

[petert3946]

Freddy, Thanks so much for your informative lessons. I have been looking for this type of teaching for years, and to find a natural chord genius like you is so great. I can't hear the chords coming like you do, but once they are found, I love to play them. Many thanks to you and Marlene.

Kind regards from PeterT Inverleigh Vic Australia

[freddym223]

thanks petert3946! learn lots of tunes and your ear will develop.I wish i was a genius ;-(

[svidrigajlov]

Thank you for these lessons Freddy, people like you makes youtube such a great thing!

As a beginner in Jazz guitar i found your lessons very useful.

[freddym223]

hi svidrigajlov ! thanks for letting me know my efforts are not in vain!

[LeonidFrog]

good videos, wanted to ask you about the line, the notes in question is the B natural against the d7 in measure2, I'm thinking that would rub against the b7 of the D7?

similar in measure 4 on Am7, the Bb (b2) going to the Bnatural on the D7..

[freddym223]

i'll write you and explain LeonidFrog

[freddym223]

B is the 13th of D7 a melodic extension.the Bb is a passing tone

[b5b9]

Hey, Freddy. Very helpful clip. I'm just curious as I watch you pick out notes - runs and fills to embellish the melody. Do you have the fingerboard memorized as notes - C, F#, Bb, etc - or as sounds?

As always, thanks for making the Tube a better place. Bill

[freddym223]

yes Bill,the finger board is memorized as notes,but i play by sounds,like singing thru the guitar

[freddym223]

by first learning simple melodys by ear,then playing more complex lines this develops

[b5b9]

Yeah, Freddy, I'm convinced this is the way jazz works best. First by ear, then by understanding the theory. But the music must come first. Me.......I'm still working on Happy Birthday. Bill

[freddym223]

sounds crazy Bill,but happy birthdays a good start,now try twinkle little star and see if you can play it without a mistake

[freddym223]

and Bill,i'm serious.most guitarists, can't play a simple tune by ear right off the cuff

[plutominusone]

Im not sure how to go about getting my music on youtube , enteresting thought though

[plutominusone]

God Bless you Freddy any man who loves music as you do and is willing to share and help others you my friend are a gift  to mankind

[plutominusone]

love your stuff Freddy im a long time guitar player also and song writer

[freddym223]

thanks plutominusone ! maybe we''ll get to hear some of your songs on youtubesome day :-)

[ReverendTFunk]

Wow, Freddy. I stumbled onto you by accident. Lucky me.

I love the "I don't know scales and modes" comment. Just play the melody and embellish it. Beautiful wisdom right there.

[freddym223]

thanks ReverendTFunk! means a lot comming from such a fine guitarist/teacher

[felixblues78]

I salute you Freddy! You are enthusiastic in telling people the joy of music while the 'musicians' I am dealing with lately are enthusiastic in playing dirty politics. I've learnt a great deal from you. Thanks again!

[freddym223]

thanks felixblues78! the guitar has given me a lot of joy and i want everybody to experience it

[jazztoday]

Please, make more. You are a Great teacher!

[freddym223]

thanks jazztoday! its always nice to hear that someone is making use of my lessons

[pappadblues]

god bless you freddy, you are such a treat. stumbling onto your videos has become a great treasure for me. thank you

[freddym223]

thanks pappadblues! you don't know how happy that makes me!

[rockitmn]

great lesson series!

[freddym223]

thanks rockitmn!

[billfishoc]

Thanks Freddy for taking the time to teach jazz guitar.

I like your approach.

Yes, forget the technical scale/mode stuff, and focus on the music.

Keep up the good work!

[freddym223]

thanks bill! glad you agree!

[stevecherm]

your the man freddy. brilliant.

[freddym223]

thanks stevecherm! a little sloppy but i i think the message came thhrough

[plutominusone]

I do understand your feelings about scales , it dosent make any difference where the note comes from as long as it sounds good, ive spent alot of time learning scales and have come to understand like you do , if it sounds good then play it scale note or not , i enjoy your music , thanks again

[freddym223]

thanks plutominusone! scales can influence you away from what you really hear in your heart

[stringbender57]

Freddy, I like the no modes no scales appraoch. I know just enough about scales for them to get in the way of my playing...laughs! Robert Conti and Jimmy Bruno are two well know excellent Jazz guitarist's and they both now teach with a no modes no scales approach. Again, thank you for all you do! I look forward to your next video!

[freddym223]

thanks stringbender57! LOL! i'm in good company then!!!

[kenny64]

just great freddy. thanks again for all your help.

[freddym223]

thanks kenny! glad to be of service!

[b5b9]

Nice lesson - real nice. I learned alot. It's good to read the comments, too. People are really paying attention.

[freddym223]

thanks b5b9! just explaining why i don't know modes/scales etc.

[tapspot]

I do like your approach and I think your voice is just fine, you have a lota heart in your singing-thats what I look for, Im sure you know what I mean.

I have been playing guitar for 40 years or so, I started a bit later than you . I was born 1939 too . so, snap. I like you humer as well. thanks for good instruction. bren.

[freddym223]

thanks for the kind words tapspot!

[plutominusone]

Freddy, would you consider chords the most important thing to learn ?

[freddym223]

thanks plutominusone! at first yes.because then you can hear the single notes that match the chord

[brickhouse32]

Thanx so much you are gonna be responsible for helping me to make breakthroughs in my playing!!!

