Robben Ford Discussion

[Phonebooth83]

Job change is going to require a 2 hour commute in the car everyday. Would love to utilize this time to learn and grow as a musician. I've got a home studio with Digital Performer, Garageband, and even Band in a box, so I have the tools to create some studies to listen to, just curious if others had done something similar.

Ideas I've played around with include: intervals and digital patterns(1-3-5-7, 3-1-3-5, etc) over standards and blues progressions: listening to different patterns of triplets, 16ths, swung 8ths, etc.

Does anyone know of some good material available for purchase or download? Any thoughts on what you would find helpful if I made my own?

BTW, there are some GREAT vids of q and A with Robben at D'Addario website from a clinic in New York State. Check it out!

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

[Phonebooth83]

My thinking of recording intervals through changes was to improve my ear in "hearing" them and being able to name them and being to better outline chords and/or suggest chords in my playing.

I'm open to suggestions...was just wondered if anyone else had come up with tapes/excersises to do when you can't have your guitar in front of you (besides listening to Robben play, which take up the bulk of my free time anyway!).

[Budda]

Maybe get the "Relative Pitch Supercourse" by David L. Burge? I hear that's a pretty good Program.

[Phonebooth83]

I always thought that was kind of a Joke! Are you serious? Has anyone out there tried it?

[Bluelobster]

[Leftbender]

That is so true Blob! Learning intervals by ear is underestimated by many, but absolute essential in my opinion. The easier you can do this the more easier you can "think ahead" while soloing! It's all in the mind!
_________________
"Don't play what's there, play what's not there" Miles Davis

[AndyR]

Well, here is a review of the Burge course:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=46355

I agree with all that sight-singing and learning intervals is very useful.

I don't think that "perfect pitch" is all that important; As Blob mentioned, relative pitch is more useful to performing musicians, IMO.

An exercise I like to do is to transcribe tunes without using an instrument.

First, I draw a picture of a piano keyboard:


Then I sing the pitches while pointing to the notes, starting with the tonic scale of the tune I'm working on.

For simplicity sake I usually use C major/A minor (no accidentals), but on my transcription I use Roman numerals, i.e, I-ii-IV, etc.

Then when the band gets together we can determine the proper key, or transpose as needed.

I am usually able to do melody, chords and bass lines this way.

(BTW, Jimmy Smith learned to play the B-3 pedals in a similar way. He drew a picture of the pedal board, and taped it up in front of the organ, so he could "see" what his feet were supposed to be doing. )

Since Pb83 probably won't want to do this whilst driving through rush-hour traffic, maybe he should just practice sing at first.

You could use a recording of the chord progression without any vocals (like the old "Music Minus One" recordings.)

I'm partial to jazz tunes with lots of interval jumps, like "Fly Me to the Moon," "Tenderly," "Night in Tunisia," "Girl from Ipamema," etc.

Of course, if these tunes are to difficult, start with the "A" section of "One Note Samba."

It's a great idea to use your drive time to do ear training, so have fun, whatever you do!



Andy

[Phonebooth83]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any other ideas/exercises to do without the guitar would be welcome!