Guitar: Lesson 24
Intro to Improvisation, Simple Melodic Lines
By Zack Cart
Prerequisites :
You should be able to understand and perform the concepts and techniques outlined in the following lessons before attempting this lesson:
Guitar: Lessons 1-23
Music Theory: Lessons 1-15
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In this lesson, we will continue, at a very basic level, to learn some basic methods of improvisation. In the last lesson, we practiced performing a variety of chord progressions as the accompanist. Here we will build off our chordal work and begin to play improvised melody lines, commonly known as “Soloing.”
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The past several music theory lessons and guitar lessons will be absolutely essential to this lesson. If you do not feel comfortable writing and performing the rudimentary chord progressions we have been working with, you will need to become so before tackling this lesson. You should also still be able to figure out key signatures, derive scales from them, and play those scales, as covered in earlier lessons.
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The first step of this lesson will double as a review of the previous guitar lesson. Compose a short, four-chord progression, which should, for simplicity’s sake begin on the Tonic chord, (I Major/Major 7), and end on the Dominant Chord, (V Major/Dominant 7). Perform these chords at a slow tempo, four beats per chord, until you can play them smoothly and with an even tempo.
At this point, make a rough recording of the progression, repeating the chords for a reasonable span of time, say, 3-5 minutes. Any free, easy to use recording software should be fine for this purpose; we’re just looking for a quick recording of the chords, nothing special!
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Once you have your recording, you’re ready to try out your first solo! Choose your favorite scale position/shape for the key from which you composed the chord progression. Remember, because the chords use the notes of this key, and the scale uses the notes of the key, the scale should work passingly well over the chords. There’s more too it than that, some notes sound better than others, but we’ll get to most of that later on.
Listening to the recording, begin trying to form short melodic segments with your scale. Keep the phrases slow and very simple; just a few notes, using easy, natural rhythms. At this point, we are just going for an introductory “feel” for soloing, not a true, interesting solo.
As the recording moves from chord to chord, you will notice that each note sounds different with each harmony. Some notes will sound perfectly at home in one chord, colorful and full enjoyable tension in another, and just plain old kind of “bad” over a third chord. Again, more on this later, for now just focus on listening to yourself.
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As each new chord plays back in the recording, listen to the note from the scale you are playing.
Does it sound perfectly at home? Great, try to move to a note that sounds good as well, either an “at home” note, or a more colorful but still enjoyable one. If you hit a “bad” note, try to move quickly to a neighboring note in the scale, where your melody will rest more easily. Again, you should be moving slowly through the scale here, playing at most 4 notes per chord; one or two should be plenty.
If you arrive at the next chord, and the note you are playing sounds “bad,” try to move immediately to a note that sounds “good.” As the progression repeats and repeats, try to remember which notes have which harmonic flavor over each chord. If you notice that a certain note always sounds poor over the dominant chord, try to avoid playing it during that chord. If there’s one note that particularly appeals to you over a particular harmony, try to remember how it sounds, what you like about it, and see if you can use it frequently. (But not so much you get sick of it!)
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As you practice with this chord progression, and begin to become familiar with each of the notes, and the interactions between scale and chord, you will, if you have a keen memory and a clear ear, likely notice a pattern.
The notes which sound most at home over a given chord will tend to be the tones of that chord, the root, third, fifth, and possibly seventh. The notes which sound a bit more exotic but still acceptable will generally turn out to be the standard extensions of that chord. Finally, the notes which sound “wrong” will frequently turn out to be the “avoid notes” of each chord. You should remember these terms from the Music Theory lessons, if not, go back and review!
Obviously, not everyone’s taste is the same, nor is their experience. For someone used to listening to harmonically simple music, the seventh and all the extensions of the chord might sound “bad.” That’s fine, if they do. I encourage you to explore these new flavors, but in the end, it’s primarily YOUR taste that should determine how you solo.
To some people, who may have more harmonically complicated musical-tastes, the avoid notes might also sound pretty appealing over chords. If that’s true for you, that’s fine, just know that some of the avoid tones will not sound as “right” to others as they do to you.
What music you like and listen to will ultimately be your best guide in improvisation, so while I encourage you to learn, remember, and become completely familiar with the chord tones, extensions, and avoid notes, don’t feel that it is in all cases completely “wrong” to play a natural 11 on the Dominant chord. People may tell you that it compromises the resolution to the Tonic chord, but really, if YOU at least like the way it sounds, don’t fret over it overly!
