Piano day (2h)

  • Improv + scale studies
    • 2-octave Phrygian scales in all keys
      • With both hands
      • In harmonic thirds in RH + roots in LH
      • In harmonic thirds + 1-5 shells in LH
    • Applying Phrygian scales to minor chords (around the cycle of 4ths)
  • Voicings
    • Chromatic side-slipping (moving all chord tones one semitone above or below and back to add tension) — Lesson 8 from “Improvisation for Keyboard Players”
  • Left hand + technique / speed
    • Intervallic patterns
      • 1-5-10 (m & M)
      • 1-5-4
  • Interpreting pop tunes
    • Damon Albarn — Hostiles (verse)
      • Intervallic patterns (10ths)
      • Inversions
      • Voice leading (switching shells in RH)

Bass day (1h 30m)

  • Scales studies
    • Linking shapes (Scott exercise)
      • All Aeolian scales in V position
      • All Ionian scales in I position (recap)
    • Minor blues scale permutations
    • Scale dissection
      • Minor blues: R, b7 (above & below), b3, 4
      • Major blues: R, 2, 6 (above & below), 5
      • Lydian pentatonic: R, #4
    • Applying scale tones over I — VI7 — ii — V7 in all keys
  • Reading melodies
    • Afro Blue (from Real Book in bass clef)
    • Hrabe etude #4 (in Bb)

Observations

New exercise! I try to test different approaches to scale fluency, and this time I decided to take the scales that I’m currently actively working on on piano and focus on particular degrees, playing them above as well as below the root. In my opinion, it should really help to achieve fluency in any given scale regardless of the position on the fretboard where you happen to be when you need to apply it. It is especially cool with pentatonics, because their nature kind of encourages you to use pattens and it’s very easy to get caught in the box shapes slavery. I’m using Phil Mann’s permutation approach to twist the scale like a want and also Todd Johnson’s “above / below” trick. Also trying to sync my bass and piano routines to make practice overall more productive. How am I doing, Mr. Devine? Am I organised enough? :lol:

Piano day (2h)

  • Improv + scale studies
    • 2-octave Dorian scales in all keys with both hands
    • Same in harmonic thirds in RH + 5ths in LH
    • Harmonic thirds in RH + 1-5-10 in LH
    • Applying Dorian scales (also in thirds) over chromatic progression of m7 shells (3-7-9) — lesson 13 from Dan Haerle’s “Jazz Improvisation for Keyboard Players”
      • Emphasis on accidentals of each key
  • Left hand + technique / speed
    • m7 & maj7 arpeggios around the cycle of 4ths
    • Intervallic patterns
      • 1-5-10 (m & M)
      • 1-5-(8va)-1-3-5-7-(8va)-1
  • Interpreting pop tunes
    • Katy Perry — Lost (first couple of lines)
      • Block chords
      • Shells
      • Intervallic patterns

Bass day (1h 45m)

  • Scale studies
    • Linking shapes (Scott exercise)
      • All Dorian scales in I position
      • All Ionian scales in I position
    • Minor blues scale permutations + shapes in all keys
    • Same for major blues and Lydian pentatonic
    • Apply to Imaj7 — VI7 — ii — V7 (Lydian pentatonic over maj7, major blues over dominant and minor blues over m7)
  • Quick pick practice
  • Reading melodies
    • A Night In Tunisia (recap)