Practice Technique

[Jim Saunders]

I am but a just a hobbyist player, but I have found that when my practicing gets boring on a song, I do it in a different key. That gives it a new flavor. Like, My Shoes Keep Walking, do it in E, then G, or A etc. Or Crazy done in C, then drop to A. Makes it fun and teaches me the neck.

I recall when Bobby Bowman was still with us, in our monthly jams he would do Amazing Grace and each player would modulate up to the next key as it passed around the room.

[Ian Rae]

It's good not to get stuck in one key.
You never know when you might need to play in a different one.

[Donny Hinson]

Good idea Jim! Another idea is to play the same song using different strings. Play a whole just using strings 3,4,5, and then play the same song using just strings 5,6,8, or 4,5,6. Many times, it's far more musical to go up and down the neck than it is to play a whole bunch of notes at the same fret. I know some players who brag about being able to play a whole scale or even a whole song at one fret...but I've never really cared for that style of playing.

[Dom Franco]

I like this idea! On steel guitar it is fairly easy to play a song you know well, up or down a few frets, but what really sounds interesting to me is moving the song to a key where using open strings in combination with barred notes makes some cool chords possible and hammer-ons and pull-offs offer some fast licks and moving harmonies...

In the past I have avoided some keys because they would force me up an octave or require "open" chords. Now I would like to try that on purpose and see what new things I can learn.

[Jim Saunders]

Dom, I listened to your playing and vocals and you are really good! I have always been amazed at someone who could sing and accompany him or herself. I think it takes two brains to pull it off. You do it effortlessly.

[Jack Stanton]

When learning a lick I I frequently practice it in the cycle of fourths or the cycle of fifths

[Ian Rae]

That's good on any instrument.
Helps with theory.

[Tony Prior]

good reminder Jim. Practicing across several root keys is a standard routine. Many feel playing root scales or stock phrases in multiple keys is not necessary or a waste time, it is not. It allows us to SEE the fretboard ( or whatever instrument we are playing ) both practically and visually.