Practice common patterns in all keys

Regardless of what style of music you’re learning there will be common patterns. In jazz that means the ii – V – I and in blues that means the 12 bar blues. In pop music that might be I – V – vi – I.

Whatever the pattern is, after you learn it in one key, practice it in all keys. I like to practice everything in all 15 keys. I include Gb, Cb, C#, and F# in that group, which comes out to be 15 keys. There are only 12 tones being used, but because three of them have two names, that totals 15 keys.

Learn the pattern in all of those keys. If you’re unfamiliar with the notes in each of those keys it can help to say the notes aloud as you play them.

The first time you do this, this might take a solid amount of time. But eventually after having done this a few times it’ll be quick. You’ll be able to think it all of those keys fairly easily and shift whatever you’re playing around.

ISJ