Practice routine and chord memorization

[bgalbkatz]

Hey peeps!
I would love to know how does your daily practice routine look like(warm-up, arpeggios, chords, learning new songs, etc)


I recently got the "Play by ear vol.2" by Jamal Hartwell, as I am coming from a jazzy background and am familiar with the number system, 7th chords etc.(so I skipped vol.1)
He teaches specific chord voicings and I've been wondering how do you guys go about memorizing new chords? I'm used to arpeggiating chords but with these phat ones it's not always possible.

Thank you!

[T-Block]

My daily practice routine for a long time consisted of:

1) Major scales: one hand each, then both together, at least 2 octaves
2) Basic chords (maj., min., dim./dim7, aug.): in every key and inversion, one hand each, then both together
3) Pick a couple of progressions, play them in every key
4) Pick a song (working on or learned) and learn/play it in every key

When I encounter new chords, I first learn where they are used in the song/progression. Next, I learn the name of the chords (the notes that make it up). After that, I memorize the shape of the chord. Finally, I try to learn it in other keys so I don't forget it.

That's my usual process.

[Casioman]

I recently got the "Play by ear vol.2" by Jamal Hartwell, as I am coming from a jazzy background and am familiar with the number system, 7th chords etc.(so I skipped vol.1)
He teaches specific chord voicings and I've been wondering how do you guys go about memorizing new chords? I'm used to arpeggiating chords but with these phat ones it's not always possible.

Thank you!

I simply practice 1 key per day around the circle of fifths, adding new chords or progressions on my way round.
Jamals "No more transpose" download contains the pdf files of the chords and progressions in every key for easy reference.

[Energygod]

I was wondering where is the scale chart located on this site.

For instance:
major chords: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
minor chords: 1,b3,4,5,b7

and the rest of the scales   

[T-Block]

I was wondering where is the scale chart located on this site.

For instance:
major chords: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
minor chords: 1,b3,4,5,b7

and the rest of the scales

Here is a scales chart that I put together a while back:

Scales Chart: http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,55378.0.html

[Energygod]

  :)THANK YOU T- Block

[smartben10]

THANKS T

[PianoClubhouse]

SCALES
A way to break the monotony of practicing scales is to do them

- one octave @ quarter notes
- two octaves @ eighth notes
- three octaves @ triplets
- four octaves @ sixteenth notes


doing this in all 12 keys moving in a circle of 5ths. Also, be sure you research and find the correct fingering for each scale.

HANON
Hanon exercises are an awesome way to build strength and endurance to your hands. Memorize a few of those and do them daily!

ARPEGGIOS
Doing multiple octave arpeggios will help your dexterity and speed. Start in "C" and do the major triad (at least two octaves). Then add the 7th. Then diminished.

With all of these exercises, ideally you want to work your way up to doing both hands together. But there's NOTHING wrong with doing them hands alone. and there NOTHING wrong with doing them slow.

[bgalbkatz]

Thank ya'll for the many different answers!
Especially @T-Block & @Casioman for you have shared your practice routines.

To be more specific, I'm looking for an efficient way to practice Jamal Harwell's chords. Is the only possible way to just play them in songs?
Do you guys play them chromatically? other-step jumps?
As some of them are really complex, I don't see an elegant way to arpeggiate them(it would look more like arpeggiating scales most of the time), and they are also quite specific voicing-wise.

As I can figure the names and the function of these chords most of the time, it's harder for me to get myself to instinctively play these chords quickly.

[bgalbkatz]

bump?

[JemaineC]

Hey bgalbkatz

I'm not sure which DVD of Jamal you are refering to...Im assuming its the Urban Xtreme DVD. I purchased it a long time ago and ,y approach to learning Jamal's chords was to play them in a progresion or movement. Once I nail the key which he shows that in, I try and play it all 12 keys, so whenever there's a song that has that specific chord progression, I am able to substitude it with the stuff I learned from him.

The only two movements I practiced chromatically was his tritone demonstration and the Ditones.

But even after that, I'd still play the Ditones and tritones in a chord progression and practice those in all 12 keys

[JemaineC]

Sorry...my bad. I see that you actually did mention which DVD you got.

[patrichvibez]

Hi everyone, am new in here.