Time: 1.5 hours

Material:

• Gymnastics
• Three-octave Maj6 arpeggio from The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium by Scott McGill (using a metronome)
• Wolfhart #5
• Bona #82 and #83 (up one octave)
• Open voiced Major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor triads on string groups 124, 235, and 346 – all in ‘C’.
• Harmonic Gypsy Minor scale, every string every finger exercise (e.s.e.f.)
• Bebop lines from David Baker’s Bebop Volume 1
• “It Don’t Mean a Thing” chord melody arrangement by Howard Morgen
• Modus Novus
• Improvisation over ii-V-I in Ab.
• Comping over All the Things You Are

Comments: Today was MUCH better than yesterday’s session. There is definitely something to be said for not only practicing in general, but also practicing in the right order! I think I’m going to stick with this routine order as well; the Modus Novus sight singing is a nice break in the routine, which gives my fingers a quick rest and also breaks up the session nicely.

The ii-V-I is feeling good. Been targeting b9 triads over the V7 a lot lately, and the lines are starting to come together well.

The comping for ATTYA came out by accident. I just started playing the chords and before I knew it I was working out some inner-voice lines and alterations/extensions. I videotaped what I came up with to see if I can get back to it later and flesh it out a bit more.

Overall, I’m very pleased. These are the kind of practice sessions I should have on a regular basis.