Improvising or composing?

Rich Arnold · From: Tennessee, USA

I'm not sure if I'm improvising or composing anymore. My improvisational parts have become logical and intentional. This is new for me.
I boast that I'm improvising but I don't think I can really honestly call it that anymore.
It's composing but I don't pay it again.
R.
https://youtu.be/cwELjec7qD4?si=mvyx7HdbyH8oRzPg

Fred · From: Amesbury, MA

Well, improvising is spontaneous composition. Being intentional just means you know the "vocabulary" well enough to say what you want to say.

Scott Baumann · From: Wisconsin, USA

Very nicely done Rich!

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I think it’s called “style”, but I like “spontaneous composition” too. It’s been said that the symphonies and concertos of classical composers are really just(?) improvisations that were then written down and organized into logical movements.

If you find yourself playing similar lines over similar changes, the good thing is that you recognize it. From there you can either cast your style in stone or take it to the woodshed for further research and development.

I worry most about playing too “correctly”, like in predictable time or overly logical melodically. I think this is how jazz evolved. Instead of playing a strict diatonic riff over a D7 chord, somebody at some point in time must have blown an Ebm6 arpeggio over it, resolved to the Gmaj7, and said hmmm, not bad. And thus, raising and lowering 5ths and 9ths of V7 chords was born.

I don’t think you have much to worry about, Rich. Listening to you chase your improvisational muse always leaves me feeling entertained.

Rich Arnold · From: Tennessee, USA

Thanks Fred,

Yea maybe that's what I'm trying to do without realizing it. Style of playing, or how do I approach the instrument.
Thanks for helping me sort out my thoughts.
I was doing some live online shows a couple years ago. Because I'm able to improvise, it's a new show every time but I can get away with using the same songs more that once from show to show.
I'm pretty much self taught but I didn't come from out of nowhere.
What I do, or rather the way I do things is from the dobro player Jerry Douglas. He is my mentor.

Anyway, to the subject I raised,
I think for me there are 2 types of improvisational playing.
One type is when I'm thinking several bars ahead and quickly composing the music.
But the second type is where the music is just flowing out and I'm pretty much just listening to it happen.
Lately I've been relying more on composing. This is because I'm trying to play with more simplicity and less notes. More like this....
https://youtu.be/1k7a14ltNMg?si=9WhVKYh4WZwO3BbS

Rich Arnold · From: Tennessee, USA

Rich Arnold · From: Tennessee, USA

I feel like playing more of this kind of music rather than Bop.
Maybe more people would appreciate it. I keep forgetting that I'm playing a lap steel so a lot of people who like the lap steel might not be able to hear Bop heads.
The internet audience seems to be grouped up according to what they listen to. The people who listen to Jazz and Bop are not really the same group that listens to steel guitar. And vise versa.
I'm not out to launch a music career at my age, but I'd like to reach a few more people.
I think if I play a bit simpler, maybe I'd have more interest in what I'm doing.
Plus I really enjoy playing simple music as long as it's profound and recognizable.
https://youtu.be/sUlbu9wxdYQ?si=xq2uCzO_2n2HbELI

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