Practice Techniques

Peter P Longo ( intune@juno.com )
Tue, 11 Feb 1997 07:15:23 EST

Andrea Chiodi wrote, in discussing possible good practice tunes,

<start>

The only examples I can imagine now, before to start a real search, are:

Any anatole, in typical keys
Any blues, in typical keys (even rock/guitarisic ones (E,A,..)
Giant steps
Very early
Walts for Dave (Chick Corea)

<end>

What is an anatole?

Andrea also mentions blues, (even rock/guitarist ones (E,A..)

I play relatively comfortably in most keys, E and B being the exception.

(Don't misunderstand. I don't play equally well in all the other keys,
but I can get by).

Reed mentions that the amount of effort required to do this is probably
not worth it.
Well, looking back over all the years I've been playing I would have to
say he is probably right.

However, with all the time I did put into it, E and B still elude me, for
some reason.
I mostly play jazz, pop gigs, (solo, duo, trio, at that so I PICK the key
I like)
and don't run into these very often, but I did get a call from
a friend some time ago to cover a sick keyboard guy in his group for a
gig.

Well most of the stuff they did was based on simple progressions in E!!!
Tough gig. (for me)

Any ideas why a couple of keys can prove so elusive?
I have some theories on this but am curious if others have faced and
overcome this.

Pete.