| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Ode to Tragedy
Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2011
Posts: 121
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:29 am Post subject: How easy is it to jam/freestyle on the violin? |
 |
|
How easy is it to jam/freestyle on the violin compared to other instruments?
Someone told me it's harder to do on violin cos you can't do chords as easily.
I had a flatmate once who played instruments and he'd encourage me to jam on the sitar and he had another european instrument which was similar.
That wasn't too difficult.
So can this easily be done on violin or not? I saw a youtube vid of a guy doing it but he was really advanced so I wasn't sure if it would be realistic for me to do so at this time.
I really like the idea of just having a jam cos it has pure fun in mind and getting lost in the rhythms which is what I think music is all about.
Sure the best way to find out is to try...but any tips if it is realistically doable at my level? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lemuel
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Aug 2010
Posts: 515
Location: Mt. Elgin, Ontario
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:27 am Post subject: Re: How easy is it to jam/freestyle on the violin? |
|
|
| Ode to Tragedy wrote: | How easy is it to jam/freestyle on the violin compared to other instruments?
Someone told me it's harder to do on violin cos you can't do chords as easily.
I had a flatmate once who played instruments and he'd encourage me to jam on the sitar and he had another european instrument which was similar.
That wasn't too difficult.
So can this easily be done on violin or not? I saw a youtube vid of a guy doing it but he was really advanced so I wasn't sure if it would be realistic for me to do so at this time.
I really like the idea of just having a jam cos it has pure fun in mind and getting lost in the rhythms which is what I think music is all about.
Sure the best way to find out is to try...but any tips if it is realistically doable at my level? |
It is not a matter of what type of instrument you play. If you know your instrument (where the notes are) regardless of what instrument it is, and have a good ear, you can jam freestyle.
Coming up with variations to a melody on the fly is akin to jamming freestyle. As mentioned, there are many ways to play a melody. It has nothing to do with chords.
Believe it or not, the best way I found which helped me develop hearing (to hear the harmony and know an appropriate accompaniment) was to join a choir. I first started by isolating the bass part and soon discovered a pattern. Then I learned to hear the alto. Finally I worked on the tenor voice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chad48309
Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Posts: 110
Location: Michigan
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
"Improvisational skill is born out of dedication to theory and practice, conscious or otherwise."
My old jazz instructor used to tell us that. The best leg-up you could give yourself if you're hoping to hone your improvisation skills is to learn all the modes, scales, and progressions that you possibly can.
_________________
-C.S. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ode to Tragedy
Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2011
Posts: 121
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ye I think this is prob out of reach for me for a while cos it seems I will have to know my way around what sounds good and what doesn't in terms of the notes to play which I do not. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lemuel
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Aug 2010
Posts: 515
Location: Mt. Elgin, Ontario
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Chad48309 wrote: | "Improvisational skill is born out of dedication to theory and practice, conscious or otherwise."
My old jazz instructor used to tell us that. The best leg-up you could give yourself if you're hoping to hone your improvisation skills is to learn all the modes, scales, and progressions that you possibly can. |
It's interesting that I've met people who have gone through the gamut of learning theory, scales and progressions, but they cannot hear in order to improvise. In other words, they can sight read and memorize music well. They are technically capable, but their creative artistic skills are limited. If you ask them to play a tune that they know, but have never "read" and "practiced" on sheet music, they cannot do it, and if they do, it is plain and basic.
In contrast, I am constantly in touch with someone who has not gone through any formal training, but has the ability to artistically improvise and create. However, give him a piece of music to sight read, he won't be able to do it.
Nevertheless, it is good to have the best of both worlds. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ode to Tragedy
Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2011
Posts: 121
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I read that Vangelis is the same and pretended he was reading the sheet music to pass his music exam when really he was playing by ear. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
