If you have the tools to do this, it is a very effective practice routine:
- Circle of Fifths Chart
Scale and Mode Chart
Drum machine or drum looper with the following drum patterns:
8th notes in 4/4 time
16th notes in 4/4 time
8th notes in 4/4 swing time
16th notes in
4/4 swing time
Each time I practice, I pick a time signature and do all my warm up exercises, scale exercise around the circle of fifths and rhythm exercise over one drum loop. I try to use a different drum loop everyday, so I get used to playing to a variety of different drum styles and patterns. I close out each practice session by practicing a song I already know, except I play it according to the rhythm of the drum pattern, kind of like playing "Enter His Gates" with a gogo beat. If you have a hard time visualizing it, imagine taking a song you play at church and playing that same song in a congregation that has the complete opposite worship style of your church.
