Playing what you hear

[Jeff Smith]

Lenny Tristano was very respected by his peers, and one of the earlier bebop improv teachers who trained many great improvisers. He always started all his pupils with learning how to sing solos by Bird, Bud Powell, Lester Young, Charlie Christian, etc. Lee Konitz still raves about him.

[www.bendockery.com]

I can still remember the first time I actually heard something before/as I played it on a gig. I was a freshmen in college and was having the same questions you have. I had a solo piano gig, and I was using a Real Book. At that time, my solos were just a bunch of licks plugged into a chord progression. Then, almost by accident, a short phrase popped into my head, and I played it.

Before this I could "hear" stuff, but I couldn't find it on my instrument. Even after it happened, it took years of work to get it close to 100%. One thing that later really helped was transcribing in a different way. I used to write it all down and then try to play it. Instead take a solo you may have already learned and start learning to play it with the recording as close to verbatim as possible. Don't even think about how the notes function harmonically. Just focus on the sound and memorizing it. Memorize it as you go, one note, measure, or phrase at a time.

I did this with Herbie's Actual Proof off the album Flood. I played in front of a class from memory with the recording, and it totally boosted that part of my mind/ear that "hears it".

One last tip that helped me turn the corner was to react to what you just played instead of hanging on to a preconceived lick or idea. Respond to what just happened musically, even if it was a mistake.

[jazzman1945]

Originally Posted by Derekdaman

Hi everyone! Many advanced jazz musicians claim to "play what they hear" when improvising. I'm very stumped on how I can work on this to help my improvising. When I improvise I feel like I'm just noodling around and If I play something cool, I repeat it and change some stuff around about the line I played.
A problem of mine is is that I don't hear stuff in my head! When I do sing then transcribe melodies that I have sung (over a progression), they don't sound good or cool at all. How do I even start hearing stuff in my head?

Edit: I am a guitarist

The problem is that we do not know WHAT exactly sounds in the brain of artist!This may be a complete whole phrase or just the rhythm part, or melodic intonation, where a piece of music was not originally clear. This can be in different ways.

You have to start small: play any chord on the guitar and sing any sound-the "right" or "wrong."
For example on the Cmaj7 chord sing D. It is clear that this will create dissonance. Continue to hold the chord, but stop singing sound, listen to the sound of the chord. In your head emerge resolution sung sound, is just reflex. Try to determine what is that pitch .
Now again play the same chord, and again sing D- but mentally. And again You will get in Your mind the process "tension - resolution."
This is the beginning!