With his killer ear and fearless approach to improvisation, Roy Ziv makes the fretboard his playground

Roy is a social media juggernaut, earning follower counts knocking on the door of seven figures. But his viral appeal isn’t just about feed-scrolling junk food — it’s his deep sense of melody, effortless improvisational flow, and ability to make advanced concepts feel approachable that really impress.

His compositional instincts are immediately engaging. Whether crafting a solo over a pop hit or stretching out in his own compositions, he seems to constantly find hooky phrases that have you reaching for the rewind button.

In our conversation, Roy outlines his process for training spontaneity. Rather than drilling abstract exercises, Roy hones his skills by composing in real time, challenging himself to stumble across novel melodies and phrases in a kind of semi-controlled accident – and then etuding them to make them familiar. His philosophy embraces mistakes as learning opportunities, diving enthusiastically into unfamiliar territory until it becomes second nature.

The hour-long interview features 39 musical examples with tablature, including three extended improvisations showcasing Roy’s signature phrasing and fretboard mastery. The backing tracks are also included for your own creative woodshedding.