The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation [Paperback]

Michael Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2004

Practice makes perfect-and this expert guide makes it easy... Using practices and exercises, popular music author Michael Miller gives intermediate musicians the skills to learn such improvisation techniques as chord theory, scales and modes, and melodies and phrasing. All types of soloists, including vocalists, will learn how to listen to and transcribe solos from existing recordings and how to create their own solos and styling. Filled with expert advice and interviews from experienced professionals from the worlds of rock, jazz and R&B, this book gives students the skills needed to move their music to the next level.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Miller attended the prestigious Jazz Studies Program at the Indiana University School of Music. A former percussion instructor and working drummer, he is also an accomplished composer and arranger. He is the author of more than 30 computer, music and business books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums, 2E; The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Music Theory; and The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Singing with Phyllis Fulford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592572103
• ISBN-13: 978-1592572106
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Don't Make Idiots Like They Used To, May 6, 2007

By 

Fly By Light (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation (Paperback)

This books covers a world of material on crafting rock/jazz/blues solos for less than the price of a music lesson. You need to have reasonable mastery of your instrument before tackling this book (playing scales, reading music, producing proper tone, etc.). The book will easily take a non-obsessed musician over a year to plow through and absorb fully if they do not have much background in improvisation or theory. The "Idiot" that masters the material would be an amazing idiot indeed. What makes this book stand out from others?

1) The amount of material covered: There are some gaps (like modes of the melodic minor scale), but this book does an incredibly good job of hitting important topics in comprehensive fashion. Its broad scope almost rivals an encyclopedia.
2) Clear and concise explanations: the book opts for clear explanations and illustrative examples, rather than giving technically perfect explanations. Other books deal with topics in exhaustive depth (Bert Ligon's jazz books and Mark Levine's Drop 2 book come to mind); this one presents the concepts and suggests their application, then leaves it to the student to explore.
3) Interviews - there are two very good interviews with pros from jazz and rock
4) Appendices - the appendices have some good scale charts that will be useful for reference and practice.
5) Lots of practice patterns
6) Advice that goes beyond the theory - theory is indispensible, but it doesn't equal music, any more than colors equal art. The real value in this book is the discussion of how to make solos interesting and effective. The advice in this realm is as useful to a reaasonably experienced improviser as it is to a beginner, and trancends all genres. Every solo can be analyzed through these concepts to find where room for improvement may be found.

This books has plenty to offer to the budding improviser. Do not be fooled by the bargain price or the title: it is not a half-hearted introduction or a quick fix. It is as jam-packed with information as any book on the subject could be. It will require time, practice and dedication to master the material in this book, but it will produce results if you do your part.

Because of the breadth of material covered, go elsewhere for depth (not a fault, just a fact). That might come in the form of a book on a specific topic or a music teacher. In fact, this book would probably be an excellent text to use with music lessons so that important topics can be identified and expanded, and bad habits can be avoided.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "must have", April 18, 2011

By 

jsz - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation (Paperback)

just the best guide to playing jazz music I ever saw. Comprehensive explanation, good examples, interesting to read. In a short sentence: recommendable in every way.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Improv made easier, February 10, 2008

By 

Archer A. Jordan "Sax maniac" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation (Paperback)

A comprehensive aproach to improvising for a variety of styles. The Forewords are by famed trumpeter, Marvin Stamm and jazz educater Jamey Aebersold with praise for author, Michael Miller and that is high praise indeed from such eminent talents.