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So again, record some chords from a given key, and practice playing the scale of that key over the chords, slowly, trying to get a feel for all the different ways a note can sound over each harmony. Once you get tired of the first progression, compose, practice, and record another, and get used to how THAT one sounds against its scale.
Play around with this as much as possible; try out different keys, different progressions, different rhythms. You can certainly break away from the four chord, Tonic, _______, ________, Dominant structure as well. Experiment. Have fun. Don’t move on from this lesson until you are absolutely sick to death of it!
This lesson has been brought to you by:
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Pu Pu Platter- for 1 & 2 or 3
Beef Teriyaki, Boneless Ribs, Chicken Teriyaki,
Egg Rolls, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Wings and Crab Rangoon
Served for One $15.25
Served for Two $25.95
Served for Three $32.95
Specials: Get 50% OFF large fried rice of your choice with purchase of Pu Pu two OR three not including Young Chow Fried Rice Substitutions (Including Fried Shrimp)
Pu Pu Platter 1& 2 Substitutions: $1.00 Each
Pu Pu Platter for 1 without Fried Rice - $14.75
Pu Pu Platter for 2 without Fried Rice - $24.95
Egg Rolls------------------(1)---$
Spring Rolls---------------(1)--$2.95---(2)---$5.75
Fried Wontons-------Large--$5.50
Fried Dough-----------(10)--$4.50—(
Chicken Teriyaki---------(3)--$8.25---
Beef Teriyaki-------------(3)--$8.95---(6)---$14.25
Fried Jumbo Shrimps---(3)--$7.50---(6)---$10.75
Boneless Ribs-------Large $12.95
Chicken Wings -----(4)----$9.95-----(8)
Buffalo Chicken Wings-Small-$11.95-Large-$18.95
Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings Small-
Scallion Pancake-------Large $7.95
Fried Baby Shrimps----------------------$8.95
Chicken Nugget------------------------
Onion Ring ------------------------------
French Fries-------------------------
Mini Crispy Roll (10) -----------------------$7.50
Wonton Chip ------$5.50
Appetizers (each substitution Extra $100)
1. Egg Roll, Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Fingers
2. Egg Roll, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
* Hot and Sour Soup----Small--$4.25---Large--$7.75
Noodle Soup w/Chicken------Small--$4.25---Large--$7.75
Noodle Soup w/Pork----Small--$4.25---Large--$7.75
Noodle Soup w/Wontons---Small--$4.25---Large--$7.75
Chinese Vegetable Soup---Small--$4.25---Large--$7.75
FRIED RICE
Meatless Fried Rice--Small-$7.75--Large-$9.25
Vegetable Fried Rice--Small-$8.25--Large-$9.95
Mushroom Fried Rice-------Small-$8.25--Large-
Pork Fried Rice-------Small-$8.25--Large-
Chicken Fried Rice---Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
Beef Fried Rice-------Small-$8.95--Large-
Shrimp Fried Rice---Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
Ham Fried Rice------Small-$8.95--Large-$
Subgum Pork Fried Rice------Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
Subgum Chicken Fried Rice----Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
Subgum Beef Fried Rice-----Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
Subgum Shrimp Fried Rice----Small-$8.95--Large-$10.50
House Special Fried Rice---Small-$9.50--Large-$10.50
Young Chow Fried Rice-----Small-$9.95--Large$11.95
(Fried White Rice with Egg, Pork, Ham & Shrimp.)
