ii V progression made easy

Two Five Progressions Made Easy

By

Forrest

Chords, Jazz Language, Transcribing

The ii V progression makes up the vast majority of chord changes within the jazz standard repertoire. Much of our success or failure as improvisors comes from being able to navigate this deceptively simple progression. Learning how to play over ii Vs is actually much easier than you think. The mistake most people make is …

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looking for nuance

The Lost Art of Looking for Nuance

By

Eric

Perspectives, Transcribing

Let’s face it. As improvising musicians, we’ve become obsessed with notes. Obsessed with harmony, chords, and scales. Which scales to use over which chord progressions, which diminished scales to play over dominant chords, how to play “outside,” how to play “inside,” which chords can be substituted for others…We even reduce entire sounds, full of infinite …

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new rhythms in your playing

Integrating New Rhythms Into Your Playing

By

Forrest

Rhythm, Transcribing

Rhythm is often thrown to the wayside, in favor of working on harmony and melody. Perhaps this disregard is caused by a lack of understanding about how to approach this aspect of improvisation. Here’s a simple and effective process to find and incorporate new rhythms into your playing. Step 1: Choose a chorus You’ll need …

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transcribing jazz for technique

Transcribing for Technique: Improving Musicianship Through Transcription

By

Eric

How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Transcribing

After hours spent practicing technique: endless articulation, tone, range, and fingering exercises, are you still not matching up to what you’re hearing on your favorite records? Are those same étude books and exercises you’ve been working on for years still not cutting it? It can be very discouraging when you don’t see any improvement in …

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singing for the jazz musician

3 Reasons Why You Should Sing Everyday

By

Eric

Composition, Ear Training, Transcribing

Have you ever wondered why great pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers often sing along as they improvise? Ever noticed how many of the best horn players also happen to be great singers? Great musicians all over, seem to have developed the ability to sing somewhere along the way, whether they’ve had formal training or not. …

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