The best step-by-step way to learn improvisation using SFS, or the String Fragment System™, is to start with just 1 string fragment, just two notes, and learn to play creatively with that, before gradually adding the other string fragments, one at a time.
What can we do with just 2 notes? Well, we can do interesting things with rhythm, articulation, and so on. In the SFS Pentatonics Premium Course, I think we cover 5 or 6 specific ideas at this stage. For now, I’ll take a single improvisation idea, the slide. I’ll just go to every A on the fretboard, play SF1 (that’s string fragment 1), and use slides to try to create interesting musical ideas [example in the video].
After you try this for a while, using backing tracks, sliding will start to come out naturally as you are soloing. The same way we added the slide to your language vocabulary, we can add many different ideas, some of them as simple as the slide, others more sophisticated.
Let’s see what we can do with two string fragments. I have a blue note in the middle of SF2. So one idea would be to bend up to that blue note from the previous note. Bending with finger 1 is tough, but this is a one-fret bend so it’s easy. Actually, even if you make a lazy half-bend it will still sound good because of the nature of blue notes. So I can jump to every A on the fretboard, and use slides and bending to the blue note over SF1 and SF2 [example in the video].
On this lesson page, you can find a backing track for A minor Pentatonic, along with a diagram to help you locate SF1 and SF2 everywhere so that you can practice these example ideas for yourself.
But in the same way, we can add many more soloing ideas to our improvisation language, while learning the scales. This is a lot of fun, and it allows you to be creative from the very beginning.
You see, SFS is not just about learning a scale. It's not just a replacement for box shapes, even though it does that very well. No! It's a complete musical education philosophy that promotes creativity. Even if you know all the scales, everywhere on the fretboard, what's the point if you can't be creative and melodic with them?
People think that being melodic is a special talent that only a select few possess. But it's a skill like any other skill. You can develop it if you approach it the right way. Box shapes don't help with that at all.
On the contrary, starting with a single string fragment, or even a single note, and building on that, while working on the musical side of things in parallel, is ideal.
In my premium courses like SFS Pentatonics, or SFS Modes, we use this exact step-by-step method. Instead of memorizing boxes, memorizing licks, and trying to imitate something, you get to develop your personal musical language and express yourself using your guitar.
If you are interested in checking out these courses, or the String Partner Subscription, which gives you access to all my courses, then just click the links above to learn more.
Alright, I hope you enjoyed this crash course. I encourage you to review the lessons and spend some time with the backing tracks. And if you decide you want to go further, I’ll see you in the premium courses 👍.
