NOTE: In the video I over exaggerate how long you should wait when you deny an urge so that you can see it happening. in reality you might just be waiting an extra 1/32nd note before coming in.

This is a super simple exercise to help you phrase differently, especially if you feel you over play or are too repetitive with your rhythmic phrasing.

This can even be a fun thing to think on the gig or at a jam.

The first step is to identify that when you improvise you get an impulse to start playing, it’s like a little voice in your head that says “Go!”. (Or you might even hear the notes you want to play in real time.)

Usually we just let this impulse out, however, choosing how to react to this impulse can help develop your phrasing immensely. We can break our habits and come up with things we wouldn’t have just by manipulating, denying or anticipating the impulse. This can really break the monotony and add an unpredictable element to your playing.

Denying:

• Deny your first impulse to play.
• Deny your first and second impulse to play.
• Deny as many impulses as you can, see how long you can wait without losing continuity from the previous line.
• Deny your first impulse to stop.
• Deny your first and second impulse to stop

Anticipating:

• Play before your natural first impulse.
• Stop Before you feel the natural urge to stop

A very important thing I like to do while delaying the starting of the next phrase, is to analyse what I previously played in my mind and start to think of where that phrase wants to go. Analyse what you played to inspire what you’re going to play next.