# Improvisation lab

> Interactive page: [`improv.html`](improv.html)

A phrase is a **short idea plus rest**, not a stream of scale notes. This page is slow practice over a loop: hear a backing, see a map, land on chord tones. Generic cells only — no copied licks or famous riffs.

Pair with [Drills](drills.md) · [Play along](songs.md) · [Jazz lite](jazz.md) · [Ear](/tools/ear-training.html).

On the HTML page, Play becomes Stop on the same button. Tempo follows the metronome. TAB is A string on top — [Foundations · TAB](foundations.md).

**Sources (two-check):** Berklee ukulele-lab phrase habit (play a cell, rest, land on a chord tone) · Hal Leonard / method books (open-position minor pentatonic over a one-chord or 12-bar vamp). No transcribed solos.

## Three rules

1. **Short idea + rest.** Three or four notes, then silence for a bar (or two).
2. **No copied licks.** Invent from the map and your ear.
3. **Land on chord tones.** The last note of a cell should be a root, 3rd, or 5th of the chord that is sounding.

## Backing lab

- **Am folk** — boom-chick on Am. Home A.
- **C island** — D–DU–UDU feel on C. Home C.
- **12-bar G–C–D** — I–IV–V as open G–C–D. Same form as [Play along · 12-bar](songs.md).

Scale choices: minor pentatonic, Dorian, major. Root follows the backing.

## Call cells

```
A|-----------------          |-----------------
E|-----------------          |-----0-2-0-------
C|-----0-2-0-------          |-0---------------
G|-2---------------   and    |                 +  0-2-3-5 on A (A minor pent)
```

## Target notes

Over **Am**: A, C, E. Over **G–C–D**: land on the sounding chord’s root (or 3rd/5th).

Jazz guide tones: [Jazz lite](jazz.md).

## Three tracks

- **Beginner** — Am folk + minor pentatonic. One three-note cell, rest a full bar. Land on A.
- **Intermediate** — C island or Am + Dorian. Answer the call with new notes, same rhythm.
- **Advanced** — 12-bar G–C–D. Change landing when I / IV / V changes.

Next: [Drills](drills.md) · [Play along](songs.md) · [Ear](/tools/ear-training.html) · [Jazz lite](jazz.md).