Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month July 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge.

I've been playing the same Phrase everyday for a month, but fitting the Phrase into all of the songs I know.

Using this method the Phrase has stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the Phrase each day. (Excessively)

I'm starting my latest Phrase for July 2025. Shown below:


I play the Phrase over different chord types and transpose the Phrase into different keys.
Examples shown below:


(If you'd like to participate, choose your Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)

[Mick-7]

Guy, I don't think a study group for one specific practice is necessary, you mentioned it in this improvisation thread I started:
Approaches to Improvisation

I think it would be better for those who want to pursue this to post their replies there.

[GuyBoden]

I like the sound of the July Phrase over a Dom chord, but used like this:


(Mick: No problem, I'll be posting one phrase every month here.)

[John A.]

I've been playing the same phrase every day for 45 years. I'm still trying to figure out how play something different.

[GuyBoden]

I've been playing the same phrase every day for 45 years. I'm still trying to figure out how play something different.

Maybe, this could be the ideal thread for you:

[John A.]

Maybe, this could be the ideal thread for you:

.

I don't think I'd get much out of that much repetition of one thing.

[Mick-7]

.I don't think I'd get much out of that much repetition of one thing.

A specific phrase, no, but I could spend a lot of time using a specific scale for a chord progression, e.g., a pentatonic or a hexatonic scale. They're only 5-6 notes so very manageable.

Pentatonic Scales - Slonimsky Curiosities

Hexatonic Scales - Slonimsky Curiosities

[GuyBoden]

I've been using a variation of the "Phrase of the Month - July 2025" over a V-I progression.

This sounds good to my ears, the Phrase starts with a sax like ascending 5 note chromatic slur.

The rhythm of the original Phrase has been moved forward by a 8th note, a pickup and resolution have also been added.

The variations of the original Phrase are endless, only being restricted by my imagination and what I think sounds good.

[GuyBoden]

The example below is how I seem to be using my July "Phrase of the Month" in songs the most.

[Jimmy blue note]

I had a great idea to play "Solo of the month" where I'd plan out a perfect solo and REALLY work on it until it was good enough to play on the gig. But Dang It! Every time I play it, especially on the bandstand, it's DIFFERENT!!

I guess I'll work on this until the day I die.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Aug 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge. Play the phrase repeatedly everyday for a month in different keys.


Using this method the phrases have stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the phrase each day. (Excessively)


My Phrase for Aug 2025 is shown below:



(If you'd like to participate, choose your own Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)

[Bob_Ross]

Slightly Germane: I have a "gig" at the end of the month, performing at my neice's wedding along with her Dad (drums), two other uncles (bass & piano), and cousin (vocals). The Dad and the two uncles and I last played together 30-something years ago, at my sister's wedding.

We're only playing three songs, two of which are pretty straightforward contemporary pop-rock (one of which is literally four cowboy chords over and over and over ad infinitum). But the third tune is "Fly Me To The Moon" and we're doing it faithfully to the Frank Sinatra/Count Basie version, with guitar covering all the horn parts (Quincy Jones arrangement), including the instrumental soli.

No rehearsal, one shot at getting it right, and I want to not screw it up 'cuz it's my neice's wedding.

So, yeah, I've been playing through that part every day for over a month now. Hopefully by the time August 30th rolls around it'll be so deeply ingrained I'll be able to play it in my sleep. Or drunk. (It is a wedding, after all.)



...watch, I'll probably nail "Fly Me To The Moon" but then eff up the four cowboy chord tune.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Sept 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge. Play the phrase repeatedly everyday for a month in different keys.


Using this method the phrases have stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the phrase each day. (Excessively)


My Phrase for Sept 2025 is shown below:



(If you'd like to participate, choose your own Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)

[joebloggs13]

I would, except that I can't read music...only tab.

[Ascend to Victory]

Slightly Germane: I have a "gig" at the end of the month, performing at my neice's wedding along with her Dad (drums), two other uncles (bass & piano), and cousin (vocals). The Dad and the two uncles and I last played together 30-something years ago, at my sister's wedding.

We're only playing three songs, two of which are pretty straightforward contemporary pop-rock (one of which is literally four cowboy chords over and over and over ad infinitum). But the third tune is "Fly Me To The Moon" and we're doing it faithfully to the Frank Sinatra/Count Basie version, with guitar covering all the horn parts (Quincy Jones arrangement), including the instrumental soli.

