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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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Improv From Scratch #24 - IIm Chord Tone Scale
| ifs_24_iim_cts.pdf |
Improv From Scratch #25- VIm Chord Tone Scale
| ifs_25_vim_cts.pdf |
Improv From Scratch #26- IIIm Chord Tone Scale
| ifs_26_iiim_cts.pdf |
Improv From Scratch #27- Making Phrases from Chord Tone Scales
| ifs_27_making_phrases_from_cts.pdf |
Improv From Scratch #28- Non Chord Tones on a Major Chord
| ifs_28_non_chord_tones_on_a_major_chord.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #29- Solo Strategies
| mandolin_improvisation_lesson_29_solo_strategies.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #30 - Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
| ifs_30_blue_ridge_mountain_blues.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #31 - Minor Pentatonic Scale
| ifs_31_minor_pentatonic_scale.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #32 - Sam Bush Plays I IV V
| ifs_32_sam_bush_plays_i_iv_v.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #33 - Foggy Mountain Top
| mandolin_improvisation_33_foggy_mountain_top.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #34 - Monroe Style Phrases
| ifs_34__monroe_style_phrases.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #35 - 3 to 5 Chromatically
| mandolin_improvisation_35_3_to_5_chromatically.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #36 - V7 to I Clash Resolve
| ifs_36_v7_i_clash_resolve.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #37 - Double Stops
| mandolin_improvisation_37_double_stops.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #38 - Key of B
| mandolin_improvisation_38_key_of_b.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #39 - Minor Scale Against Manor Chord
| mandolin_improvisation_39_minor_scale_against_major_chord.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation Lesson #40 - The Blues Scale
| mandolin_improvisation_40_blues_scale.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation #41: Bill Monroe Plays I IV V
| mandolin_improvisation__41_bill_monroe_plays_i_iv_v.pdf |
Mandolin Improvisation #42 - Sing a Line, Play a Line
No PDF file
No PDF file
Mandolin Improvisation #43 - Arpeggios
| mandolin_improvisation_43_arpeggios.pdf |
D7 to G Vassar Clements Lick