Rhythm in Improvisation Lesson 1

Developing good rhythmic control is an often overlooked element of improvisation.  Scales, arpeggios and licks command the bulk of burgeoning improvisers attention, frequently leading them to hit a wall where they run out of ideas and feel stuck.  Building a strong grasp of rhythmic choices expands our improvisational pallette and opens up new ways of playing well-trodden melodic structures.

1. Practice each rhythm  on a single note with a metronome or drum track. (1-2 minutes)
2. Practice each rhythm on a scale of your choosing, ascending and descending, with a metronome or drum track. (1-2 minutes)
3. Use the scale from the previous exercise to improvise over a backing track in the same tonality (key). (1-2 minutes
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each rhythmic example.  Do as many examples as your practice time allows, returning to exercise on which you left off at your next session.
5. At the end of your practice session, spend some time improvise over the previous backing track, focusing on having fun melodies and enjoying the music.