Скачать или смотреть Break Free from Familiar Licks: Creative Improvisation Practice Technique for Musicians

In this video, I share one of my favorite creative improvisation practice techniques designed to break you out of your usual habits and explore new melodic ideas. The concept is simple but incredibly powerful: I randomly select a page from a music book, copy 8 measures of the chord progression, and write a solo on paper—without touching my instrument. This step forces you to rely on your ear, theory knowledge, and imagination, rather than muscle memory or familiar licks.

Once the solo is written out, I finally pick up my instrument and play through the solo, hearing how those ideas come to life. From there, I experiment by shifting the same written solo into different modes and scales, revealing how subtle changes in harmony and color can completely transform the mood, tension, and vibe of a passage.

This method helps strengthen your understanding of chord-scale relationships, develops your inner hearing, and expands your approach to melodic construction. I also discuss why having proper chordal accompaniment is essential while doing this exercise—so you can truly hear how your note choices interact with the harmony.

Whether you’re a jazz musician, composer, or improviser on any instrument, this routine is a fantastic way to train your ear, unlock original ideas, and deepen your harmonic awareness. Try it out next time you’re stuck in a rut—your solos will thank you!