• Jazz Theory: History of Jazz Harmony

    Rating: 

    Harmony and Jazz TheoryMusic scholars view jazz as a style of Western Art Music (read classical music--classical, however, is really the style of a given a period). All jazz harmony comes from that tradition, while the rhythms come from Africa. The vast bulk of the jazz repertoire employs European harmonic progressions and forms.Read more…
  • Jazz: Miles Davis and Modality

    Rating: 

    To learn what Miles Davis thought of his music from his modal period (circa 1958-63), the best source is Davis' autobiography, Miles: The Autobiography, in which he states that he was prompted into this style of improvising on fewer chords by Gil Evans' arrangements of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. He also states that George Russell recommended pianist Bill Evans (no relation) to Davis around the same time period (1958) for his LP Kind of Blue on the strength of Evans' knowledge of the music of French Impressionist composers Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Davis subsequently became infatuated with Revel’s Concerto for the Left Hand, and spent roughly the next 13 years incorporating the latter composer's devices from that particular piece into a distinctive Davis style of what some historians (Winthrop Sargeant, for example) termed Impressionist Jazz: unresolved melodic tensions, quartal harmony, non-functional chord successions (as opposed to progressions), extended pedal points, bi-tonality, and other salient early Twentieth century characteristics.Read more…
  • Jazz History: "Pre-Jazz"

    Rating: 

    Jazz as a style didn't come into its own until around 1920. Before that there were such prejazz forms as band and piano ragtime, jug bands, banjo groups, country blues, European marching bands and pop songs, street calls, and African percussion music. Good examples of this early American music can be heard on the Smithsonian Folk Collection.Read more…
  • Jazz as Public Speaking

    Rating: 

    I view an extemporaneous art form such as jazz as public speaking: They are exactly the same.When you listen to different speakers, you will notice that there are different types: Some are eloquent speakers who use big words and slick phrases, but don’t say anything or are not honest; some use big words and slick phrases and are honest; some have less vocabulary, but are deep and honest; some just repeat stock phrases or licks of others; some performers have the intention of making some sort of demonstration or presentation, showing everyone how much technique they have, or how clever and original they are; some improvise their statements from a large reservoir of ideas, while some memorize their solos, and so on.How you come off in performance has much to do with your intentions and your honesty.Read more…
  • Jazz as a Language: What the Improviser Does

    Rating: 

    Jazz is a language. Its practitioners are public speakers. Think of what happens when one learns to speak English, Korean or Japanese, for example.Read more…
  • Jazz Theory: Overemphasis on Original Versions in Jazz

    Rating: 

    While it is obvious that the original recording of a jazz composer’s composition is the urtext (ultimate source), it should only be the starting point in learning and preparing to perform it. Traditionally, jazz has valued one’s personal style above all other qualities. If overdone, the process of learning from the original version can easily be abused to the extent where one loses—or fails to evolve--a personal voice in the process.Read more…
  • Acoustic Vs. Electric Guitars: Which Guitar Is The Best To Start Learning With?

    Rating: 

    One of the most common questions I get from new guitarists is, "should I begin on the acoustic or electric?" To be honest, there really is no right or wrong answer. But let's look at some of the differences to help us decide.Read more…
  • 10 Tips for Succesful Production of Dance Music

    Rating: 

    1. Get the right monitoring.For dance, bigger monitors = better monitors. Bigger recording room = better room.Read more…
  • Ipod, You Ultimate Music Player

    Rating: 

    Ipods are the hottest things in the market today. We can see that the general public is not aware of all capabilities of this player. Some may even think of an ipods as a very technical gadget.Read more…
  • What is a CD-R and How Does it Differ From a CD?

    Rating: 

    We all know what a CD is, we use it to play music in our cars and home stereos. By definition it is an optical disc used to store digital data, usually 80 or 120mm in diameter. It was introduced in 1982 and is now the standard playback format for commercial audio recordings.Read more…
  • DIY Music Video – Do It Yourself!

    Rating: 

    With the falling price of digital video cameras and the rise of PC video editing software, producing your own music video is definitely something most every musician can afford to do these days. All you need is a DV (Digital Video) camera, DV tapes, a location to shoot at, a PC, editing software (ala Adobe Premiere), and well, a band! Here’s some info and tips regarding the important pieces of equipment you’ll need.Read more…
  • Playing Guitar is Quite Easy

    Rating: 

    If you have a passion for music and you have got all the instruments with you such as the guitar or piano but don’t how to initialize then here are certain tips that shall help you in learning your new skill.First of all , you need to have on hand, is a guitar and then hold it on your lap with your left hand holding the neck and the right hand draped over the body of the guitar. We are going to use a six string guitar and play it with the right hand.Read more…
  • Ten Commandments for Good Music Practice

    Rating: 

    Reports are surfacing about a recent archeological discovery in the Middle East involving a heretofore unknown second ten commandments. The passage evidently immediately follows the reciting of the Commandments in the fifth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy.The discovered text reportedly reads as follows:And after Moses had presented the tablets with the commandments of the Lord to the Hebrew children he reached into his back pocket and pulled out two more tablets of stone.Read more…
  • Taking My First Banjo Lesson

    Rating: 

    My first banjo lesson didn't go so well, actually it was a nightmare. Well, I suppose it wasn't technically my first banjo lesson. Actually, I had been taking online banjo lessons for a good while, and honestly thought that I knew what I was doing.Read more…
  • Tips For Beginner Guitar Lessons

    Rating: 

    Does this sound familiar? A guitar case lying around in your house doing nothing but gather dust. Chances are that despite your best intentions, you have one and probably never learned how to play, or started taking beginner guitar lessons and soon lost your enthusiasm, or something else got in the way.Read more…
  • Grab Those Bon Jovi Concert Tickets

    Rating: 

    I have always been a big you rock and roll fan. Entering my late 20s, and not yet married (ladies, that means I'm available), it's obvious that I know what it takes a party and I mean party well. So when I go to a rock and roll show, they should reserve tickets for me, without a doubt.Read more…
  • Learning Classical Guitar Music

    Rating: 

    What is your level of understanding about classical guitar music? Don't know much about it? Well, you can always learn.Read more…
  • The Lives of Classical Musicians

    Rating: 

    Believe it or not, it is surprisingly easy to find classical musicians. It seems like it must be a tough life for all of these incredibly talented individuals. They train their entire lives to pursue an art, and they have a lots of competition for relatively few jobs.Read more…
  • Knowing Your Guitar Lesson 1

    Rating: 

    As a budding guitarist it is important that you learn every facet of your new chosen hobby and the most important 1st step is almost always overlooked. You must know the parts of your guitar you will need to be very familiar with the different names given to the parts of your guitar.Although there are many different types of guitars (acoustic, classical and electric etc) they have many things in common.Read more…
  • Flamenco,The Heart and Soul of Andalucia

    Rating: 

    Flamenco, more commonly termed Sevilliana in Andalucia where it originated, is a Spanish art form par excellence.It incorporates three levels of expression, cante, the song, baile, the dance and guitarra, guitar playing. The gypsies of Spain lay claim to its' creation and certainly they did, and still do, play an important part but it is easy to see other influences as well.Read more…

Most Recent Articles in Music category