This week I'm back in front of the Migrating Birds mural here at 80/20 HQ to do a quick Deep Dive into how I really practice uptempo swing. (That's what this series is turning into, BTW - stepping you through what it actually looks like when I practice.)
I've touched on up-tempo swing elsewhere, and if you haven't checked out "How to (Really) Play Jazz Part 2 - Fast Times", it's a toolbox of idioms that will take your uptempo playing out a rut and open up the door for your expression. Now, a few months down the road, I'm meditating on what a day of swing practice would look like. Among the key concepts:
- How to begin to think of the "big beat" while keeping the microtime tight.
- Two tools to create quick variations on any idea.
- My "secret" for deploying the ride cymbal without needing Tony-Williams-esque chops.
Want to go Deeper? If you haven't yet checked out the 80/20 Roadmap, it's my comprehensive video series that puts all my favorite "hacks" for getting better in one place. My outlandish claim? I'll revolutionize your playing in 3 months.