No rehearsal, one shot at getting it right, and I want to not screw it up 'cuz it's my neice's wedding.

So, yeah, I've been playing through that part every day for over a month now. Hopefully by the time August 30th rolls around it'll be so deeply ingrained I'll be able to play it in my sleep. Or drunk. (It is a wedding, after all.)



...watch, I'll probably nail "Fly Me To The Moon" but then eff up the four cowboy chord tune.

Did all your practicing pay off?

[Mick-7]

I would, except that I can't read music...only tab.

You could post tablature, some charitable person might even translate it to standard notation for you.

[GuyBoden]

I would, except that I can't read music...only tab.

Phrase of the Month Sept 2025 (with Guitar Tab)

Below is the automatically generated Guitar Tab by MuseScore 3, I don't know anything about using Guitar Tab, I tune in 4ths.

I hope this helps.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Sept 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge.

Below is a great phrase, that's using my 'Phrase for Sept 2025', but targeting the Third of the chord.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Oct 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge. Play the phrase repeatedly everyday for a month in different keys.

Using this method the phrases have stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the phrase each day. (Excessively)


My Phrase for Oct 2025 is a simple Bebop Dom Scale descending with an octave jump to the next note from the 5th, it's shown below:

(If you'd like to participate, choose your own Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Oct 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge. Play the phrase repeatedly everyday for a month in different keys.

Using this method the phrases have stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the phrase each day. (Excessively)


My Phrase for Oct 2025 is a simple Bebop Dom Scale descending with an octave jump to the next note from the 5th, it's shown below:

(If you'd like to participate, choose your own Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)

I'm enjoying playing these types of phrases (below), that are based on the Phrase of the month Oct 2025.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Nov 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge.
(Choose your own fav phrase from a fav recording.)

I've been playing the same Phrase everyday for a month, but fitting the Phrase into all of the songs I know.

Using this method the Phrase has stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the Phrase each day. (Excessively)

I'm starting my latest (Cliché) Phrase for Nov 2025. Shown below:


(If you'd like to participate, choose your own fav phrase from a recording and join the "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge".)

[Mick-7]

You may find you can integrate a phrase into your playing faster if you adapt it to each chord in a progression. It's best if you do this by ear, but initially you may have to plan it out.

Examples:

[wolflen]

You may find you can integrate a phrase into your playing faster if you adapt it to each chord in a progression. It's best if you do this by ear, but initially you may have to plan it out.

Examples:

yes..and expand it further.. dominants in minor thirds..G7 Bb7 Db7 E7 (continue in cycle of fifths back to G7)

some very hip lines can evolve from this kind of stuff

[Question]

Hi Guy,

I understand your frustration of learning something and rarely being able to apply it in the real world.

Many years ago I also tried a similar method without much success. I will not attempt to convince you that another method is better for you, rather just share my experience as another option to consider.

About thirty years ago I started composing lines over specific tunes or short chord sequences and notating them into my practice book. I also notated lines that I transcribed from records as well as Bass-lines (I am also a bassist), and chord ideas built from specific tunes.

This sort of reverses your method of composing a good line and then applying it to various tunes. Of course I also transferred the lines generated from my practice book into other tunes, but for some reason creating the lines on a specific tune made them almost immediately appear in my playing and remain in my ear.
The book that I started in the early 90's is now about 240 pages! I still write regularly in my book and sometimes when reviewing what I have written realize that I have absorbed the lines in an often modified form.

This might sound like a contradiction, but I almost never play the lines exactly as I have written them.
Recently I noticed that there is no difference playing a line that I originally wrote in 4/4 in a 3/4 tune. This is probably due to the fact that my focus is not specifically on the exact line, but rather note choice and the resolution.

I now almost never practice anything out of the context of a song. This seems to greatly help my retention of new material.

Just some food for thought.

[GuyBoden]

Phrase of the month Dec 2025.

Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month challenge.

I've been playing the same Phrase everyday for a month, but fitting the Phrase into all of the songs I know.

Using this method the Phrase has stayed in my musical memory, but only after repeatedly playing the Phrase each day. (Excessively)

My short cliché Bebop end Phrase over a 'C Major tonality' for Dec 2025 is shown below:

I transpose the Phrase over different keys and chord types. I play the phrase over all the songs I know.

This method of remembering phrases is working very well for me, but we all learn in different ways.

(If you'd like to participate, choose your own Phrase and "Play the same Phrase everyday for a Month".)