Trying to improvise with more flats now. Makes me realise when I don't really truly know what chords I'm on. That exercise of doing the arpeggios up and down is a good one. If I can't do that straight, then I can hardly improvise swing.

But I did get over the metronome thing. It's easier when my husband isn't around because he also hates the metronome.

I agree 10, it's the 1st exercise I do - arps up, arps down.
Then arps up, scales down.
Then a brief composition.

Then scales up, scales down.
Then scales up, arps down.
Then a brief composition.

As you said on the g+ session, it's easy to miss out the dominant chord.

Thanks 10, that's a very nice thing to say.
As Knotty said, you're at a difficult stage: going through these 12 major ii V Is for the first time was also very trying for me.

At your rate though, I think you will be overtaking me

>>That exercise of doing the arpeggios up and down is a good one.
I do that all the time on tunes. It's the easiest way to digest changes quickly. Before taking tunes, I'll often run the arps up and down, and also the scales. That gets the harmonies in my head. When you solo afterwards, it makes a lot more sense.

Did I say that? I still do it. I focus on ii and I. Maybe I should listen to myself.

>> Maybe I should listen to myself.

10,
you're sounding great. Don't worry too much about chords and such for now. If you focus on your metronome and leaving nice rests for a few weeks, you'll be in terrific shape to move on to the harder progressions, and then tunes.

Hi
This is an improv from today in Bb maj, the 3 scale progression @ 80bpm.

http://www.box.net/shared/oyb582qy4l2h8sjxhvxp

Hey Knots
I know that you want me to go through these progressions quicker. I spent 6 days learning the Bb maj one rather than my usual 11 days.

And here is my new progression in Eb maj. What do you think of it ? Thanks very much for reviewing.

http://www.box.net/shared/xhgx5vd8t01xq8t8njqi

http://www.box.net/shared/l523qsjtva2r6gg30clv

Cheers
cus

Nice!

Copy that. I've been doing more improvising and also the arpeggios/scales thing (which curiously sounds quite nice) to the metronome. Db is a struggle.

But, it just feels so good to be able to play again!

Cus, that looks and sounds great!
For Ebmaj7
D F G Bb is a cool one also.

Hi Knots
Thanks ! Yeah your D sounds a lot nicer than my C.
I have a feeling this Eb progression will be a very beautiful one to work on, I'm looking forward to it.

Hi 10
Thanks for listening to my Bb improv.

...still plodding along and enjoying listening to the progress everyone is making.

I've uploaded some new stuff: the Blues & Jazz Lines for lessons through 14. I listen to the CD and try to get a handle on Dave's phrasing and articulation. I've also started improv with the solo pattern from lesson #1. I did three versions: 80bpm, 100bpm and 120bpm. They're all first takes with lots of mistakes (and probably some added beats as well).
JOI-Jazz

Hey TF,

It's amazing how much you did!!
The blues tunes are perfect. Also your compositions are really nice. I would still do a few more if you can, they will help you a lot.

your stuff under "other jazz" is also really good. I recognize the snidero stuff. And the Wynton Kelly transcription is really good.

On the improv, I think it's important to do a few things in order.
Would you be willing to follow the steps similar to what Cus and 10 are doing? I think it will make it a lot easier to tackle one thing at a time. In my opinion, you're really on the fast track. Clearly playing a lot (or just really good). You would probably go through the preliminary exercises (what 10 is doing now) fairly fast.

Thanks Knotty.

Sure, but I don't know what they are. I've also seen references to exercise 1, 2 and 3 for example but I don't know what they refer to either. Looking back through the thread all I found was arpeggios up, arpeggios down etc.

Hi Time, You have been busy!

I've just listened to the lesson tunes. Here are just a few comments, though it sounds generally very accurate to me (you get that be bop note, for example), you may find this helpful.

Froggy day, last bar of second last line - you could get that off beat chord neater.
Interestingly, same thing applies to last chord in Precipitation, though as you syncopate the rh, it may be you simply chose to put the lh on the beat, rather than play as written.
Nice little grace notes in Turvy!
End of Love line - here you anticipate the beat at written.

Here's how it's been for me:
1. Do lessons.
2. Once voicings done to lesson 13, start compositions based on chords of the jazz tunes. Keep doing lessons.
3. After 6 compositions, start improvising over ii-V-Is. Keep doing lessons and compositions.

>>3. After 6 compositions, start improvising over ii-V-Is. Keep doing lessons and compositions.
That's it. And there's a lot to that step. When you're ready for it, we can break it down for you.

Hey Time
You're not far off, you've already done 3 compositions. Lesson 3 was a cool title and your repetition in the B section was really nice.
Momma gave you the blues in your blood. You play with a nice swing feel. Great tempo too.
The Wynton Kelly transcription was amazing.

You've obviously done a lot of work. Congrats. I hope you're enjoying the process.

Hi
Here is my latest improv today in Eb maj, the 3 scale progression at 80 bpm.

http://www.box.net/shared/i62gk53epi17ji96054s

Hi Time, I listened to your other work. Clearly you're very capable at this! And it's great to hear your chops. I'm not really in a position to comment, other than to say that when improvising, you are racing your metronome, to the point of swallowing a beat.

How are you getting on with the other things - hanons and singing with solos?

I understand that the method is laid out in a particular way for good reasons. But I also recognise that we all come to this with different starting points, whether that's raw talent or experience. I've felt with elements of my learning curve that certain things (call them left-brain things, if you like) have been held back so the right brain catches up. And whether things are working for me now because of the method or because am have committed to something and believe it will work, I don't know.

Not sure that makes any sense at all.

So, you play guitar too?

Nice! From listening I think I am beginning to recognise that sound I like so much. It's when you add a flat.

Update: My news is I woke up this morning singing 'my foolish heart' and that I managed to fiddle in Db today, for the first time it sounded OK.

Cus,

One more key checked off.
As you move through the keys and you start finding this too easy, you can add a few elements.

Playing long lines is great because
1. it's hot
2. it shows you can navigate the changes

But playing short lines is cool too. You can experiment with a little call / response for example. For the next key maybe.

And then do like 10 and play all 6 keys in a row.

Very nice. ++

cus, perfect.

DF

Thank you Dave, Knotty and 10 for your kind comments.

Yes 10, accidentals are great. When I compose I use them also as approach notes to lead the melody smoothly to the next chord. But I can't carry it off during improv that well.

Hi Knotty
I know that you're really busy with band and gigs but if you have some time this weekend, I'd love if you could tell me whether you like my Ab maj progression or not.

Many thanks
cus

http://www.box.net/shared/ne8aqi4dcxgctdi36km0

http://www.box.net/shared/fz4411omougys6cc0ctt

Cus,
looks good.
On that Dbmaj7, you could even use an Eb instead of the Db if you wanted.

++

Hi Knotty
Thanks a lot for confirming I'm on track, and for the option for Db maj.

Hello !
Here is an Ab maj 3 scale improv.

http://www.box.net/shared/d5qzp7vt42qcnt557ark

Cheers
cus

Hi Knotty
Could you please tell me what you think of my new progression in G ?

http://www.box.net/shared/xpdzzfqcj3euqme1t7rs

http://www.box.net/shared/qy807gxy2154hosn49py

Thanks so much.
cus