Writing licks?

vince

Hi All,

I have a simple (maybe silly) question — do you guys write licks and phrases down? I try to learn a lot by ear/transcribing but I feel like I forget to practice some during my routine. I'm curious: are you guys religious about recording every lick you play?

Vince

Jim Kaznosky

I'm curious about this, as well. I don't write any down, mainly due to the fact that I'm terrible at reading and writing rhythms.

Frans

If you already can read tab with rhythm notation writing down your own licks this way would be the next step, learn to write the basic quarter/eight/sixteenth note rhythms, if you can already play them writing down shouldn't be difficult
it provides a great rhythm workout and you can create a catalog with licks sorted according to harmonic functions of chords e.g. major 6 as a 1 or IV chord etc etc
One of the side effects is that it also mirrors your specific weakness/strength in certain area's, it might help you to gain a focus on what material you need to develop
If in doubt just keep in mind what it is you want to learn and how you want to achieve this

Frans

Jim Kaznosky

Frans wrote:

If you already can read tab with rhythm notation writing down your own licks this way would be the next step, learn to write the basic quarter/eight/sixteenth note rhythms, if you can already play them writing down shouldn't be difficult
it provides a great rhythm workout and you can create a catalog with licks sorted according to harmonic functions of chords e.g. major 6 as a 1 or IV chord etc etc
One of the side effects is that it also mirrors your specific weakness/strength in certain area's, it might help you to gain a focus on what material you need to develop
If in doubt just keep in mind what it is you want to learn and how you want to achieve this

Frans

This is good advice. Thanks, Frans.

DjangoJim

I do journal my practices by writing down licks. I use a Moleskin journal with staff lines. Not always in stores but usually able to find them. I use tab by adding one more line to the 5 line staff. The main reason I write licks down is because they are easily forgotten. Plus, when I go back and play some older ones again, I find that second review really helps get them into my muscle memory. Very seldom do I merely write someone else's licks. I always reinvent them to fit my own ear and style, thus making them more meaningful for me. That's the point, right?