View Full Version : "Fingering Mastery" and/or Jeff Brent and Schell Barkley
belbein
Jan-18-2013, 8:33am
OK, so I bought this book, and I am totally befuddled. Does anyone know if Messrs. Brent or Barkley frequent this site? I looked up the names and couldn't find them, but maybe my mastery of e-search isn't what it should be.
mandodan1960
Jan-18-2013, 9:15am
http://fingeringmastery.com/links.html#FM
Yeah, I returned mine. The charts are beautiful and fascinating, but there is not enough explanation.
belbein
Jan-18-2013, 9:52am
Yeah, I returned mine. The charts are beautiful and fascinating, but there is not enough explanation.
"enough"? Was there any? I don't find any. I never thought of "return." Hmm.
I just looked at the previews of that book, I am completely confused.
belbein
Jan-18-2013, 10:05am
http://fingeringmastery.com/links.html#FM
I looked at this link, and here's what I found: 97091
Sorry--if y'all can't read that, it says:
The Chromatic Cube is a Unified Field
1. Unified
The Chromatic Cube is a closed system governed by rules which create inherent limiting factors, ie. it is unified, a unity.
2. Field
Three elements must be present to constitute a field: Space, Energy and Matter. No one of these three elements may be absent.
In the chromatic cube, "space" is the Cube itself.
"Space" is the glue that holds things together. Or more accurately, space is the glue that holds things APART.
Space keeps Matter apart, yet still allows the flow of Energy
WTF? I thought I was buying music theory, not . . . new age metaphysics!
I actually spoke to one of the writers. He was a really nice guy.
I think the diagrams are interesting, but they need to work on the text.
belbein
Jan-18-2013, 5:34pm
When did you speak with them? I sent them both e-mails and haven't heard anything.
Can you give me any hints about what the arrows and squares mean? I've been trying to decode it with what I know about music. But either the text is woefully deficient, or my knowledge is. Of course, my knowledge deficiency is why I bought the book in the first place.
Try here: http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/members/dogbite.html
mandocrucian
Jan-18-2013, 7:41pm
The Chromatic Cube is a Unified Field....
Ah yes....., one of the cardinal concepts of Fripperzaphodics
http://roo.emu.id.au/newsatch/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail/artists/Robert_Fripp.jpg http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/blobs/zaphod_beeblebrox_promo.jpg
Robert "Yogi Bob" Fripp collides with Zaphod Beeblebrox
Jeff Brent
Jan-21-2013, 3:03am
You can ask me questions at Lessons@Jeffrey-Brent.com.
P.D. Kirby
Jan-21-2013, 4:44am
I looked at this link, and here's what I found: 97091
Sorry--if y'all can't read that, it says:
The Chromatic Cube is a Unified Field
1. Unified
The Chromatic Cube is a closed system governed by rules which create inherent limiting factors, ie. it is unified, a unity.
2. Field
Three elements must be present to constitute a field: Space, Energy and Matter. No one of these three elements may be absent.
In the chromatic cube, "space" is the Cube itself.
"Space" is the glue that holds things together. Or more accurately, space is the glue that holds things APART.
Space keeps Matter apart, yet still allows the flow of Energy
WTF? I thought I was buying music theory, not . . . new age metaphysics!
If the first book I bought for the Mandolin read like that I would have used the two of them to start a fire. You sure Stephen Hawken didn't ghost write that?
mandocrucian
Jan-21-2013, 8:29am
www.jeff-brent.com/ShardsReligion (http://www.jeff-brent.com/ShardsReligion/shardshome.html)
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~farmeral/blog/drag8.jpg
(Insert suitable Church Lady quotation here)
belbein
Jan-21-2013, 2:29pm
I just wanted to update my post. Jeff Brent was kind enough to respond to my e-mail with an e-mail with some explanations. Thanks, Jeff.
I am not sure if they help or not, but I will post them here when I get a chance, in case anyone else is finding it tough to decode. I'm hoping it will all become obvious.
belbein
Jan-21-2013, 2:32pm
I do find myself wondering if any of this makes an less sense, ultimately, and any religous or political philosophy. I mean, "anyone else's" phiolosophy, since we all think that OURS is completely sensical, and the other guy's isn't.
I think he's trying to say that the mandolin fretboard is just mathematics; if that's true, it stands to reason that it's all decodable if you just work hard enough at it. Or say screw it and just memorize songs.
OldSausage
Jan-21-2013, 3:35pm
Being "no stupider than anything else" is a very low bar.
it's all we have to work with as far as I can tell
stevejay
Jan-21-2013, 5:20pm
The descriptions allude to the physics and mathematics of the scales, and concepts of consonance and dissonance. It's all interesting stuff, and I imagine this could all be a lead in to the study of classical harmony. . It does sound a bit mystical rather than practical, but certainly stands out in the world of instructional material. The writer seems to be an interesting person with a spiritual nature.
belbein
Jan-21-2013, 7:39pm
The descriptions allude to the physics and mathematics of the scales, and concepts of consonance and dissonance. It's all interesting stuff, and I imagine this could all be a lead in to the study of classical harmony. . It does sound a bit mystical rather than practical, but certainly stands out in the world of instructional material. The writer seems to be an interesting person with a spiritual nature.
AND--he responds to his readers. Have to appreciate that for the rare attitude that it is!
As for "being no stupider" being a low bar, OldSausage, you're probably right. But it's a rationalization that gets me through the night. And if it gets you through the night / it's all right.
almeriastrings
Jan-22-2013, 5:58am
If the first book I bought for the Mandolin read like that I would have used the two of them to start a fire. You sure Stephen Hawken didn't ghost write that?
My thoughts, too... sounds more like a practical guide to constructing your own Warp drive than a mandolin book...
I would love to see what Mr Monroe's reaction would have been if someone had read that out to him.
http://fingeringmastery.com/links.html#FM
These charts look scary. I think i have enough material to learn from, in fact I'm sure we all do...what i really need is someone to give me my time back so I can dedicate the proper time to my music. Practice, practice, practice.