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Practice I know!!

But what kind of practice? Scales only seem to get you so far - is the best type just to simply jam as much as possible? Will this improve you tho, or do you need to take time to learn licks and riffs very slowly and speed them up?

What do people think??

Play more music! You learn something new with everything you can play.

Play songs. Play songs. Learn songs.
You don't practice turning the steering wheel over and over before you go drive. You just get in the car and learn to drive. Turning the steering wheel is used in context and learned properly. Same with songs. You'll learn the chords in the right context, playing songs, music.

Have fun.

Learn NEW pieces all the time and don't simply regurgitate the music you already now. Every new piece will contribute to skill, speed, technique, chops, etc.

Rodney

Try playing your scales in 3rds. In 4ths. Up 3rd, then a second...

Use Patterns to get around the scale.

Learn a lick then transpose it around the cycle.

Eventually you will start to hear these 'licks' in your head when you are improvising and they'll just come out.

Scales, and Music.

I started by borrowing some books (sheet music) from the library! Dave Brubeck has some great sheet music.

Hi,
I wrote a book specifically to answer your question. It is called "Blues Step by Step." You can get it at www.planetmullins.com/book.htm.

Rob, That short MP3 of C JAM BLUES is AWESOME!!!

Hi,
Thanks for the props hayman. The book shows the way.

If you are looking for what to practice, I would highly recommend you pick up a copy of Modern Jazz Piano by Sarah Jane Cion published by Hal Leonard. This book seems to cover the topic of what to practice extremely well. It covers chord and scale theory, drop 2 voicings, bass lines, and more with practice routines. Also, there is a nice cd included. The book includes all the tunes on the cd with her solos transcribed. If I had this book 20 years ago I would have saved myself a lot of time trying to put it all together.

Is this available online?

Ever tried recording what you play or practice? I may sound like a broken record here but the mikes don't lie. What they record is what you and everyone HEARS and if it doesn't sound right to you it probably doesn't to us and then you can really work on what is needed to make the music flow. This includes recording your practicing. Scales are the foundation of music, what kind house you want to build will depend on your dedication to learning and mastering the scales. I started to use jam cds and records to hone on specific tunes that I had trouble on years ago and I had the most success when I realized that instead of relaxing I was tightening up. The same problems would always pop up so in certain songs I played them over and over maybe hundreds of times to really feel and understand the tune, but most importantly be really relax and become familiar with the changes. Riffs and licks are in everyone bag of tricks but you do not want to become a RIFF master you want to play music. Riffs and licks are just another part of the whole. I believe John Cintron made one of the best suggestions put on a concert and perform what your practicing. It seems that a little closure CAN BRING A FREEDOM in your playing and you can move on to other challenges. Grab your relatives, neighbors or friends invite them over and play away recording your performance good or bad you can asses it later and make changes. Just remember to enjoy to performance part and take up the critical part later.

Grunt,
Yes it is available online. Go to http://planetmullins.com/book.htm and scroll down to Blues Step by Step.

Hi, Black Coffee.

I saw Teddy Wilson playing at York Uni. way back in about 1970 or earlier. I bought one of his LP's

If you listen to enough blues piano you will remember the theme that is basic to the blues.

The old guys like Jay McShane and even Dave Brubeck have recorded blues. Some female pianists too. Also the vocalists can be inspiring. I can get right into the blues theme and it just flows with phrasing and repeats of the final few bars which leads you back to another start and the theme. Sorry not to be more technical but it works for me.

The blues are very much a jazz thing but I believe they must conform with the original basics to be called blues. Take St Louis Blues as a base for example.

I have mentioned this before but Clint Eastwood did a long program TV film, all about the blues with many artists of all flavours. From Ray Charles to Dave Brubeck. And Oscar and Art Tatum too super inspirations.

It might be available somewhere.

Alan