Where does guitar improvisation come from?

[rcwilk]

To become a better improviser, here is my recipe. These are not in order - practice all of them continually.
1) Learn the instrument - learn where the notes are on the fretboard.

So how deeply do you suggest one learns the notes? I mean it is one thing to stop and say, hmm, that is a F# in this key. It's quite another to play the note as you are reading it off a piece of sheet music.

RC

[R_of_G]

I don't really come out with much on the other end except maybe being a looser player and counting it as a good time.

Seems to me this is the whole point of playing. Think about it less and enjoy it more.

[Tig***]

Seems to me this is the whole point of playing. Think about it less and enjoy it more.

In the tech world we refer to an old saying, "Paralysis through analysis."

I've not posted anything because my answer to the question(s) is, "Just play. The rest will sort itself out." I know, that's not helpful. I prefer to keep it simple and play the groove, similar to soul surfing.

This is just my philosophy, not bashing the thread. There have been several wonderful analogies, viewpoints, and useful ideas presented that I won't diminish for a second.

[rcwilk]

In the tech world we refer to an old saying, "Paralysis through analysis."

I've not posted anything because my answer to the question(s) is, "Just play. The rest will sort itself out." I know, that's not helpful. I prefer to keep it simple and play the groove, similar to soul surfing.

This is just my philosophy, not bashing the thread. There have been several wonderful analogies, viewpoints, and useful ideas presented that I won't diminish for a second.

Ha ha, yes MLK used to say that about the Kennedy administration, Analysis is Paralysis. But for fun, I counter with Neitzsche's quote, "there are no data, only interpretations" which indicates that all acts are acts of analysis.

Probably a better Neitzsche quote, though thinly relevant " Life without music would be a mistake"

[R_of_G]

I can't say the teacher totally convinced me...

By far the best answer. But hey, now you looked some of it up and know more than you did before so it was all a worthwhile endeavor.

What is "Miles' 70s electric bands" sounds interesting. Like Miles Davis?

Yup, Miles Davis. Tig and I had been discussing some of his 70s electric funk-rock bands in the Now Playing thread. Interviews with his players of the period (John McLaughlin, Pete Cosey, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, et al) provide an endless amount of discussion on the nature of improvisation.

I've not posted anything because my answer to the question(s) is, "Just play. The rest will sort itself out." I know, that's not helpful.

On the contrary, I think it's quite helpful as it simplifies the answer to something a player of any skill level can comprehend.

When my neighbor (the bass player) and I would first play together or even hang out and talk music, he often asked some form of the question "what am I supposed to play if the band is playing _________?"

My answer never changed and it never will. There's no such thing as "supposed to." If it's not right, you'll hear it.

Of course, rather than just leaving it a Zen riddle for the guy, I've tried to expose him to some bass players and styles he didn't know before. It's helping him see that there can be an infinite number of approaches to "what do I play when they play _______?"