Improvising For Composition Ideas

Hey guys, I read that many composers used to improvise in order to come up ith ideas for composition. I was wondering how you guys think they improvised. Did they take the basic harmony of tonic, dominant, subdominant? And I am also interested if you guys improvise in this sence and if so, what are your experiences?

Use a basic chord prgression, anything; then, play around with it. For example: do the same progression, but in different keys. Then try throwing in random chords. Through trial and error, you'll discover something that sounds different. From there, you begin structuring a piece around this particular idea. Eventually things just fall into place and you'll be able to tell what works, and what doesn't work.

Yes but, i'm more interested in phrase ideas instead of chord progressions. Is there any method that works for you guys? I'm still looking for mine

Usually get a melody going and then just try A BUNCH of different harmonies over the melody. 

This is generally how  I come up with ideas. I tend to start with types of motion/gestures and then go from there. The hardest thing is having an idea you like and then having to make it concrete (i.e. commit to specific durations and pitches).

I literally just close my eyes and play, no thinking necessary.  

Although I love to improvise on the piano, I never create compositions this way.

I was wondering, because nowadays improvising seems to happen mostly in jazz, while great composers like beethoven and mozart were genius in improvising.

Although I love to improvise on the piano, I never create compositions this way.

Then how do you start? Do you have a specific idea before you start?

Improvisation is mostly a lost art nowadays. (Jazz has not advanced stylistically since the 70s; contemporary jazz improvisers just mimic.) There are a few people i'll make exceptions for but none of them are composers in the traditional sense.

I start compositions by imagining the sounds I want and gradually organising them into sequence. I imagine most composers do the same.

How do you come up with melodies if not improvising? I think every composers improvise, only in non-fixed composition like jazz you can't edit your work - not to mention the head part - since the solo part is also integral to whole composition. However, you can still not improvise in the way of ripping off.

Improvisation is mostly a lost art nowadays. (Jazz has not advanced stylistically since the 70s; contemporary jazz improvisers just mimic.) There are a few people i'll make exceptions for but none of them are composers in the traditional sense.

 

I start compositions by imagining the sounds I want and gradually organising them into sequence. I imagine most composers do the same.

Improvisation is alive and well in pop/rock/metal. Especially as a composition tool. There is music beyond art and jazz, believe it or not. 

-repost, oops-