FCTR: Improvising Over Chords

In this episode of 'From Classical To Radical' Matt explains how to navigate chord charts by playing chord tones to create a melodic line.

We'll get a little deeper into improv techniques in later videos. In the meantime we strongly encourage you check out the top-notch improv courses by our friends Christian Howes​ and Jacob Szekely​...

******

Connect with us:

[davidsong]

Eyeopening lesson! Thank you so much!
2:43 how to play safely with chords
6:56 chord types

[ellie.rockinkbranch]

THE BEST EXPLANATION EVER!! I’ve been searched for months and stumbled across this video and I feel like it’s possible to go from classical to chords… thank you!! Following for sure!

[jacktuber]

Wow, this is great stuff. Anyone wanting to play backup, improvise, get started writing music, learning chords, getting more familiar with music theory, ALL of them need this lesson.

[Abc-qsir]

Classical musicians should have improvisation as part of their training, ☺️

[regmarchant]

This is the best video concerning improvisation on Violin, I’ve been looking for this answer for some time and I stumbled on it on utube, it’s brilliant.

[BrandonSegres]

This video was super helpful! Whenever my band gets scheduled to play, we get a chord chart, and I, as a violinist had no idea what to do with that. Now I have a clearer way of reading any chord chart and improvising over it! Thank you!

[brymusic]

Most videos on beginning improvisation miss the key point given here that, as a foundational beginning, know the notes of each chord and learn to land on one those notes when the chord changes. Without this, your solos are often going to sound pointless and soulless. Later, as you develop your skills you can move on to breaking these rules and learning exotic scales and modes, but the rules are always there to bail you out. So kudos to this video creator for teaching this when so many fail to mention it.

[stefaneduard]

Wow, thanks! This is ingenious. It will help me with the worship music at my church a lot

[theSiliconCoder]

Excellent video, Matt. I learnt so much. Thanks.

[christopherashby]

I learned with my band and it didn't take long before I thought I was the lead guitarist. If you're a classically trained musician, you'll realize your ear knows all of this even if you don't but once you get to having fun with it, you'll realize just how few wrong notes there are.

[dtre]

Hi! Just wanted to say: Absolutely great help! My violin teacher plays in a gypsy jazz band and now that I got the violin basics pretty much sorted out (after 3 years.. darn its a tough instrument) we're heading more towards the jazzy side and he wants me to improvise over It's A Sin To Tell A Lie. This video helped a lot, very straight to the point! Thanks again!

[johntait]

This is well done and well explained. Very helpful indeed.

[marysiajanaszek]

Thanks for your lessons. It helps me a lot!!!

[markcorliss]

THANX Matt I've recently discovered yer channel. Yer video on the electric violins in yer shop was really impressive. The guy you had playin em was awesome. I liked the Zeta Jazz classic style. I'm a novice player and not ready for an electric violin yet but by summer I'd like to get with and get it on. Thanx Matt Bell thank you so much. Mr. Mark

[johnroman]

I agree with the comment about classic musicians learning to improvise. I was a classically trained on piano violin and voice.. I played violin primarily and was able to play anything I heard on the violin. I also did theory with my music teachers so I had the tools to be able to improvise but I was always insecure about it and avoided something that is the best part of knowing how to play. I wish someone in that time just showed me how the theory and know how to read music along iwith scales and chords is 90 % of the battle and I was on my way . I am starting to play music again and I have been away a long time but I will not make that mistake this time and I am so excited that I will be able to do this on my own and jam with others.

[andrewashraf]

Mann, you're a life saver!! Tysm

[cimmyjarter]

Nicely done, Matt. A good short intro to this subject, which seems so simple to experienced improvisors (ie, non classical violinists or cellists), but which seems like rocket science if you've always depended on the written page to tell you what to play. Suggestions for additional vids in the same vein; maybe you've already thought of them: playing long singing lines when the changes and rhythm are choppy; playing rhythmic and pulsing rhythms when the changes are slower and smoother; reinforcing the rhythm by emphasizing certain beats. Or just simply how to add your part to a reggae (for ex) song.

[kimberlywhite]

Matt, this was VERY helpful - as a classically trained musician, some of this was known subconsciously, but, seeing it and hearing it played made alot of sense! What kind of instrument are you playing and what kinds of pickups? Sounds great.

[JNITLOST]

Thanks Matt.  I notice that 'Wagon Wheel' and 'Crescent City' strongly follow that common sequence:  G  D  Em  C

[Adv.AnanthaPadmanabhan]

excellent video..make a video on playing by ear