Improv 1: Improv Over Floyd Style Backing Track
An off the cuff live improv over one of Pink Floyd's famous chord progressions
Improvisation is my favorite thing to practice on guitar. It allows me to not only review and cement in my mind progressions, scales and patterns, but it also teaches me something new by exploring the fretboard almost every time.
I believe it is the most valuable tool to help learn the fretboard. If you go into practicing with an open mind and no note restrictions, you can unlock some really useful patterns and notes that you may otherwise have missed while staying in a structured scale practice.
When I was learning and practicing to play leads, I did it in an unconventional way. I did not sit there and learn solos from my favorite players note for note. Mostly because at first I was terrible at it and it frustrated me. I would listen to the solos intently, and get the feel and direction of them. I took the Page philosophy, learn the song and the solo was for me to create.
Eventually, I was able to recreate other solos because I could hear them and then imitate them pretty close, or as close as I wanted and was able to.
So, here is my first live improv. I recorded a basic track in the style one of my favorite players David Gilmour and played along with it. This is performed completely live, no syncing video to audio, all done live in front of the camera.
Recording details are at the bottom.
Recording gear:
- I am using a Zoom H4e placed in front of the amp
- The backing track is also going into the Zoom direct
- The Zoom is recording both the track and the live guitar using the built in mics and the line in for the track
Video:
- Camera is a Razer KIYO HD webcam
- Video software is an app called Camo Studio
Guitar Gear:
- Amp - Orange OR15 head into Orange 2 x 12 cabinet
- Effects Pedals - Boss Delay, HOF Reverb, Boss Bluesdriver
- Guitar - Charvel SO-Cal w/ Seymore Duncan JB in the bridge and 59 in the neck