Frank Solivan improv handout

1. Mandolin Intensive
“Mystery of Improvisation”
Improv topics
Scales:
~All Major and Minor scales is a must, variations of scales, 3 note scales, 4 notes
scales and 5 note scales.
~Am Pentatonic
~Blues scale in every key
~Whole tone scale
~Chromatic scale
How to incorporate into your playing
Arpeggios to learn:
~All Major and Minor arpeggios
~A arpeggio, D arpeggio and E arpeggio to use in “Monroe’s Hornpipe”
Chords
~Theory, minor/major/augmented/diminished, circle of 5ths and 4ths
~Exploring moveable, familiar chord shapes.
~Break the fingerings down into two moveable notes or double stops. double
stop: two separate strings that are bowed or plucked simultaneously.
Lateral Moves
~Exploring two and three note chords to enhance knowledge of the fretboard
~How is your mandolin tuned? In 5ths and 4ths of course!
Building “Guides”
~Use a particular finger to focus on
~Create a movable pattern… change the pattern
~Turn the pattern into music
Helpful improv hints:
->Create a road map, know your instrument - learn where all the notes are and
use them as “guides”.
->Build two and three note chords for they will get the job done
->Lateral movements of familiar shapes will help you map the fingerboard
->Circle of fifths/fourths
->Start using major and minor pentatonic scales in soloing