After The Code Has Been Cracked

[JakeEstner]

Maybe, but it’s pretty clear when you’re listening to a rock player who knows where the box is and maybe a couple of other things, and not much else. Versus someone who has a more detailed knowledge of where things are, and can play a much wider variety of lines even over a single chord or unchanging funk-type bass note groove.

Definitely. Sort of my caveat at the end “Whether it’s simple or complex, imo the higher level someone’s audiation skills are the more intentional they can be with their improvisational choices.”

And then of course there’s no stopping you from introducing other harmonies, or sequency things, on top of a static groove. All those things are off the table unless you have spent the time to map out the fretboard with lots of variety.

and in that case they’re really just implying the other stuff anyway, borrowed chords, things out of the key, etc.

I guess I took the time to make the post just because I think the parameters and needs for improv/theory stuff vary dramatically depending on what you’re trying to do. I know there’s a variety of stylistic interests in this forum, so, for example, trying to sound like Batio (not to knock the guy) requires way less knowledge of harmony/fretboard than trying to sound like Adam Rogers or Jonathan Kreisberg, and personally I think different practice-room and teaching strategies are best depending on the type of vocabulary somebody is trying to play.

[DrLunchbox]

I, for one, would love to see more material on fretboard mapping and how to apply that to improvisation. As someone who listens to a lot of “jam” bands, there are tons of good players to mine for this sort of thing (Derek Trucks, Jimmy Herring, the guitar players from JRAD - Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts!!, etc. all come immediately to mind.)

[WhammyStarScream]

We all (in the west at least) have decades of musical listening experience, that gives a decent base for improvisation. Once you learn the pitches of the strings, or rather, one string, as they basically the same just moved up a perfect fourth, third. And basic intervals, you’re set.

It does take time to connect the pitch to your fingers, just like learning to type, and then learning the progression and rules of a musical style, and ofcourse chords so its only slightly more work than I’m implying. Though it’s not complicated, I really believe you only need the basics, there’s only 12 notes, far less if you stay in key.