Hey, I know what you are talking about. I learn the chords as called out or listed, but then when I get into a playing situation, I end up playing the chords that I always use. I know what they are going to sound like in any key or with most of the songs that I tend to play. I have to get so familiar whith the new "lush" chord that I know exactly how it will sound so that I can place it in my music. First, in most cases, I would have to be playing something compatible with the learned chord; contemporary, etc.
I learn the new chords if they are a complete song and, I can play that song in that key. Somehow, unlike the chords that I use most of the time, I can't just sit down and start playing a song in any key just using the lush chords that I know. I wish I could. And since I don't use them as much, I tend to forget then, and when I want to play the songs that I did learn, I have to really go over them. It is helpful to know which contemporary chord has a tendency to follow another, and I suspect that very extensive practice with these chords would lead to a better ability to use them.
My experience has taught me that it is better to use one(1) learning tool such as Hartwell, Jermaine, etc. and stay with that one until all available is fully learned rather than skipping from course to course. And when learning a lick or song from the internet, to learn the lick or song so that you can play it in your sleep before starting on another.
Enjoy the Motif
berbie
