Studying with George Garzone was always extremely inspiring and challenging. One seemingly simple assignment he gave me when I studied with him at Berklee in the 80’s was to play random intervals or random notes.
The challenge was to actually play in “random” fashion since your mind can’t really reproduce an actual random string of notes. I did however try my best and ended up spending 100’s of hours obsessed with the concept and enamored by the interesting and surprising lines and shapes it helped me to discover.
Now, many years later, I’ve used the random or shuffle mode on my media player to practice this concept using a method that is closer to truly random.
You can download the mp3s of each called interval (i.e. “down a major 3rd, up a tri tone”) and put them on shuffle mode in your media player or use the audio mp3s below which are already randomized.
You will find that you may go out of the range of your instrument in which case you can wait for a different interval or up or down and octave or two.
Also, at first you may not be able to think fast enough to get the right interval that is called. If so, just find the note that corresponds to the last interval you heard, let a few intervals pass, and then pick it back up when you can. You’ll get better and better at it with a little practice.
This will help develop your ear and help break down bad muscle memory habits. At the same time you’ll be developing creativity, your analytical mind and your general command of intervalic hearing, playing and thinking.
For a fun variation try this over a drone or drum and bass play along or with a group.
~Enjoy!
or use the pre randomized tracks below:
Random Intervals 1 Slow (pick a starting note and play along, if the intervals take you too low or too high just introduce and octave or two)
Random Intervals 2 Slow (pick a starting note and play along, if the intervals take you too low or too high just introduce and octave or two)
Random Intervals 1 Fast (if it’s too fast just let a few interals go by as you figure out the one your working with, than continue)
Random Intervals 1 Fast (if it’s too fast just let a few interals go by as you figure out the one your working with, than continue)
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You can download each of the intervals below and shuffle them in your media player app of choice to randomly quiz yourself:
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