Ali Lexa: A primer on Melodic Improvisation for 'Ukulele

This is a basic introduction into improvisation. There are numerous techniques and philosophies on
improvisation. Here you'll learn some basic starting points, and a few methods you can build on.
Before you can improvise over a song you'll need to figure a few things out:
1. What key is it in? Is it Major or Minor? Hints: Look at the key signature, the melody, the
chords. A lot of times you can look at the last chord in the song.
2. What is the structure? 12 bar blues? Verse, Verse, Chorus, Verse? Etc.
3. On more complex songs, you may want to break it up into sections and analyze each
section separately.
Once you have this information use the tips below to start improvising!
Rundown of improvisation approaches for melodic ideas:
1. Play Chord Tones Finger the chords of the song and play out the individual notes.
Using this method will always work, you'll always be in key!
Use different chord positions (inversions) for variety.
2. Blues Scale Works over all blues progressions, many rock songs and some jazz
songs.
3. Key Scale Play the scale of the key of the song. This will work on all two chord, and
many three chord songs.
4. Chord scale method Play the relative scale of each section. This involves analyzing
each section of the song and figuring out which scale works over each section.
5. Scale of each chord Play the scale of each chord.
* Most improvisers use a combination of these methods in their melodic approach.
A few other tips:
The most important element is Rhythm! You can create a really interesting improvisation
just using a few notes while varying the rhythms.
One tendency on the ukulele is to play a lost of notes to keep the sound going, don't be
afraid to leave space in your solos. This lets the music breath!

A good starting point is the melody of the song. Learn the melody and then play variations
on it by altering the rhythm and/or introducing the methods above

Sing! This is the most natural method, Sing an improvisation and then try to play what you
just sang. Eventually you can work up to playing what you hear in your head.

Fall back on the approaches mentioned above at any time in your improvisation, this will
keep you on track and give you new ideas.

Don't worry about wrong notes! Some of the most creative ideas come from hitting
unintentional notes.

For the Blues, use the 'magic notes', also incorporate the Blues scales and 'licks' .

Useful and easy scales for improvisation are the Major and Minor Pentatonic and the
'Blues' scales.

It's always good to practice improvising with other people, back each other up, trade
phrases, learn by listening, exchange ideas, etc.

2008 Ali Lexa

http://www.ukespot.com

When improvising over the blues, use the 'Magic' notes as a starting point.
They will always work! Use rhythmic variations, the possibilities are endless. Find the key of
the song, then use the 'Root' note in the pattern above to find where to play.
Use this pattern, then work in the Blues scale and other elements for even more variation.

Blues turnarounds are usually played over the 11th measure in a 12 bar blues. A good way
to end a solo or signal to go back to the top.
Here are two examples of Blues Turnarounds

2008 Ali Lexa

http://www.ukespot.com

The only difference between the Minor Pentatonic and the Blues Scale is a passing tone
between the 4th and 5th scale degrees. In C Minor Pentatonic that note is F# (indicated in a
different colored circle below).

These patterns cover low G tuning. If you have high G tuning, just use the top three strings when first learning these scales.

C Minor Pentatonic (Use for Minor Keys and over Minor Chords) and C Blues Scales
1 Position
st

A|--------------------------1--3---E|----------------1-(2)-3---------C|----------0--3-------------------G|-----0--3------------------------2nd Position

A|---------------------------3--6-----E|---------------------3--6-----------C|------------3--5-(6)----------------G|------3--5--------------------------3rd Position

A|---------------------------6--8-----E|---------------------6--8-----------C|------------5-(6)-7-----------------G|-----5--8---------------------------4th Position
A|---------------------------8-(9)-10--E|---------------------8-11------------C|-----------(6)-7-10------------------G|----8-10-(11)-----------------------2008 Ali Lexa

5th Position
A|----------------------------(9)-10-13E|----------------------11-13-----------C|---------------10-12------------------G|----10-(11)-12-----------------------http://www.ukespot.com

C major Pentatonic scales (Use for Major Keys and over Major Chords)
1st Position

A|--------------------------0--3---E|--------------------0---3--------C|-------------0--2----------------G|------0--2-----------------------2nd Position

A|-------------------------3--5---E|-------------------3---5--------C|------------2--4----------------G|-----2--5-----------------------3rd Position

4th Position
A|----------------------7-10-----E|---------------8-10------------C|--------7--9-------------------G|--7--9--------------------------

A|------------------------5--7---E|-----------------5---8---------C|-----------4--7-----------------G|-----5--7-----------------------5th Position
A|----------------------10-12----E|--------------10-12------------C|-------9-12---------------------G|-9-12----------------------------

2008 Ali Lexa

http://www.ukespot.com