Improv: Practicing Curiosity

Get a free jump start for your creativity and improvisation: dan-phelps.myk...
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Last night I improvised on the guitar while thinking about the theme of curiosity. I intentionally started with a sound rather than playing the guitar and tried to simply let each event lead to the next.
There’s obvious ways to practice the more technical aspects of music: running scales, learning songs, studying music theory, playing with a metronome…but how does one practice something like curiosity?
For me it starts with intention and attention. For instance…
Intention: I set aside time to play and improvise without an agenda of sounding “good” or “being impressive.” We all have a set of norms imprinted on us by life and culture that define “good” in some way or another. Usually it’s tied to not making mistakes or some kind of external validation of success.
That’s why it’s possible to be playing by yourself, with no possibility of anyone else hearing you, and still continually critiquing yourself through the lens of how other people might judge what you are doing!
It’s not an easy habit to break, but it’s possible if you practice…
Attention: Start with noticing your own thoughts as you play. Are you present with the music you are playing? Or is there a color commentator in your head giving a critical play-by-play of what you are doing?
When you notice that your attention is drifting, just gently direct it back to something about the music you are creating in that moment. You might even decide ahead of time what that is, so you have a specific thing to return to, like the feel of your fingers on the instrument, or the timbral quality of the sound you are making!

[@jontaylor178]

This is so freakin great Dan! Love all the different textures & dynamics you eeked out of your instruments (guitar & pedals) on this one. This really transported me out of this world

[@dutchbassscapes2185]

Meditating while playing, and playing while meditating 👌

[@robertozorzi7499]

I agree.

[@sevenwheels3617]

Thank you!

[@oceanographic]

Thank YOU.

[@karlboman]

This was wonderful!

[@oceanographic]

Thanks, Karl! I appreciate that!

[@johnmadere]

Gorgeous sounds, Dan! Pickups really sing on that guitar.

[@oceanographic]

It’s got some vibes built in.

[@neve4020]

That Blooper ...outstanding

[@oceanographic]

It's a pretty special pedal. Super creative!

[@stefanhansen5882]

WOW! Just freaking WOW! Could you please tell which pedals you are using for this?

[@oceanographic]

Thanks! I think it's pretty much what you can see on the table, if memory serves. Chase Bliss Blooper > Old Blood Noise Signal Blender. Loop A of the SB has a Red Panda Tensor and an OBN Dweller. Loop B has a OBN Minim. There's certainly a little stereo ambience added to the mix in order to make things a little more lush.

[@stefanhansen5882]

@@oceanographic Thanks!

[@rtxf]

I don't know who you are but that thumbnail looks sick mate, maybe look into really making them grey? I really dig that look

[@Junterhack]

Really nice! I need a blooper! And that guitar. What is it? Ronin?

[@oceanographic]

It’s a Saul Koll Tornado. Saul is an amazing builder from Portland.

[@Junterhack]

He’s definitely a builder that’s had my attention for a while. Thanks for the info and the music.