Has anyone here looked at the book "Improvising Without Scales"?
I've been really enjoying some of the ideas it's sparked me to try. I haven't even incorporated many of the actual lines that are given as examples. There are some killers. It's just that I immediately got inspired, and started working some things out. I'll definately learn a lot of the book's lines. But, I've been too busy (in a good way), so far. Pretty cool.

It's basically a concept of using intervallic/melodic shapes, as opposed to strictly scalar, or diatonic lines.

One cool idea I had was to take any phrase, and change one note. Either move it a 6th., or an octave, etc. This is an easy way for me to "hear" some new harmonies.

I think I've got some work to do! It's always fun, when you find something that gets you inspired.

A tune that I think has a very good example of what I'm digging, is a Carl tune called "Maggie's Ladder".

Still digging into the whole intervallic thing.

Carl talks a lot about keeping a line going. This is a core concept for me. As I have always been a melody guy. To me, it's the heart of playing. Whether it's a vocal, or instrumental melody. So, his lines really seem to make sense to me.

He has another CD coming out, at the beginning of September. It will be really interesting to hear what he comes up with. I only really visit two forums. This one, and the one at his site. From what I can gather, he was saying that his next CD will be a little more intense. He's got some really good songs, on his last CD "SIX". And, there's a live DVD/CD called "Rumor Mill" that is on my short list. Anyway, not so much a post about playing, I guess. But, he has been inspiring me to stretch out. After a decade of so-so guitar playing in the mainstream, I've really needed something a little more challenging. Not a shred type of thing, either. Good songs first. He*l, Steely Dan only put out one CD in the last decade. Jeff Beck has been it. Now, I can add Carl V, and Scott Henderson. Tribal Tech was too inaccessible for me. No real songs. But, the "Blues" based stuff, is pretty cool. Check out "Scott Henderson Live", to see what I mean.

If anyone wants to swap some ideas/licks/etc. let me know. This forum is full of a lot of great players. I know that I could learn a lot. Here's a link to the Carl Verheyen forum, if anyone is interested. There is a video clip on his homepage, also.

http://carlverheyen.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=e27...a2776a683f69a66c2026

It's a pretty small forum. But, I like it.

hey, he has that VHS vid he put out in his online store, possibly if ican get a copy we can work on it together, im really in to the verheyen/ EJ stuff right now..