How to embellish a melody - Jazz improvisation

Playing the head of a tune is important. The melody is its identity. Once you really know the melody of a tune, you can manipulate it... to either make it more interesting as a melody OR to create an improvised solo! The further you stray from the melody line, the more it'll become an improvised solo. I'd always recommend knowing the chords/harmony of a tune but if you don't, or they're a little hazy, knowing the melody well can help! For practice, use the following steps (I kind of abandoned these in the video!?! - sorry): 1) Learn the melody! 2) Embellish the RHYTHM only. 3) Embellish the NOTES using next-door notes. 4) Use the diatonic scales to make your lines more linear (keep the melody in mind). 5) Use some vocabulary in places that fit (eg blues scale licks). If you like this content, please do like and subscribe, and I'll make plenty more - fanks!