More About Chorus Forms
Would like to ensure I'm 100% about the chorus form concept.
In LOA 1 I took two licks and made them A. I then used them as A in five different chorus forms each. Each chorus form is a different solo as much of the material changes except the A stays the same so I've got five solos for each lick. I wouldn't be likely to keep using the same A over and over so given I started with two A licks I'm more likely to have two solos. Of course I could always come back to an A lick I like and repeat it in the same chorus form or change it up a bit.
I've just started LOA 2 chorus forms. I now have another A lick which I'm working on using five chorus forms. I'm doing pretty much what I did in LOA 1 it's just that I now have a new A lick. Other than that it's the same practice routine just a different A lick.
So here's the question. Once I have the chorus forms internalized is the next challenge to find new A licks as they're what give the solo its main statement? Would that go hand in hand with finding more B and C licks to provide variety? And of course finding and learning appropriate fills?
Thanks.
My experience is I have to work at the fills as I had to go out and get them and at first didn't know where to find them. I asked you about it and now I've got an abundance of them. Everything from bluesy little phrases to rhythmic solo harmonica chording adjusted to fit into the 12 bar chorus form. One of my practice routines is to do seven Af Af Af choruses using the three A's I know but picking the fills from starting on holes 1 to 6 draw consecutively and trying to not reuse the same fill from one day to the next. I find that more challenging than memorizing the chorus form patterns or the A phrases at this stage.
Thanks for the help!
That's a great exercise
Yes, mastering the five common Chorus Form types is the first step... to internalize where the repeat or deviation points are. When you continue to go through your assignments in Improvising Study 1 you'll eventually write your own original instrumental, using licks from your study songs (and possibly your own licks, but it's very early to do this). Each chorus will have its own original A, its own theme. The first chorus you play will be repeated at the end to make it the head, or main theme of the composition. So, an entire instrumental will only have six great A licks if it's seven choruses long.
Yes, as you continue your studies you'll pick up cool fills and V-IV-I Licks and Turnarounds as you go (circling the ones you like as you go is a good idea for later study). As you continue your Improvising Study lessons I will provide you with a listing of great V-IV-I Licks and Turnarounds, the fills are just short licks (the same licks that could be A's), so these tend to be less of a study.