Arranging And Improvisation Are More Similar Than You Think.
As a fingerstyle guitarist who makes arrangements for YouTube, I have been frequently asked by aspiring guitarists how they can create their own arrangements. This question is difficult to answer because of the intricate complexities of arranging music. Deciphering tonal centers, harmonic progressions, bass lines, melody lines, and the like good starting points, but most guitarists are untrained in advanced music theory. Perfect pitch helps to decipher harmonic qualities in a song; but most of us, including myself, lack this skill and need theory knowledge to get by.
When first learning how to improvise, you can’t start playing soulful B.B. King solos without having internalized the sound of blues. Likewise, Wes Montgomery tasteful jazz licks are out of reach without a decent exposure to jazz music. A Berklee University jazz guitar professor under whom I studied was big on the concept of “imitate, assimilate, and innovate.” Simply put, this three-step process means that in order to develop your own improvisational ideas, you need to learn and replicate the musical ideas of other great musicians. After some time, your own harmonic vocabulary, repertoire, and musicianship will improve. Eventually, your improvisation will sound unique to you.
In many ways, learning to arrange music is similar to this improvisatory process. The idea of “imitate, assimilate, and innovate” is key to developing and growing as an arranger. While the bare minimum requirements of an arrangement need only a melody and bass line, professional arrangers will utilize their instrument’s fullest capabilities to bring life to their interpretation of a song. When growing your arranging abilities, learning talented musicians’ arrangements can introduce you to new ideas, harmonic considerations, stylistic techniques, new voicings, etc.
In many of my arrangements, I’ve used the styles and techniques of other amazing fingerstyle guitarists to enhance my writing. Through this experience assimilating music from famous guitarists and YouTubers, I began slowly developing my own style. My current style of arranging is now unique to me. Ultimately, growing as a musician in the field of improvisation and arranging are strikingly similar. These skills will hone your ear and guide you along the journey of developing a personal musical voice.
