3 essential jazz tools

3 Essential Improvisation Tools that You Need to Know

By

Eric

Chords, How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Language, Jazz Standards, Playing Techniques, Scales, Transcribing

Imagine that you’re a construction worker. You’ve just pulled yourself out of bed at 4 a.m. and slipped on your steel-toed boots. As you stretch your tired legs you let out a sigh as another long day looms on the horizon. No worries, nothing you can’t do after a strong cup of coffee. You arrive …

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visualizing music progress

Visualizing Musical Progress

By

Eric

Visualization

Visualization can be a very powerful tool when it comes to achieving your goals. Everyone from professional athletes to ballet dancers have used this simple, but effective technique throughout training and competition to reach their peak level of performance. The simple task of mentally preparing for challenges and envisioning success can transform and drastically improve …

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using permutation in music

Using Permutation to Create Unlimited Musical Ideas…and Killer Technique

By

Eric

Composition, Jazz Advice and Tips, Playing Techniques, Rhythm, Scales

Time and again, we’ve stressed on this site that scales are not the secret to jazz improvisation. However, scales can be beneficial if you practice and apply them in the right way. Once you aurally understand and ingrain the vital aspects of the jazz language (i.e. phrasing, melodic construction, expression, harmonic application, time, articulation, etc.) …

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coltrane articulation techniques

The Beginner’s Guide to Jazz Articulation: Coltrane Techniques Demystified (Premium)

By

Forrest

Playing Techniques, Premium Only, Rhythm

It’s the subtleties of articulation that make melodies come alive. But, being so subtle, articulation is one of those concepts that’s difficult to grasp, or for that matter, even teach. And it’s personal. Nearly every player has their own distinct method of articulating, which yields a different result. With all this ambiguity, how can we …

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