For more information from the source site of this video please visit: http://secretguitarteacher.com/youtube/intermediate/jazz/PzDkH9-FyfI/91902416-from-blues-to-jazz-3.php This is an excerpt from the ‘From Blues to Jazz Course’ available to members of the Secret Guitar Teacher website (see link above). The course is for intermediate students who typically already have a few years guitar playing experience. It is not for beginners and does assume some knowledge of chords and basic music theory. Here is the abridged transcript: So, following on from the last lesson we are now going to progress, one step at a time, from playing the arpeggio exercise precisely as learnt, towards being able to improvise freely over the Bb Blues chord sequence. First step is to simply play the arpeggio exercise absolutely straight. Have a go at playing along with me. Next, whilst still sticking pretty much to the notes provided by the arpeggio exercise, we’ll introduce a little rhythmic and melodic variation. To do this, rather than attempting to complete each arpeggio, simply begin to group a few notes out of each arpeggio together, and leave pauses in between the groups like this. Repeat phrases, speed one phrase up, slow another one down But here’s the tricky part… try to constantly stay alert to where the chord changes are and shift to the appropriate arpeggio pattern in good time for each change. Next, try deliberately starting your phrases on the upbeat. If you are using alternate picking, then this literally means playing the first note of a phrase with the pick moving up instead of down. Like this. Next step is to really listen to what we are playing and try to shape it into something of a melody. Finally, for this lesson, lets start to add some notes that aren’t in the arpeggio patterns. It will take most people many hours of this sort of practice to break through to being able to use this approach to improvising successfully and confidently. But, as you find yourself arriving at a level of improvising ability that actually, relatively few guitarists ever achieve, I’m confident you’ll sense a big payoff. In the next lesson, which will be the final one on this course, we are going to take a closer look at the relationship between the arpeggio patterns and the chord shapes behind them. We’ll show you how to blend a nice bit of chord work in together with the arpeggio based ideas we have been working on in this lesson. So I look forward to seeing you then!