The Complete Guide To Improvisation

The improvisational concept of "Upper Structure Triads" (UST) is the first of five chapters in "The Complete Guide To Improvisation, Volume Two" . All Four Volumes of  "The Complete Guide To Improvisation"  are available through Amazon ,   Ed Saindon's Online Store , and The Berklee Bookstore . In this clip, Ed Saindon plays an exemplified written out solo extracted from the book. The following two choruses are improvised following the UST Chart. To view and download the first chorus as well a chart that lists the UST applied in the solo and corresponding analysis, follow the link below :  UST Chart/Solo/Analysis #TheCompleteGuideToImprovisation #AllThingsImprovisation

Practicing improv with the application of Pentatonic scales (with one alteration) on the standard "On Green Dolphin Street". The scales bring out unusual notes over the chords (#9 and #5 on Maj 7 chords, natural 7 and #11 on Min 7 chords, and the combination of natural/altered tensions on the Dom 7 chords).  "Pentatonic Scales" is one of five chapters in "The Complete Guide To Improvisation" series. All four volumes are available through Amazon , Ed Saindon's Online Store , and The Berklee Bookstore . Here is a chart that lists the pentatonic choices Ed Saindon is referring to when soloing: On Green Dolphin St. (Alt.Pentatonic Chart) #TheCompleteGuideToImprovisation   #AllThingsImprovisation

Ed Saindon improvising with (non-altered) "Pentatonic Scales" over the chord progression to the standard "On Green Dolphin Street" before a class at Berklee.  "Pentatonic Scales" is one of five chapters in Ed Saindon's "The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Volume Two" , now available through Amazon ,  Ed Saindon's Online Store and The Berklee Bookstore . The improvised solo in this clip was later transcribed by German vibist Volker Heuken.  To view and download the Volker's transcription and the chart that lists the Pentatonic Scales being used in this clip, follow the link below:  On Green Dolphin St. (Transcription & Pentatonics Chart) #TheCompleteGuideToImprovisation   #AllThingsImprovisation

"Tension Resolution" is one of five chapters of  "The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Volume One"  by Ed Saindon.  All four volumes are  available through  Amazon ,  Ed Saindon's Online Store , and  The Berklee Bookstore .   The concept focuses on sounding a tension and subsequent resolution for each chord change.  This improv technique can help create rich, forward moving lines that sound the changes while avoiding licks. I use this concept with my students and get good results fairly quickly.  The attached four page excerpt from the book   shows the step by step process to work on this concept  over the changes to "All The Things You Are" . The last page is the written out solo being played in this clip. All The Things You Are (TR Scheme & Solo) Other solos in the book include "Stella By Starlight" and "All Of Me". Other c oncepts in the Volume One of "The Complete Guide To Improvisation" are Chor...

The "Maj 7 #5 Superimposition" concept is one of five chapters of Volume Two of The Complete Guide To Improvisation . All four volumes of the series are  available through  Amazon ,  Ed Saindon's Online Store , and  The Berklee Bookstore . The "Maj 7 #5 Superimposition" technique is fully and clearly conceptualized in the book, accompanied by a chart of all available  "Maj 7 #5 Superimposition" possibilities on all chord types, and written out solo examples on various standard songs.  The PDF presented here was used during a class at Berklee College of Music in order to introduce the technique and begin applying it. The concept involves the application of a superimposed Maj 7th #5 structure over any given chord in a song. The related Symmetrical Augmented scale can also be used, along with passing and approach notes to notes in the Maj 7 #5 structure.  To view/download the handout, music examples and transcription/analysis of the improv...

Practicing some improvisation with the concept of  " Tension Resolution "   on Autumn Leaves. This concept focuses on using one tension and chord tones for each chord change and making sure to resolve the tension to the nearest chord tone. It is a simple but effective improv technique that sounds the changes with a melodic flow. The "Tension Resolution" concept is extensively addressed in a specific chapter of  "The Complete Guide To Improvisation, Volume One" . All Four Volumes of "The Complete Guide To Improvisation" are available through  Amazon ,   Ed Saindon's Online Store ,  and   The Berklee Bookstore . Eight measures are played out front to establish the context of the song. Here is the Tension Chart, Transcription & Explanatory Notes :  Autumn Leaves (Tension Chart & Transcription)