*Szechuan Spicy Fried Rice-Small-$9.50—Large $10.95
CANTONS PARTY PLATTER $89.95
80 Piece Hors d'oevres includes:
FREE LG Pork Fried Rice
FREE (20) Fried Dough
FREE LG Wonton Chip
6 Beef Teriyaki
6 Chicken Teriyaki
10 Small Egg Rolls
6 Pork Dumplings (Fried or Steamed)
13 Crab Rangoon
13 Chicken Fingers
8 Chicken Wings
(Cannot be comined w. any other coupons)
Fried or Steamed Dumpling
Pork Dumpling------$8.55
Vegetable Dumpling----$8.55
Chicken Dumpling-----$8.55
LO MEIN
Lo Mein------Small--$9.50--Large-
(Chicken, Pork, Vege or Ham)
Lo Mein------Small--$9.95--Large-
(Beef or Shrimp)
House Special Lo Mein----Small--$9.95--Large-$12.95
Pan Soft Noodle--Small--$7.95--Large-$
*Szechuan Spicy Lo Mein-Small-$9.95-Large-$12.95
Plain Lo Mein------Small--$7.95--Large-
PORK
Pork with Vegetables-------$11.25
Szechuan Pork-------$11.95
Lobster Sauce------------------
Chicken or Beef
Pepper Steak-------------------------
Beef with Broccoli----------------------
Beef with Mushrooms-------------------$
Beef with Pea Pods----------------------$14.25
Beef with Vegetable---------------------
Beef with Cashews----------------------$14.25
*Curry Beef with Onion---------------$14.25
*Curry Chicken with Onion---------------$14.25
* Chicken with Peking Sauce-------------$14.25
* Szechuan Chicken------------------------$14.25
Moo Goo Gai Pan---------------------------
Chicken with Vegetable---------------------
Chicken with Mushrooms---------------------
Chicken with Broccoli---------------------
MEI FUN
(Thin Rice Noodle)
Vegetable Mei Fun----Small--$9.95---Large--
Chicken Mei fun-----Small--$9.95---Large--$11.95
Pork Mei Fun-----Small--$9.95—Large-$11.95
Shrimp Mei Fun----Small---$10.50----Large-
Beef Mei Fun---Small---$10.50---Large---
House Mei Fun---Small---$10.50---Large---
Singapore Mei Fun with Curry
(Chicken, Pork, Shrimp)---Small---$10.50----
CHOW
(Flat Rice Noodle)
Vegetable or Chicken or Pork or Ham-----$12.50
Beef or Shrimp or House Special------$13.50
HOUSE SPECIALTIES
Small or Large Order are Served
(With White Rice or Pork Fried Rice)
(No rice with H2, H6, H18, H19)
H 1. LOBSTER SHRIMP KEW
Lobster Meat and Shrimp Sauteed
Expertly with Chinese Vegetables.
$20.95
H 2. GAI POO LO MEIN
Chunks of Chicken Fried in Batter,
Blended with Slices of Beef, Ham,
Shrimp and Chinese Vegetables,
Served on a Platter of Lo Mein.
$20.95
H 3. BLACK PEPPER CHICKEN
Strips of Chicken Grill with Onion,
Green Pepper.
$16.50
H 4. DIAMOND HEAD
Lobster, Shrimp, Pork, and Chicken
Sauteed with Peapods, Mushrooms,
Water Chestnuts and
Chinese Vegetables
$20.95
H 5. FOUR HAPPINESS
Roast Pork, Beef, Shrimp,
Chicken Meat sauteed with
Chinese Vegetables.
$20.95
H 7. TREASURE ISLAND
Beef, Jumbo Shrimp, Pork,
Mushrooms, Water Chestnuts,
and Chinese Vegetables sauteed with
Golden Chicken Fingers.
$20.95
H 8. SEAFOOD ISLANDER
Jumbo Shrimp, Lobster and
Scallops sauteed with
Chinese Vegetables and Our
Special House Sauce.
$20.95
H 9. HO YO GAI POO
Golden fried Chicken Fingers
Served with Lobster, Ham,
Beef, Chinese Vegetables and
Oyster Sauce.
$20.95
H 10. * GENERAL CHICKEN
Chicken sautéed with Green Peppers,
Onions and our Chef’s Special Sauce.
Small $13.95
H 11. SESAME CHICKEN
Chicken and Sesame served with
Our Homemade Sauce.
Small $13.95
Large $17.50
H 12. * ORANGE CHICKEN
Morsels of Tender Chicken,
Sautéed with Orange Peel to
Import a Subtle Taste.
Small $13.95
Large $17.50
H 13. MONGOLIAN BEEF
Beef, Green Peppers, Peapods,
Onions and Mushrooms in a
Special Mongolian Sauce.
Small $14.50
Large $17.95
H 14. MONGOLIAN BEEF AND CHICKEN
Beef, Chicken, Green Peppers,
Peapods, onions and Mushrooms
in a Special Mongolian Sauce.
Small $14.50
Large $17.95
H 15. MONGOLIAN CHICKEN
Chicken, Green Peppers, Peapods,
Onions, Mushrooms in a Special
Mongolian Sauce.
Small $13.95
Large 17.50
H 18. SEAFOOD LO MEIN
Lobster, Scallops, Jumbo Shrimp
and Chinese Vegetables served
on a bed of Pan Soft Noodles.
$20.95
H 19. BALI ISLAND
Beef and Jumbo Scallops
Sautéed with Peapod,
Water Chestnuts,
Mushrooms and
Chinese Vegetables
Served on a bed of
Soft Noodles.
$20.95
H20. SESAME BEEF
Crispy Slice Beef with
Sesame Sauce
Small---$14.50
Large---$17.95
EGG FOO YOUNG (With white rice.)
