Use Simple Triads to Get Away from Root-Based Improvising
Guide tone lines and triads are a concrete way to sound good over any chord changes, especially difficult, non-functional harmony.
Call and Response – Find New Material While Developing Your Improvisational Phrasing
This improv exercise will help develop your phrasing and help you break free of the same old licks and streams of eighth notes you’re stuck using.
Enclosures: 12 Exercises to Help You Understand (and Practice) Them
Enclosures are notes that enclose a target note (and a staple of bebop). These 12 exercises will help you get a hold of the concept in a quick, practical way.
How I practice soloing over a 4-chord rock loop (Plus a transcription challenge)
Ever wonder how to go from just scales and chords to soloing? Here’s how I do it.
Getting Away from Root-Based Improvising: A Simple Trick to Add Color to Chord Progressions (“Joy Spring”)
Tired of always playing chords from the root? This exercise will help you develop the skill of seeing a set of chord changes and replacing them with a close cousin.
Mini Ranges: Limiting Scope to Improve Improvisation
We must constantly fight information overwhelm. What should we play? When should we play it? Where (on the horn) should we execute the idea? Here’s an exercise that’s great for crushing the urge to noodle mindlessly over a tune.