Minor chords are found in every style of music, especially in the jazz repertoire. From popular jazz standards and the minor blues, to the ii-V-I progression and the minor vamps that pop up in numerous...Read More
Minor chords are found in every style of music, especially in the jazz repertoire. From popular jazz standards and the minor blues, to the ii-V-I progression and the minor vamps...Read More
When you're frustrated with your playing it's difficult to excel at all. It's difficult to make a coherent musical statement, let alone even listen to yourself. These bouts happen to everyone. The key is to...Read More
When you're frustrated with your playing it's difficult to excel at all. It's difficult to make a coherent musical statement, let alone even listen to yourself. These bouts happen to...Read More
Areader writes: It seems like everyone is taught the standard "off beat" articulation of swing eighth notes, but I feel that swing is really much more complicated. Why is it that some players seem to...Read More
Areader writes: It seems like everyone is taught the standard "off beat" articulation of swing eighth notes, but I feel that swing is really much more complicated. Why is it...Read More
Herbie Hancock is one of the greatest living improvisers. From his work with the great Miles Davis Quintet to his own musical explorations, he has spent decades evolving and pushing musical boundaries. But the thing...Read More
Herbie Hancock is one of the greatest living improvisers. From his work with the great Miles Davis Quintet to his own musical explorations, he has spent decades evolving and pushing...Read More
Why is it so difficult to learn jazz standards even when we have access to so much information about each and every one? We can bring up recordings with a few clicks of mouse via...Read More
Why is it so difficult to learn jazz standards even when we have access to so much information about each and every one? We can bring up recordings with a...Read More
A reader recently wrote us asking about what we think about while we improvise. He writes: "I'm a tenor saxophonist and still pretty new to the whole improvising scene. I was wondering what musicians "think"...Read More
A reader recently wrote us asking about what we think about while we improvise. He writes: "I'm a tenor saxophonist and still pretty new to the whole improvising scene. I...Read More
Figuring out what college to attend and what your major will be is quite a task. Recently we received a question asking specifically about how to choose a music school that is right for you:...Read More
Figuring out what college to attend and what your major will be is quite a task. Recently we received a question asking specifically about how to choose a music school...Read More
There are countless tips for jazz improvisation that you'll want to remember, but these 10 are essential! 1.) Think quality over quantity Often we are in a hurry to 'catch up.' Wherever you are...Read More
There are countless tips for jazz improvisation that you'll want to remember, but these 10 are essential! 1.) Think quality over quantity Often we are in a hurry to...Read More
Half diminished chords are generally overlooked. They are the neglected partner of a V7 chord in a minor two-five, that never gets the attention it deserves. The result: we suck at them. Think about...Read More
Half diminished chords are generally overlooked. They are the neglected partner of a V7 chord in a minor two-five, that never gets the attention it deserves. The result: we...Read More
Being able to quickly hear, sing, and accurately identify intervals is essential to developing your improvisational ear. In this article, we've put together a plan for you to master your intervals in 28 days... ...Read More
Being able to quickly hear, sing, and accurately identify intervals is essential to developing your improvisational ear. In this article, we've put together a plan for you to master your...Read More
I'm always trying to learn new bits of language." - Michael Brecker. There are a lot of things to practice. What is truly vital to practice if you want to get better at improvising? ...Read More
I'm always trying to learn new bits of language." - Michael Brecker. There are a lot of things to practice. What is truly vital to practice if you want to...Read More
Lately I've realized that to get to specific parts of a solo that I've transcribed to memory, I'm quite dependent on the material that comes before them. In other words, I've learned the solo from...Read More
Lately I've realized that to get to specific parts of a solo that I've transcribed to memory, I'm quite dependent on the material that comes before them. In other words,...Read More
The melodic minor scale is a scale that you've probably learned early on in your musical development, but it can take on a whole new life when applied to jazz. This scale is a very...Read More
The melodic minor scale is a scale that you've probably learned early on in your musical development, but it can take on a whole new life when applied to jazz....Read More
A reader recently wrote: "I was reading your "6 mistakes" article and was intrigued by the first rule. I would be more than happy to toss my lousy sixth edition real book, but have some...Read More
A reader recently wrote: "I was reading your "6 mistakes" article and was intrigued by the first rule. I would be more than happy to toss my lousy sixth edition...Read More
The extent to which your aural imagination is developed, largely determines: the quality of lines you play, how you play those lines (articulation, swing feel, inflection), and the sound you play with. Nothing has such...Read More
The extent to which your aural imagination is developed, largely determines: the quality of lines you play, how you play those lines (articulation, swing feel, inflection), and the sound you...Read More
We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into another form of communication and...Read More
We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into...Read More