Pretty interesting. I often practice by playing up the cycle (C G D A E …) but playing down is really much better at helping hear progressions (which tend to move counter clockwise around the cycle in most of the music I listen to). Singing the tones takes some care but it really seems to cut the boredom and you do get to hear the interplay between tones in the scale. Worries the dog tho.
Another similar technique is to drop your fretting hand down to your side and then name a note and position (F 5) and then immediately bring your fretting hand up to somewhere near fret 5 and hit the first F you can think of. A 10, C
#
7, you get the idea. Helps to learn the note names. I do this when I am bored with what I’m doing
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I never realized (until your post) that it helps because it forces you to re-engage and concentrate (rather than auto-piloting your fingers).
Pretty interesting. I often practice by playing up the cycle (C G D A E …) but playing down is really much better at helping hear progressions (which tend to move counter clockwise around the cycle in most of the music I listen to). Singing the tones takes some care but it really seems to cut the boredom and you do get to hear the interplay between tones in the scale. Worries the dog tho.
Another similar technique is to drop your fretting hand down to your side and then name a note and position (F 5) and then immediately bring your fretting hand up to somewhere near fret 5 and hit the first F you can think of. A 10, C # 7, you get the idea. Helps to learn the note names. I do this when I am bored with what I’m doing - I never realized (until your post) that it helps because it forces you to re-engage and concentrate (rather than auto-piloting your fingers).
Thanks for posting this.