Meatless Egg Foo Young----------------------$9.75
Pork Egg Foo Young-------------------------
Beef Egg Foo Young-------------------------
Chicken Egg Foo Young-----------------------$
Shrimp Egg Foo Young------------------------$
Ham Egg Foo Young-------------------------
Mushroom Egg Foo Young--------------------$10.75
Vegetable Egg Foo Young----------------------$10.75
House Special Egg Foo Young----------------$11.25
SWEET AND SOUR
(With white rice.)
Sweet and Sour Pork--------------------------
Sweet and Sour Chicken----------------------$
Sweet and Sour Shrimp-----------------------$
Sweet and Sour Combination---------------$13.95
SEAFOOD
Shrimp with Lobster Sauce----------------$14.25
Shrimp with Mushrooms-------------------$14.25
Shrimp with Broccoli----------------------
Shrimp with Peapods-----------------------
Shrimp with Vegetables--------------------
*Shrimp with Garlic Sauce------------------$14.25
Baby Shrimp with Cashews-----------------$14.25
*Szechuan Baby Shrimp---------------------$14.25
*Shrimp with Peking Sauce-----------------$14.25
VEGETABLE
Mixed Vegetable------------------$10.95
Snow Peapods with Broccoli--$10.95
*Broccoli with Garlic Sauce--$10.95
*Bean Curd Szechuan Style--$12.25
Family Style Bean Curd------$12.25
Deep Fried Slice Bean Curd with Pork
and Mix Vegetable
*General Tso's Bean Curd--$12.25
LO MEIN COMBINATION PLATES-ALL DAY
Appetizers (each substitution Extra $1.00)
L 1. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken Fingers $10.25
L 2. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken Wings $10.25
L
3. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Egg
Roll
L 4. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Beef Teriyaki $10.95
L 5. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Fried Shrimp $10.25
L 6. Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein, Boneless Ribs
$10.25
L
7. Shrimp Lo Mein, Egg
Roll
L 8. Beef Lo Mein, Crab Rangoons
L 9. Mushroom Lo Mein, Chicken Wings
L 10. Chicken Lo Mein, Egg Roll
L 11. House Lo Mein, Crab Rangoons
L 12. Ham Lo Mein, Chicken Fingers
CHILDREN’S PLATES
E
1. Egg Roll, Fried Rice or French
Fries
$6.95
E 2. Chicken Fingers, Fried Rice or French Fries $6.95
E 4. Beef Teriyaki, Fried Rice or French Fries $7.95
E 5. Chicken Teriyaki, Fried Rice or French Fries $6.50
E 7. Chicken Nugget, Fried Rice or French Fries $6.95
E 8. Crab Rangoons, Fried Rice or French Fries $6.95
E 9. Onion Ring, Fried Rice or French Fries $6.95
CHOW
MEIN
OR
CHOP SUEY
(Served with Noodles) (Served with
Steamed Rice.)
Meatless Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$8.55----Large---
Pork Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Beef Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Chicken Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Shrimp Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$
Vegetable Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Chicago Pork Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Chicago Beef Chow Mein or Chop Suey Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Chicago Shrimp Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Chicago Chicken Chow Mein or Chop Suey Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Subgum Pork Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Subgum Beef Chow Mein or Chop Suey
Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Subgum Chicken Chow Mein or Chop Suey Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
Subgum Shrimp Chow Mein or Chop Suey Small----$9.50----Large----$10.75
LUNCH SPECIALS-Served All Day with Pork Fried Rice
APPETIZERS (Each Substitution Extra $1.00)
1. Pork Chow Mein, Egg Roll-------------$9.95
2. Subgum Pork Chow Mein, Egg Roll--$9.95
