"What Does It Take" solo out

[Michael]

Hi Johnny,
I’ve pretty much gotten all of “What Does It Take” learned on Tenor–in your new Improvisation course I’m not exactly sure what everyone has been learning and using this song as a base for your lessons. For all practical purposes I can just use the Pentatonic Scale to solo over those chords, correct? I was noticing that the chords listed are part of the pentatonic scale anyway.
How much different is your new Improvisation course v.s. learning how to use the Blues Scales like I’m doing right now? I’m not putting an exact time limit on how long I’ll be in Killer Blues as I want to make sure I can fully use these scales, at will, and play with them. That’s also the trend here in the South too, the Blues. It’s literally everywhere down here, the downtown Night Clubs/Pubs, Restraunts, the streets, it’s everywhere here in Little Rock. If you can’t play the Blues, then no one is interested in playing with you.

[Anonymous]

@michael – i started a year long music theory course some months ago and it does major/minor/ pentatonic scales in that order
– thats the only reason i’m doing
the major improvisation course before the killer blues – not pond hopping like you say – just different priorities – when i get past major improvising & my music theory course – then i will be doing killer blues – unless something elae gets in the way

[john]

You are doing very well with learning the Killer Blues course completely.
The Major Scale course tackles improv differently.
It’s improvising to songs that are not necessarily 12 bar blues or rock like in Killer Blues.
It’s using different modes and chords that relate to the major scale/key of the song.
Yes, you can improvise over a lot of different things using say, the major pentatonic scale, not just blues.
It’s like giving a painter 3 colors to work with, but when he has 10 colors to work with he has the ability to do more.

[john]

Michael, I forgot to say, the solo I did at the end of that What Does It Take video is not what the people studying the Major Scale course are looking at… I did a much longer solo specifically for the course which makes use of the chords and modal things discussed.
The video is here:

[Michael]

That’s very different than what I’m learning right now..good stuff Johnny. How has using “Vimeo” been for you? Do you get that many views? Something about the quality and appearance of videos that you see on Vimeo that looks really good!
I’m an “eager beaver” as you know and I would REALLY love to dive into your new Improvisation course…thanks for recognizing my love for the Blues 🙂 To say it’s huge down here is a GROSS understatement. As I’ve said before, here in the South where I live if you can’t play the Blues; then you have no chance on playing with a band. The Blues originated here in the South as you know. Right now, I’m working on an Improvised Saxophone Instrumental to the Blues Brothers “Shotgun Blues” I’m gonna doing more with the Green Onions in different keys, with the Alto Saxophone too. I picked the Blues Brothers “Shotgun Blues” because I think it’s a great track to work with to apply your points of playing less = says more…plus you can really get some hard-rockin’ DIRTY blues Improvising with the song too and folks here LOVE to hear exactly that kind of playing. With the use of the cpu., I can mute the guitar Improvisation in the middle/select places in the track and Improvise with the Saxophone, just like we did with the Green Onions. What do you know, karaoke actually had a good backing track for this song….shocker. Listen to the song of “Shotgun Blues” below and use your “Improvisation Imagination” 🙂 Thanks as always Johnny!

[john]

that’s a good choice for practicing your blues riffs. you can use lots of minor 3rds and 7ths there.
I use Youtube for getting more views cause that’s where most people go, so more traffic for my videos, lessons, site etc.
I use Vimeo for when I need to make a private or password protected video such as in some of my members only lessons etc.
But I think Vimeo looks good too…but if you want more viewers you simply must use youtube wheather you like it or not.

[Michael]

I’ll worry about more viewers as I get better and my playing is worthy of more viewers LOL Right now, it’s just about getting feedback from you and other Members. The entire version I’m working on for this song will be totally Improvised on my part…no sheet music. I feel I know the Blues Scales well enough to have a go at it and apply what you told me. This track has a good rhythm to it for the sake of simplicity like you bring out, so that’s why I picked it…plus the Improvised licks/riffs I’m creating are killing for with this track 🙂
I looked at the sheet music for the part of the melody of the Pink Panther that you brought out and it’s showing and E, which is what I played. Would you happen to have any sheet music for this Johnny? I really love the Pink Panther!!!

[Author]

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