Jazz Improvisation with Andrea Fascetti: Putting All Together

Hi my Bass Friends and colleagues,

It’s great to be here again!

Thank you for positive feedback about my lessons. I want you to remember that this is a very long course about improvisation. I started these lessons in November 2008… it’s really a long and difficult run, my friends. I know that these lessons could be a little boring if you don’t understand the reason of this course. Repetition is the key! Repeating similar exercises over and over creates a solid foundation in your brain and muscles!

We worked over some chords, bass fingerboard training, ear training tips, be bop, chromatic approaches, plus various suggestions about technique and transcriptions. So especially if you are a new follower, please check all past lessons. You can find it in the magazine or in my personal website.

Today is the last lesson about this interesting technique called chromatic approaches that I learned from my teacher Charlie Banacos. I adapted it to electric bass using some of my own ideas.

This time I have written a short solo line over the chord changes of a well-known standard (I can’t put the name due to copyright). However is not important the name of the song, because you can use this type of line over countless Jazz standards you want. Obviously you have to adapt it on each chord you are meeting. You have to fit it to the right chord tones.

This time I’ll use many combinations of chromatic approaches, just to show you the endless opportunities you have.

Ok, it’s time for usual homework assignment:

1 – Take the exercise…

What happens here? I wrote an extended solo line over the section of a tune. Remember: do not use a metronome! Only when you have the exercise “under your fingers” should you can use a metronome. As usual play the exercise as fast as you can!

2 –  Transpose the exercise in all keys!

3 – Analyze how I used the notes and then write exercises on your own. It’s primary!

Good luck and have a great practice time!

Talk soon…

Andrea