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These videos will get you started improvising or if you already improvise, give you new ideas to add to your improvisation. They are demonstrated on mandolin but work well for fiddle and violin. The PDF files are written in standard music notation and mandolin tablature. I suggest you watch the videos in order as information in later videos often refer to what was learned in earlier videos.
Some IOS device users are having trouble seeing the videos on these pages. If that happens, copy the title, go to YouTube and search for that video
Improv From Scratch #1 - Free Improv
Click to download the PDF file for #1
Click to download the PDF file for #1

improv_from_scratch_1_free_improv.pdf | |
File Size: | 79 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #2 - Major and Dominant Chord Scale Outlines
Click to download the PDF file for #2
Click to download the PDF file for #2

improv_from_scratch_2_major_scale_outlines.pdf | |
File Size: | 181 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #3 - Nine Pound Hammer Scale Outlines
Click to download the PDF file for #3
Click to download the PDF file for #3

improv_from_scratch_3_nine_pound_hammer.pdf | |
File Size: | 159 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #4 - Major Scale Ideas
Click to download the PDF file for #4
Click to download the PDF file for #4

improv_from_scratch_4_major_scale_practice.pdf | |
File Size: | 191 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #5 - Major Arpeggio Practice
Click to download the PDF file for #5
Click to download the PDF file for #5

improv_from_scratch_5_major_arpeggios.pdf | |
File Size: | 132 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #6 - Major Chord Tone Scale (CTS)
Click to download the PDF file for #6
Click to download the PDF file for #6

improv_from_scratch_6_major_cts.pdf | |
File Size: | 154 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #7 - Major Improvising Ideas
Click to download the PDF file for #7
Click to download the PDF file for #7

improv_from_scratch_7_major_chord_ideas.pdf | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #8 - Review and Practice
No PDF file for #8
No PDF file for #8
Improv From Scratch #9 - Dominant Scale Practice
Click to download the PDF file for #9
Click to download the PDF file for #9

improv_from_scratch_9_dominant_scale_practice.pdf | |
File Size: | 197 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #10 - Dominant 7 Improvising Ideas
Click to download the PDF file for #10
Click to download the PDF file for #10

improv_from_scratch_10_dominant_arpeggios.pdf | |
File Size: | 144 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #11 - Dominant Chord Tone Scale (CTS)
Click to download the PDF file for #11
Click to download the PDF file for #11

improv_from_scratch_11_dominant_cts_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 125 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #12 - Dominant Chord Tone Scale (CTS) #2
Click to download the PDF file for #12
Click to download the PDF file for #12

improv_from_scratch_12_dominant_cts_2.pdf | |
File Size: | 203 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #13 - I and V7 Improvising Ideas
Click to download the PDF file for #13
Click to download the PDF file for #13

improv_from_scratch_13_improv_against_i_and_v7_chords.pdf | |
File Size: | 212 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #14 - Major Improvisational Practice
No PDF file for #14
No PDF file for #14
Improv From Scratch #15 - Dominant Improv Practice
Click to download the PDF file for #15
Click to download the PDF file for #15

improv_from_scratch_15_dominant_improv_practice.pdf | |
File Size: | 143 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #16 - Surround
Click to download the PDF file for #16
Click to download the PDF file for #16

improv_from_scratch_16_surround.pdf | |
File Size: | 93 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #17 - M. O. U. S. E.
Click to download the PDF file for #17
Click to download the PDF file for #17

improv_from_scratch_17_mouse.pdf | |
File Size: | 103 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #18 - Triplets
Click to download the PDF file for #18
Click to download the PDF file for #18

improv_from_scratch_18_triplets.pdf | |
File Size: | 116 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #19 - Quarter Notes and Rests
Click to download the PDF file for #19
Click to download the PDF file for #19

improv_from_scratch_19_quartern_notes_rests.pdf | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #20 - How to Practice New Ideas
Click to download the PDF file for #20
Click to download the PDF file for #20

