Robben Ford Discussion

jconstant · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:12 pm Post subject: Practice Makes Perfect

So what do you do when you practice? What exercises or 'routines' do you have that really make you feel like you're making progress and improving any aspect of your playing?

I'll bet we can come up with quite a collection of things that can help make us all better players.

Jim

phrigian · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2004 9:18 am Post subject:

If I'm learning a new tune...say a standard out of the Real book... I'll start with the melody and try to play it in various positions..Then I'll try playing the chord tones in position to get a feel for the harmony.. then I'll move to the modes playing the tune directionally through the modes.. this enables me (theoretically) to make the changes by implying the chord change through a change in mode. ... The key here is to play through the modes . For example, if you have 1measure of Bb maj7 (I chord ) going to 1 measure of G7 (VI7chord) you might start ascending the Bbmaj scale and on the 5th beat of the phrase switch to Abmelodic minor modality. The key is to keep going in the same direction just mentaly change the key siganature. In this example you go from a measure with 2flats to a measure with Bb , Eb,Ab ,Db,G natural, Cflat . This is a great way to practice playing through the changes and really get you to hear the change in your head. I think this is also a great way to develop an ear for phrases that cross the bar lines and shift modality mid phrase.

I've heard Robben mention slow down when you practice... I force myself to slow down by practicing with a metronome set at 40. Once I've done this kind of thing for a while , I'll switch to doubling up on the metronome by hearing the click as 2 and 4 . Then gradually increase tempo. By slowing down I find that I have a better chance of establishing that connection between head and fingers and hopefully I retain enough of that connection to make music as I increase the tempo.

jconstant · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:40 am Post subject: The Amazing Slow Downer

I've been practicing a lot more lately and I found some software that is incredible. I imagine there are others like it but the one I found is called The Amazing Slow Downer and is available for both Mac and Windows. (http://www.ronimusic.com/). It allows you to slow down music by up to 400% while maintaining the same pitch. I don't care how fast a lick is, with this you can pick out each note. As great as it is I thought it was a little expensive at $39.95 USD but I'm still really, really happy with it.