LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Need a bit of advice on memorizing

ProAce -- 01/08/2005, 19:33:24 -- #10214

Hello guys, I recently purchased "The Jazz Book", which is indeed a great book. I have been studying the book for the past few days, and come to realize that I can easily grasp and understand the concepts presented in the book. The  problem arises when I try to remember those concepts and have them enter my subconscious (like I read elsewhere on this site). Memorizing, for example, the iim7-V7-Imaj7 passage is already rather difficult for me to do, but trying to memorize them in all 12 keys seems a bit overwhelming. Are there any tips on memorizing these jazz concepts so that it becomes natural and subconcious? Thanks alot.

Jazz+ -- 01/08/2005, 22:51:28 -- #10215

Get the Abersold "ii V I " Volume and play it every night for 6 months. That's what I did and they arenow as easy as speaking English.

CynBad -- 01/09/2005, 00:32:44 -- #10218

Mark's book has two sets of voicings for ii-V-I's (and at two levels, I think, 2-note voicings and then three-note?).   You just need to woodshed these voicings in all 12 keys.  There's no way around it.  Play each voicing set around the circle of 5ths, with total attention.  Soon (okay, not soon) you will have the shapes in your hands.   I would play them with my left hand, and play the chord ROOTS with my right hand, so I could HEAR what was really going on.  Sometimes I'd even cross my right hand over to play the roots in the bass.

MoJazz -- 01/09/2005, 06:42:54 -- #10221

I agree with Jazz+'s recommendation of  Jamey Aebersold's "ii V I " Volume, it's what I used to learn the progressions. I divided the 12 keys into 4 groups - C,F,G ~ D,A,E ~ Db,Ab,Eb ~ B,Bb,Gb. Practice/memorize 1 group per week. Once  you got them memorize and are fairly fluent, then practice the circle of 5ths,circle of 4ths, and chromatically. Another reason to use the Aebersold Volume is the Scale Syllabus that is included with it. It is a system to use a correct or common scale with a particular chord, eg. Super Locrian scale is used with an altered dominant 7th chord. Most importantly, be patience with yourself, you'll get them learned.

Mike -- 01/09/2005, 09:30:22 -- #10224

eat  a lot of spinach

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