Playing "free" as a part of practice routine.

[Pharaohrock]

I know my playing has come along in ways as a result of it. It gets you out of habitual ways of thinking, especially when you force yourself to studiously avoid your own patterns and habits while you are playing free. Any thoughts on this subject?

[jacman]

i just started playing drums again after a 25 year layoff. after i practice the stuff my instructor gave me, i like to just hit the skins, trying to find patterns and tones that i like. i always suprise myself. :) it's to early in my development to notice if it has affected my playing, but it has affected my listening, in very positive ways. before i restarted playing, i didn't listen to or care for avante-guard(sp) jazz. now i'm listening to alot of Ornette Coleman, and Sun Ra.

[bluesman]

Besides my regular practice routines I often pick up my bass and just see wher my thoughts lead me. I cannot say I use it as part of a practice routine but it does open up ones mind and thinking to just play without the chord structures etc.

The current band and my previous band incorporates free playing within structured arrangements, and it is very exciting to play in this way. I do however find some completely free playing is better to do, than to listen to.

I have heard some of what I would consider some dreadful music played under the free banner, but you could also argue I suppose that this could be leveled at arranged music also.

I think you have got to have a commmand of your instrument, knowing where, and what notes your playing before you can realy play free. So playing free is good as long as its part of the more structured practice and its seems thats what your saying.

[Phil Kelly]

I might suggest a bit of structure to the practice of "free" playing ( which I do think in the main is a good idea for aprt of ones time ..):

Try improvising in a mode or scale set; ( i.e. Mixolydian , Dorian, pentatonic, symmetrical diminished, etc ) ..

Continue by improvising in the same fashion by MODULATING the same patterns, scales, etc. in intervallic increments( i.e. up/down a minor second/ minor third / whatever ) ..then returning to the original mode or pitch set.

Keep doing it at various intervals/transpositions..

Such excercises should aid in developing "out" chops .. :D

[Jakeweiser]

considering that most "free" playing is in it's nature quite arranged (just how I think about it and hear others) playing Free is something to work on in the practice room just like anything else. I try to play free every day, out of time but with harmony, or no harmony but in time. I find that in time no harmony with your metronome is a great way to warm up and get your chops going when you start, it's also a great way to get your ears to wake up to.