Improvising based on melody

[purestmonk]

Hello guys

I got to know recently that many jazz cats actually improvise over the melody of the songs. I had always thought that it's just the changes - Im wrong!

I wonder if anyone can offer some insights to this? For example take a standard like autumn leaves - After being abl to play the melody any and everywhere on th fretboard, are there some approaches that I can employ to improvise based on this melody?

Thanks!

[JonR]

Think about how a singer would approach it. They'd alter the phrasing and timing. That's a beginning.

Remember a melody has 3 elements:
The notes
The up-down phrase shape
The rhythmic pattern

Any of these can be kept while you mess with the others.
Eg, you could keep the up-down and rhythmic shape by playing a harmony above the melody line;
You could keep the rhythmic pattern, but play a different up-down shape (using the same notes in a different order, or different notes).
Etc.
You can also change the speed - play a phrase twice or half the original speed. Or play exactly the same phrase as in the tune, but shift its timing (start it on a different beat of the bar). Instead of leaving a gap before the next phrase, run it straight on.

[Gene]

I personally think theme and variations when improvising off of melody. But I grew up as a classical musician and studied composition a bit.

I find all the compositional techniques in classical music can be applied to a melody to create variations of it.

The challenge in jazz is to do this in real time with all the distractions that can come from playing jazz in the real world.

[Washburnmemphis]

purestmonk,

A book that you may find helpful is "Improvising for the Contemporary Musician" by Arnie Berle. The method he presents start with the melody then adds in variations. I just got it so I haven't had a chance to work through it yet but from what I've read it seems very useful.

from the Amazon comments

"This is a wonderful book. The ideas presented as keys to improvisation are 1) changing note values, 2) adding notes to a melody, and 3) using chord tones. These are fairly basic ideas, but what makes the book so useful is that the author presents lots of examples based on some classic tunes, and provides analysis of them. This is a really fun, engaging effort that you will stimulate your creativity. The book will engage your interest and lead you along the path of competence. If you already read music and know your scales, but are uncertain about how to approach improvisation, this is the book for you. "

http://www.amazon.com/IMPROVISATION-CONTEMPORARY-MUSICIAN-Arnie-Berle/dp/0825616425

[Flyin' Brian]

Start with the melody, then like Joe Pass' father used to tell him. "Fill in some of the spaces". Not all of them but if you use common notes and chromaticism, it's one way to get started.

Playing the melody is practically a lost art with guitars players, yet it's such an important part of getting "inside" the song. It's interesting going into a Guitar Center and walking up to a wanker and asking them to play a song. They immediately play the hook or riff. So I say to them, "No play the SONG".
You'd think I was speaking a different language.

Melody is KING!

[GovernorSilver]

I personally think theme and variations when improvising off of melody. But I grew up as a classical musician and studied composition a bit.

I find all the compositional techniques in classical music can be applied to a melody to create variations of it.

According to Ken, and older (than Ken ;)) jazz musicians, using compositional techniques to improvise on the melody of the tune used to be the norm. I'm a beginner at this jazz thing, following this melody-oriented route and will definitely study these compositional techniques more in-depth as I develop my skillz. Henry Martin's book Charlie Parker and Thematic Improvisation (http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Parker-Thematic-Improvisation-Martin/dp/081084155X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197402172&sr=8-1) is on my short list of books to acquire along those lines.

[JonR]

There's a great current thread on the ins and outs of melody on the allaboutjazz site (some heavy stuff in there):
http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread.php?t=27115

[jazzguitarplay]

Study J.S Bach, nobody played melodys , then turned them up side down and inside out like Bach, even to this day.

[Lucidology]

Also learn the lyrics if you can (if the tune has lyrics)...

[doyle o'brian]

Check out Stan Getz. He was the master at improvising on the melody. Learning the lyrics is also an excellent bit of advice because it helps keep the melody organized in your head when your on the bandstand. A lot of people also talk about knowing the lyrics to help you express the feeling and emotion of the song.

[purestmonk]

thanks a lot guys, it's interesting to see these comments
i believe that improvising basing on melody is such an high level of art in jazz
personally, i also think one can go off the melody and retain the important parts of the melody which are those that fall on the strong beats