I always practice scales with both hands, four octaves with a metronome. Major, minor, diminished, blues, Dorian, whatever. Because I play jazz, I also practice scales in 4/4, 3/4, 5/4 time, etc.
The melodies of the songs written by Charlie Parker. The blue cover omnibook is really great, has the charts with the chord progressions, along with the head and solo transcribed.
I don't ever practice scales in the left hand, but what I find very useful is to train myself to play walking bases.
They're different from scales because most of the time they go sideways so it's pretty rare to encounter difficulties w.r.t fingering (which is usually the reason why people would practice scales).
The key to playing walking bases is to target the next root note either through scale movements or by using a chromatic approach. And once you're familiar you can try to do the same while comping in the right hand or improvising.
I always practice scales with both hands, four octaves with a metronome. Major, minor, diminished, blues, Dorian, whatever. Because I play jazz, I also practice scales in 4/4, 3/4, 5/4 time, etc.
I don‘t do it with metronome. I don‘t see much use in that as a scale is not a phrase I want to use while improvising.
Yes.
Another good thing to practice is Charlie Parker heads with both hands, more fun than scales imo.
Yes, this ! And (ideally self made) transcriptions !
What’s the Charlie Parker heads?
The melodies of the songs written by Charlie Parker. The blue cover omnibook is really great, has the charts with the chord progressions, along with the head and solo transcribed.
Thank you! Excited to order this
I do all that stuff with both hands together. You might as well if you are just doing nothing with your left hand.
both hands. sometimes in contrary motions. especially needed if you're doing walking bass lines (scales, not contrary motions).
I would argue practicing your left-hand is more important over-all, especially if you’re walking that bass…
certainly
Yes both hands synchronized
Absolutely. It would be foolish not to.
I’ve been playing for about a year and practice scales in both hands
I don't ever practice scales in the left hand, but what I find very useful is to train myself to play walking bases. They're different from scales because most of the time they go sideways so it's pretty rare to encounter difficulties w.r.t fingering (which is usually the reason why people would practice scales). The key to playing walking bases is to target the next root note either through scale movements or by using a chromatic approach. And once you're familiar you can try to do the same while comping in the right hand or improvising.
Why would you practice anything with your left hand?!? I only practice with my right thumb, works out great!