[freddym223]

thanks brickhouse32! sounds like your doing very well already.i checked you out

[taticarzo]

Coincido con artistarj de Brasil, no sólo eres un excelente músico y meastro sino que ademas pareces ser una gran persona.Gracias

Taticarzo, Argentina

[freddym223]

thank you for the kind words taticarzo!!! :-)

[WestbouneDave]

Gee Freddy, Sober! ;) I'd love to play like that in any state. I'd love to say I'm learning so much from you, but I find myself just 'washed' in your playing and talking.

[freddym223]

thanks for visiting from across the pond WestbouneDave!

[llee38121]

hey freddy! hahaha...sober for a change? maybe that's my problem!

always great to see your postings!

[freddym223]

thanks for dropping llee38121! i'm usually good for a laugh or two :-)

[sguitar]

Hey Freddy,

really nice my friend!! You're a great teacher...Sarah :-)

[freddym223]

hi Sarah! thanks for visiting! :-)

[stanat20]

thanks for a great lesson.Love your approach to soloing without scales and modes.I was born the same year as you but can't play half as well.Must go and practice

[freddym223]

thanks stanat20! you play just fine! nice to see somebody else my age still picking!

[EdMuirton]

Love these videos Freddy! Very interesting Good Sir! Hope you do more! Cheers!

[freddym223]

hi Ed! thanks for visiting!

[Jazzguts]

Great lesson Fred, I really dig the way you explained the melody embellishing stuff, and someone can stimulate his own imagination by throwing in small licks but ending on essential melody notes. Fred you know your Stuff by experience cause you're using some nice diminished arpeggio ( F Ab B D) runs here that work real neat, this certainly is a very good lesson,once the depth is understood. really worthwhile good lesson, Jazz-greetings Vic.

[freddym223]

thanks jazzguts! you seem to pick out all the little nuances going on when you listen to peples videos.your a good listener!

[Jazzguts]

Fred in Holland we have a saying (translation) :A good listener has half the work done already, greets Vic.

[dronai]

Hey Freddie, I'm convinced you have a scale library burned in your mind, from years of playing... The average guy would get tossed out of the bar trying to noodle a melody.

[freddym223]

hi dronai! i guess every tune has a little bit of a scale in it.i'd probably be better if i knew scales and modes like jazzguts.he really knows how to use them

[fendermac]

Always a treat to see and hear you..and thanks for making me feel better about knowing no scales and modes.lol

[freddym223]

thanks fendermac! and here, i was gonna ask you to teach me scales. lol!

[fendermac]

Everything I know...10 minutes tops.lol

[freddym223]

thanks Frank! means a lot from such a musical guitarist as yourself!

[artistarj]

Great, Freddy

Like I said before, I like your lessons a lot.

I am a rocker who loves jazz, and I am trying to dive into this world. Thanks for your help.

And you seem to be a very nice person too.

Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

[freddym223]

hi artistarj! welcome to this world of jazz! and thanks for the kind words!

[localpm]

Freddie your lines are awesome!

[freddym223]

hi Paul! many thanks again!

[maganz]

Thanks another great lesson, Freddy!

This must one of the best intro vids for guitarists that want to get into jazz.

Best wishes for you and your wife!

[freddym223]

we both thank you for your support maganz!

[viniguitarjazz]

WOW ! FREDDY ! THANKS !

[freddym223]

hi Vinny! thanks for commenting!

[clewi1091]

nice lesson freddy. ive been playing guitar and bass off and on for about 30 years. i learned by putting on records and playing along till i could do what they were. then i started making my own things up. i dont know scales either but recently on here i did see a few and found i was using those scales all along but didnt know it. i just played what sounded right to me. im not a technical player in that sense. i think at times worrying with scales and technical playing can take feeling away.

[freddym223]

thanks clewi1091! i guess if we want it bad enough we will learn,maybe in different ways though :-)

[ProtoCosmos]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to teach. I'm learning so much from you.

[freddym223]

thanks ProtoCosmos! that pleases me deeply!

[creed444]

liked your humor in it Iol - laughed a lot and liked the small piece of paper you put up at the beginning. always helpful your lesson as well.

[freddym223]

thanks creed444! i always cringe when i see how funny i act and look on my videos LOL!

[junka22]

Hey Freddy, thanks a lot for this lesson!

[freddym223]

your very welcome junka22!

[BocaFriend]

Freddy! This was a delight from start to finish!

I hope it won't be long before you post a tune!

We're in F.M. withdrawal and it has nothing to do with our radios! Hugs, ~Terry

[freddym223]

thanks Terry! i rushed this as we had high winds and the electricity kept going out

[megansspark]

fun to listen to these lessons... & nice to see you Freddy! enjoy spring

[freddym223]

thanks Megan! always a pleasure to have you visit!

[JazzEthics]

Great that you put up these little instruction vids Freddy! Excellent tips!!

[freddym223]

thanks Lar! looking forward to your next post!

[ramsespartogi]

thank you for the videos freddy !!

this is another great jazz lesson that you have shared with everyone else in youtube.

[freddym223]

thanks so much ramsespartogi!

[useryug]

Wonderful stuff as always, Freddy.

Great to see just a little more of your amazing styles being revealed! ...

As usual I'll sit the Col down in front of this next time he's round.... we'll make a decent player out of him yet!

[freddym223]

thanks Barry! but the Col is already a very good player

[ElemeFF]

I've learned a great deal from your videos ... one thing I've learned is that friendship and music have benefited greatly from the internet.

5*

[BocaFriend]

Here, here! Your commentary is itself music to my ears! I express that sentiment daily -- but not as concisely as you did! Cheers from South Florida.

[freddym223]

thanks for the ***** and for listening ElemeFF!