I'm currently trying to learn the Duke's classic "In A Sentimental Mood" on Stick right now (talent show try outs are next Tuesday... ) and man is it hard. It seems like these notes come out of thin air. I'm having a really hard time memorizing it.

Any idea on playing the chord/arpeggio part with the left hand? This is what I'm doing, but I think there could be a better way:

I have no idea how I can help, but I find it surreal the concept of 'I want to learn this difficult thing for next tuesday'! Most simple stuff that I learn takes about 5 months to get into my fingers and memorised.

I guess that either you are a stick genius or I am a stick retard.
I would prefer people to not speculate on a specific opinion for that conjecture!

For this tune, the most important is to have the right bass progression that you already have. You're on D minor all the way long for this two first measures, but there's a strong bass movement very important for the "sentimental" feeling of the tune.
I already play this tune and I don't choose the same notes on the high bass register. Maybe you should try to play on the left hand a more opened voicing with 7th/6th. Try to play for the two first measures :
- D (bass) plus F and C
- Db (bass) plus F and C
- C (bass) plus D and A
- B (bass) plus D and A

For me, there is a nice movement, having a bass movement changing twice faster than the upper register of the chord for the left hand who remains the same the whole first measure and then changing and remaining the same for the whole second measure (is it understanble...? I don't think...)

Moreover, the fingering I play is easier than yours

Nice, i'll try it when I get home.

And Twizzle, I don't have to do it, I just thought if by some miracle I pull it off, then hey!

Not too familiar with tune* but I don't see how the pattern is difficult to memorise...so much repetition there (with a fingering shift or two). Care to expand?

*uh-oh, the jazz police are coming.

Okay, the jazz police have been round...

How about:



or



or even play the melody in the LH mid-bass and the arpeggios on the RH melody strings?!?

Okay, I'll shut up now and wait for a certified jazz cat to turn up