[DavidScoggins]

Thank you @RealKurt , @Michelle-PSL , @Christopher_H for listening and commenting. I’d say that A minor is probably my favorite key. For one thing, there are no sharps so moving outside of scale patterns is fairly simply once you’re familiar with the fretboard; the scale along the A string and the descending pattern on the 10th and 12th frets are good examples in this take.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by  DavidScoggins.

[DavidScoggins]

For those who are interested this is the typical approach I take to the Wednesday improv. lessons.

1. Look at what key the lesson is in and play this from memory (usually with the root note being on the low E string).

2. Watch the video and get a feel for the scale, particularly if it covers more than one position.

3. Practice a few times with the tab but without the backing track.

4. Play the scale along to the backing track and really focus on solid timing.

5. Listen to the backing track, usually just once or twice.

6. Play the scale verbatim over the backing track, again just once or twice, and listen out for which notes in particular sound better than others. Ones which don’t sound as good will probably be used as passing notes rather than staying or ending on them.

7. Start improvising, probably three or four attempts, focusing on variety to the timing, e.g. not all 8th notes, leaving space etc. and listening out any melodies which are catchy. At some point during this record a few takes on my phone.

Something to note here is that at this point in time, improvisation is the journey and the destination. I’m not aiming to write polished solos which I transcribe or can play note for note again on the next take, I’m aiming to develop my musicianship.

[DavidScoggins]

Hats off to you @Michelle-PSL! Successfully completing the challenge AND reflecting on it so well has done wonders for your progress, and perhaps reminding us all of some valuable life lessons, the importance of perseverance among them.

You have been and continue to be an inspiration to many other guitarists, and for this we commend you.

The question which remains is, what’s next?

[DavidScoggins]

Very nicely done, @David. The rhythm on this track can be deceptively tricky and you did it justice. Solid vocals as well. Bravo.

[DavidScoggins]

Thank you for the kind and encouraging comments everyone. This song’s one I’ve only learned recently, so it’s good to know that it’s sounding okay already. Songs like this which have strumming and arpeggiated chords lend themselves really well to loud-quiet dynamics and hopefully that came through in this performance.

[DavidScoggins]

Thank you, everyone. My improvisations are still in the very early stages, and I’m currently trying to get past sounding like I’m playing a scale over the backing track. Using more than one position for the scale and the occasional non-diatonic note, like the Eb from the A minor blues scale which @dr_dave mentioned, helps with that.

A couple of you had mentioned about the use of space and I couldn’t agree more with you; was it Mozart who said ‘music is the space between the notes’. Thanks for listening and commenting.

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks, Leslie, glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

[DavidScoggins]

Thank you so much for your kind words @TravelingonaDream. 🙂

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @Niels. Really pleased to hear that’s there’s a melodic flow to it! 🙂

Haha, we can always count on you to be wonderfully analytical, and in fact, that’s going to make me look back at my previous description. Much appreciated.

[DavidScoggins]

Glad my reflection could be useful @Fly, and that you liked it. Cheers, mate.

[DavidScoggins]

I’ve been pushing myself to work with a metronome more often, in particular for playing songs and not only for practicing scales, so maybe that’s starting to show. Cheers, dude.

[DavidScoggins]

Many congratulations on your great achievement and the wonderful progress you’ve made @Michell-PSL! Happy to be able to share in your journey.

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @David. You’ve got to check it out, and indeed others by Chris Cornell, he was amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpLQv5xL9Dc

[DavidScoggins]

Thank you @Marisa and @Philb 🙂

[DavidScoggins]

Thanks @Theorose! The main thing to improve on from that performance is to have more consistent timing. Partly from nerves I sped up during the verses. A few of the legato runs could be a bit smoother as well.

I learned this from a mixture of tab and Youtube videos. Marty Music has a couple of very good lessons on this on Youtube and there are some good quality Guitar Pro tabs on ultimateguitar.com which are worth checking out. I can more or less play it without reading the tab, but it took A LOT of practice to get to that stage.

Thanks for listening and commenting. 🙂