improv_from_scratch_20_how_to_practice_new_ideas.pdf | |
File Size: | 75 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #21 - Minor Chord Music Theory
No PDF file for #21
No PDF file for #21
Improv From Scratch #22 - IIm IIIm VIm Scale Practice
Click to download the PDF file for #22
Click to download the PDF file for #22

improv_from_scratch_22_iim_iiim_vim_scale_practice.pdf | |
File Size: | 204 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #23 - Minor Scale Chord Outlines
Click to download the PDF file for #23
Click to download the PDF file for #23

improv_from_scratch_23_minor_chord_scale_outlines.pdf | |
File Size: | 145 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #24 - IIm Chord Tone Scale

ifs_24_iim_cts.pdf | |
File Size: | 128 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #25- VIm Chord Tone Scale

ifs_25_vim_cts.pdf | |
File Size: | 128 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #26- IIIm Chord Tone Scale

ifs_26_iiim_cts.pdf | |
File Size: | 125 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #27- Making Phrases from Chord Tone Scales

ifs_27_making_phrases_from_cts.pdf | |
File Size: | 124 kb |
File Type: |
Improv From Scratch #28- Non Chord Tones on a Major Chord

ifs_28_non_chord_tones_on_a_major_chord.pdf | |
File Size: | 105 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #29- Solo Strategies

mandolin_improvisation_lesson_29_solo_strategies.pdf | |
File Size: | 259 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #30 - Blue Ridge Mountain Blues

ifs_30_blue_ridge_mountain_blues.pdf | |
File Size: | 195 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #31 - Minor Pentatonic Scale

ifs_31_minor_pentatonic_scale.pdf | |
File Size: | 119 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #32 - Sam Bush Plays I IV V

ifs_32_sam_bush_plays_i_iv_v.pdf | |
File Size: | 175 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #33 - Foggy Mountain Top

mandolin_improvisation_33_foggy_mountain_top.pdf | |
File Size: | 200 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #34 - Monroe Style Phrases

ifs_34__monroe_style_phrases.pdf | |
File Size: | 142 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #35 - 3 to 5 Chromatically

mandolin_improvisation_35_3_to_5_chromatically.pdf | |
File Size: | 96 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #36 - V7 to I Clash Resolve

ifs_36_v7_i_clash_resolve.pdf | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #37 - Double Stops

mandolin_improvisation_37_double_stops.pdf | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #38 - Key of B

mandolin_improvisation_38_key_of_b.pdf | |
File Size: | 108 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #39 - Minor Scale Against Manor Chord

mandolin_improvisation_39_minor_scale_against_major_chord.pdf | |
File Size: | 110 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #40 - The Blues Scale

mandolin_improvisation_40_blues_scale.pdf | |
File Size: | 80 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #41: Bill Monroe Plays I IV V

mandolin_improvisation__41_bill_monroe_plays_i_iv_v.pdf | |
File Size: | 190 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #42 - Sing a Line, Play a Line
No PDF file
No PDF file
Mandolin Improvisation #43 - Arpeggios

mandolin_improvisation_43_arpeggios.pdf | |
File Size: | 122 kb |
File Type: |
D7 to G Vassar Clements Lick
Mandolin Improvisation #44 - Love Come Home

mandolin_improvisation_44_love_come_home.pdf | |
File Size: | 185 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #45 - 4 b3 3

mandolin_improvisation_45_4_b3_3.pdf | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #46 - The G Run

mandolin_improvisation_46_g_run_-_pete_martin.pdf | |
File Size: | 43 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #47 - Tritone

music_theory_for_mandolin_27_pdf.pdf | |
File Size: | 609 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #48 - Every Other Note

mandolin_improvisation_lesson_48_every_other_note_pete_martin.pdf | |
File Size: | 53 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #49 - Non Chord Tone

mandolin_improvisation_lesson_49_non_chord_tone_on_the_beat_-_pete_martin.pdf | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: |
Mandolin Improvisation #50 - Half Step Below

mandolin_improvisation_lesson_50_half_step_below_-_pete_martin.pdf | |
File Size: | 34 kb |
File Type: |