Yes, welcome Schnuckenack. As Buco mentioned, it would be helpful to know what your skill level is (so that we don't give you improvisation advice that is far above or far below your level of knowledge/ability). But if you're just beginning your journey with this music, here's a suggestion that can help you have fun improvising over Blue Drag (if you approach it from a "scales" point of view):
Over the first 5 bars in the A sections, you can create fun phrases using the D harmonic minor scale. When the 6th bar rolls around in each A section (Emin7 flat 5), you can explore the G Dorian mode to mark the change in key center. Then you can resolve it by going back to D harmonic minor in bars 7 and 8. Then in the B section, you can play ideas in G Dorian again over the Gmin and go back to D harmonic minor when it goes back to Dminor. But try not to emphasize the changes right as the chords change. This is very basic (and many gypsy jazz guitarists prefer to use arpeggios and/or something like triads with enclosures as opposed to scales) but it will give you something to work with to make music over the changes.
Comments
Hello guys!
I am new here and trying to develop my manouche playing.
How would you improvise on this song? I need some input. :)
Thanks in advance!
Welcome to the forum. This thread will give you some guidance. Let us know where you are at when it comes to guitar playing.
Yes, welcome Schnuckenack. As Buco mentioned, it would be helpful to know what your skill level is (so that we don't give you improvisation advice that is far above or far below your level of knowledge/ability). But if you're just beginning your journey with this music, here's a suggestion that can help you have fun improvising over Blue Drag (if you approach it from a "scales" point of view):
Over the first 5 bars in the A sections, you can create fun phrases using the D harmonic minor scale. When the 6th bar rolls around in each A section (Emin7 flat 5), you can explore the G Dorian mode to mark the change in key center. Then you can resolve it by going back to D harmonic minor in bars 7 and 8. Then in the B section, you can play ideas in G Dorian again over the Gmin and go back to D harmonic minor when it goes back to Dminor. But try not to emphasize the changes right as the chords change. This is very basic (and many gypsy jazz guitarists prefer to use arpeggios and/or something like triads with enclosures as opposed to scales) but it will give you something to work with to make music over the changes.