 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarinetgiggirl
Date: 2003-10-31 08:42
Someone has suggested that it may help my improvisation if I learned some simple blues riffs. I can see some advantages on this, presumably they could help at awkward moments when the ideas are just not flowing.
However, where do I start? Where do I get them from? How long is a riff?
If I am copying them from recordings, which bits do I use? How will I know when to use it in my own playing?
Some general advice would be most welcome.
Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-10-31 09:49
I dont think these are questions that can be answered in words. I can answer only a couple of your questions in general terms. A riff is a repeated phrase and you will know when to use one by using your ears.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-31 10:52
I would say to aid your improvisation, you may want to consider some Aebersold CDs. They have the rhythm section playing and give you music to play from, including the chord progressions. You can practice improvisation and perhaps come up with a few riffs off of these. Very widely used, and when I was looking at military auditions (for fun, not actually to attempt one), many of them requested that if you wanted to try out for a position in a jazz ensemble that you bring an aebersold CD and improv along with it.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2003-10-31 11:57
This is a great question! My suggestion is to get some recordings of the Count Basie band from the late 30's and listen to what they do with tunes that are based on a 12-bar blues such as One O'Clock Jump. In particular, listen carefully to the background riffs going on behind the solos. These are typically short, repeated phrases. It shouldn't be too difficult to pick up some of them by ear in playing along with the record. By doing in this way you'll get the phrasing and the feeling of the music into your fingers as well as the actual notes.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DougR
Date: 2003-10-31 19:44
2 recommendations off the top of my head:
One is the Charlie Parker Omnibook in Bb, which has an abundance of Charlie Parker tunes and accompanying transcribed Parker solos, many over blues changes. (it's helpful if you know what blues changes look like, and this is a good book to learn them.)
The other is a big fat Clifford Brown anthology, I don't remember the publisher, but it has tons of transcribed solos by trumpet legend Clifford Brown, many of them standards and many blues as well (and all in the same approximate range as clarinet). You can probably find that one by doing a web search for Charles Colin Publications in NYC, and calling them up & asking for "the big fat Clifford Brown anthology."
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-10-31 20:02
There are several approaches. I presume that you are beginning with this.
Jamey Aebersold Vol.1, "How To Play Jazz and Improvise" contains a lot of wisdom and practical exercises. I would definitely put it on my list.
However, if you are unfamilar with blues and riffs, you probably need more guidance. With apologies to Doug, I would recommend that you forget about the Charlie Parker Omnibook and such things for a while. Lots of complexity and technical difficulty for a beginner.
As a starting point, I would recommend "Easy Jazz Conception" by Jim Snidero. (http://www.jimsnidero.com) This book is intended primarily to teach jazz feel, but you could benefit greatly from learning some of the songs. A demo/playalong CD is included and it uses YOUR instrument. Very, very nice book.
I would second Roger's advice to listen to the older Count Basie stuff. Lots of good ideas, the best riffing in history, and tons of great soloists. After all, it's the band the Charlie Parker learned to play along to. Don't miss Lester Young's clarinet solo on "Blue and Sentimental", BTW.
You can also find some (slightly) more modern blues-riff tunes in the so-called Hard Bop era. Horace Silver songs such as "Moanin'" and "Song for My Father" are particularly good and simple examples.
I presume that you already know your pentatonic and blues scales. If not, learn them in a least one key ASAP. Then spend come time playing with them, coming up with short phrases that sould pleasing to you.
Best of luck.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chuck
Date: 2003-11-01 03:42
Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball" and Basie's "One O'clock Jump". Anything by Joe Williams. Chuck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: wjk
Date: 2003-11-01 13:50
Most blues riffs in contemporary recorded music are not played by a clarinet! I'd check out blues artists such as BB King and Al King (guitarists) Their recordings are readily available,and both play pentatonic based blues riffs on the guitar. By ear, I'd play these on the clarinet for practice. Also, there are a wealth of sheet music transcriptions of these blues artists (and many others including contemporary sax players) available. A really fun recent blues CD was "Riding with the King" by Eric Clapton and BB King. Full of great blues riffs that would translate well to other instruments!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-01 19:13
Great advises, well beyond my thots. I have a blues bass cl solo, with several low F, 4 beat measures, with nothing else goin' on! So to keep up with our band's other soloists, I use one meas. for Gersh. I Got Plenty of Nuthin', and another meas. for Grofe's "donkey song". Gets appreciation from my cohorts, misses the audience, prob. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetgiggirl
Date: 2003-11-03 11:01
Thanks everyone. I'm off to buty some more CD's to add to my expanding collection!
I have 2 Snidero books and will re-visit them too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