3. Pork Egg Foo Young, Chicken Wings-$10.95
4. Beef Chop Suey, Chicken Wings-------$10.95
5. Pork with Mushrooms,
Chicken Fingers-----------------------
6.Peppers Steak, with Onion Chicken Wings-$10.95
7. Lobster Sauce, Egg Roll------------------$9.95
8. Sweet & Sour Pork, Chicken Wings-----$10.95
9. Sweet & Sour Chicken, Egg Roll---------$10.95
10. Pork Chow Mein, Chicken Fingers------$9.95
11. Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Fingers----------$10.95
12. Fried Shrimp, Chicken Wings------------$10.95
13. Chicken Chow Mein, Egg Roll------------$9.95
14. Chicken Chow Mein, Chicken Fingers---$9.95
15. Chicken Chow Mein, Fried Shrimp-------$9.95
16. Pork Chop Suey, Beef Teriyaki------------$
17. Shrimp Chop Suey, Egg Roll--------------$10.95
18. Beef with Mushroom, Egg Roll-----------$10.95
19. Moo Goo Gai Pan, Egg Roll---------------$10.95
20.Shrimp w/ Lobster Sauce, Crab Rangoon-$10.95
21. *Szechuan Pork, Chicken Teriyaki-------$10.95
22. *Szechuan Chicken, Egg Roll--------------$10.95
23. *Szechuan Beef, Egg Roll------------------$10.95
24. *Szechuan Shrimp, Crab Rangoon--------$10.95
25.*Pork w/ Peking Sauce, Chicken Teriyaki-$10.95
26.*Chicken w/Peking Sauce, Crab Rangoon-$10.95
27. *Beef with Peking Sauce, Egg Roll--------$10.95
28. *Shrimp with Peking Sauce, Egg Roll----$10.95
29.*Pork with Garlic Sauce, Chicken Fingers-$10.95
30.*Chicken w/ Garlic Sauce, Boneless Ribs-$10.95
31. *Beef w/ Garlic Sauce, Crab Rangoons----$10.95
32.*Shrimp with Garlic Sauce, Egg Roll-------$10.95
33. Chicken with Broccoli, Egg Roll-----------$10.95
34.*General Tso’s Chicken or Sesame Chicken$9.25
(Sesame Chicken is not Hot and Spicy.)
35. Beef with Broccoli, Egg Roll----------------$10.95
36. Crab Rangoons, Chicken Finger-----------$10.95
37. Chicken w/ Cashew Nuts, Crab Rangoons-$10.95
38. *General Tso’s Bean Curd--------------------$9.25
HEALTH FOOD with White Rice
Steamed Mixed Vegetable---------------------
Steamed Chicken w/ Vegetables or Broccoli--$11.95
Steamed Shrimp w/ Vegetables or Broccoli--$12.95
COMBINATION DINNERS
Served all day with Pork Fried Rice
Appetizers (substitution Extra /$1.00)
D1. Egg Roll, Chicken Wing, Beef Teriyaki $12.75
D2. Egg Roll, Chicken Fingers, Beef Teriyaki $12.75
D5. Boneless Ribs, Fried Shrimp,
Chicken
Wings $12.75
D6. Boneless Ribs, Chicken Fingers,
Beef
Teriyaki $12.75
D7. Boneless Ribs, Chicken Fingers,
Chicken Wings $12.75
D8. Sweet & Sour Pork, Boneless Ribs,
Egg
Roll
$12.75
D9. Sweet & Sour Chicken, Egg Roll
Chicken
Wings $12.75
D10.
Sesame Chicken, Egg
Roll
D11. *General Tso’s Chicken, Chicken Wings
$
D12. *Orange Chicken, Crab Rangoon
$11.95
D13. Mongolian Chicken, Chicken Fingers
$11.95
D14. Mongolian Beef, Crab Rangoons
D15. Mongolian Beef and Chicken, Egg Roll
$11.95
D16. Chicken with Broccoli, Egg Roll,
Crab
Rangoon $13.25
D17.
Boneless Ribs, Egg Roll, Chicken
Teriyaki
$12.75
D18. Egg Roll, Wings, Chicken Fingers,
Boneless Ribs, Chicken
Teriyaki
$12.75
D19. Boneless Ribs, Chicken Teriyaki
D20. Boneless Ribs, Chicken Wings
D21. Boneless Ribs, Chicken Fingers
D22. Beef with Broccoli, Egg Roll, Chicken
Fingers $13.25
D23. Chicken with Peapods, Egg Roll,
Chicken Fingers
$13.25
D24. Moo Goo Gai Pan, Chicken Teriyaki,
Egg
Roll
$
D25. Pork or Chicken Chow Mein, Egg Roll
Crab
Rangoon $13.25
D26. Chicken or Pork Lo Mein, Crab Rangoon
D27. Shrimp or Beef Lo Mein, Chicken
Finger
$11.95
D28. Pork or Chicken Egg Foo Young,
Egg Roll, Chicken
Finger $13.25
SIDE ORDERS
Duck
Sauce-Small
75 cents-Medium--$1.50-Large-$3.
Sweet and Sour Sauce Small
75 cents-Medium--$1.50-Large-$3.
White Rice—Small $3.75----------------------
Gravy-------------------------
Dry Noodle------------------------
Dumpling Sauce-------------------------------------75 cents