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Staff notation is a great way to understand intervals. And for arranging/orchestration -- it's one of the best methods for understand harmony (for instance - I would be lost trying to understand a...

The piano keyboard is definitely a wonderful tool as it allows us to see intervals in a clear way (though I'd argue that the mandolin also allows this). When I was first trying to learn this stuff, I...

There's a wonderful tool for this. The...mandolin! Because of the tuning of the instrument – there is a visual shape to intervals and chord tones. So, you can actually use the instrument to help you...

Why "sigh"?

In terms of memorizing chord progressions of jazz standards – it's helpful to be aware of the "mini progressions" found within these structures. Within most any 8 measures of a standard tune you'll...

Thanks so much! Next session, we'll be dipping our toes into the wonderful world of chord tones. It'll be fun and accessible.

Next session is tonight at 8pm Est. Yay! The topic: Riffs as a soloing device. Fun stuff! If you can't make it live, videos of the sessions will be available. Hope to see some of you there :)

Thanks so much!! The videos from yesterday's session should be up in a few days and you can refer back to them anytime you'd like. Next session on March 19! Looking forward!

The harmonic avalanche is indeed a Grappelli trademark -- so integrated into his style that when another violinist suddenly playing a "harmonic flurry" in the middle of a solo, it so rarely sounds...

I appreciate the words! Come join the fun!

Just wanted to share that I'll be conducting an 8-part jazz improv workshop for players with little or no experience playing jazz or improvising.

While it's primarily for violinists, nearly...

So glad you're enjoying the course! I believe the strings I'm using in that video are from d'addario. They're perfectly agreeable. Though, I'm still mourning the loss of elixir strings which were my...

Thank you. I really do enjoy the amplified sound of the Apitius -- but in the video, I'm just playing it acoustically into a mic.

But which one? "You left" or "You right"?

Hey there,

ICYMI: Yesterday's Mandolin Monday - Apitius Mandolin x 2:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BORYOx3V2Ww

Just wanted to add a slightly different angle.

Whether you're thinking about a chord scale, extended arpeggio, triad, or just a note or two--the goal is the same--to USE that collection of notes...

I second everything Don said! It really is about touch. Though if we're really talking about FREDDIE SOUND specifically (as opposed to the other equally great rhythm guitarists), I suppose an...

The book walks you through various elements that go into a chord melody arrangement, offering ideas about left hand (voicings) and right hand (articulation of those voicings).

The Peghead course...

Let's slide this party away from theoretical debate and head back to the mandolin. Happy playing, everyone!

Hi Perry,

Of course there's no one way to go about learning chord melody. That's part of what's so exciting about it. I appreciate that the steps you listed have been a gateway into the style...

Hi folks,

David Benedict and I did a chord melody deep dive. For anyone interested, the link is posted in the "Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks" forum.

Aaron

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYQZu7izCpE

Beyond the understanding that a voicing does not need to contain all the notes in the chord, I think it's misleading--or at least confusing, to call a voicing "partial" vs. "complete". For instance,...

I'm enjoying reading everyone's individual take on this massive, important, thrilling and endless topic of chord voicings. Just wanted to chime in to quickly give my one and a half cents.

Try not...

Receiving such generous words from my teacher means so much to me! Thank you, Don!