Keeping time
David...I have noticed when I play to a track I am most of the time off the beat. When I am on the beat, I sound pretty good. For instance, "Little Walter" Artist Study; I have played through the 2nd and 3rd pos choruses along with the 30% slow and the 15% slow versions with harp attempting to get the feel, but, as soon as I attempt to play to the jam track at true tempo my play does not seem to be in time. What are some of the practice techniques I can apply to accomplish better timing; I have a metronome and a Slowdowner application... Any and all tips will be much appreciated...Thx
I find I need more subtle speed adjustments than just 30 and 15%. I use Transcribe (Slow Downer does the same thing) and then move up from 15% to 10%, and then 5% slow. Its amazing how some passages completely avoid me while the rest of the song seems to be fine. But by looping the passage and gradually increasing the speed, it does eventually come around.
Just saying this is what works for me.
Thanks David.......I have a plan!!! I was studying this morning and had one of those moments...ta da!!!! I was working the "Blues for Paul Delay" Tongue block study 5 and when we were going through the chorus form studies at the end of the segment, I realized that during this process my timing was close to perfect, at least passable......I went next to the I, iV, V Transition study and realized with the slowdowner I can loop my jam track, 15% or 30% slow just the same way the track for the transition study to reflect the i chord, iv chord etc...Have to love the process!!! Enjoying the book, "The Practicing Mind"....kind of brings everything right into focus...Thx again....
Fantastic
Playing in time on your own, with the jam track is no doubt a challenge.
Try this...
1) Play to the original (non-jam track) at 30% slow, first chorus, until you feel you have it
2) Put the music softer than normal and play to the same track while recording yourself
3) Listen back and critique your playing.
The MOST important part is if you hear, when listening back, that you're playing slightly after me in some places, that means you're using me as a cue. Look at the music notation and make note with a pencil (by listening) how long you need to hold a particular note before that starting spot/note in question comes... listen and count... then loop that area and practice until you're playing in the correct spot, using me as just a confirmation that YOUR rhythm was correct.
Then do the same thing with the jam track... 30% slow... record yourself... listen back to your recording with the sheet music and check that each note is in the right spot. Use target points in the form to help you stay on track... identify which notes land on the downbeat (foot down) and especially the downbeat of chord change (first beat of a new chord), these are areas that are easiest to hear while playing/listening. You use these as markers so that if you're a little late or early, you notice it and can adjust appropriately for the following phrase.
Once you've done this for each chorus at 30% slow... move to 15%... then full tempo. Recording is the key. This takes time (pun intended ;-)... so just enjoy the discover process and try to not get too disheartened... this is what I spend most of my lesson time on with students of your skill level.