IMPROVISING OVER "SUMMERTIME":


We are going to take a step by step approch to improvising over the song "Summertime" by Gershwin.

First and foremost, it would be necessary to learn the melody -- if possible in a few different places, and in a couple of registers (higher, and lower).



Here is the leadsheet:





Here's the PDF for the leadsheet:

Summertime Leadsheet







In this first video, I demonstrate how we can use the melody to develop our improvisation:











and here's another quick improvisation in which I demonstrate how the melody can be used to develop a solo. (Make sure to watch the related video -- above -- in which I explain the process).











Now taking an entirely different angle, I show how the chord changes of the tune will guide us through our improvisation:







Here are the chord changes I use:





Download the PDF with the chord changes:

Summertime Chord Changes







and finally, here is an improvisation exercise in which I only use quarter-notes. The idea is to force the ear into hearing the changes ahead:





(Ooops, I forgot to turn on the reverb on my amp...).









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