SOLOS

Improvising and Taking Solos

These are videos and other things to help you understand all things soloistic and solotronic. If you want to take solos, talk with Mr. Powell as there are so many things to learn. Yet, at the same time, it's real easy. Take any solo, by anyone and listen to it at least 5 times. Make a chart of it: they go fast, then get quiet, then they go real high only to fade away at the end....... things like that. After listening a few times, and writing down what the soloist does, you'll see patterns and realize some of their ideas. It's fun.

Great video on Solos over Bb blues. He uses his trumpet, but the idea is the same for all instruments. Eric Bolvin - Improv lesson 2. It gets good (after some intro blabbing) about 2:30.

What Scale? To understand what scale you can use when soloing, think of the Circle of 5ths (and 4ths). Look below this Circle drawing and use the C scale for example. You can use C Major, or D minor, or E minor, or F Major, etc. Pretty cool me thinks.