Here's a song by Billy Strayhorn that I've always loved and never fully analyzed until writing The Jazz Standards Progressions Book. I've been fascinated by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn compositions since the first time I heard an Ellington album, about thirty years ago. Since then I greatly enjoyed their rich harmonies, rhythmic vocabulary and... Continue Reading →
100 Essential Jazz Standards
Since the release of The Jazz Standards Progressions Book where I analyzed 1000+ songs I have been asked many times for a list of essential jazz standards. I do not want to promote uniformity in repertoire nor do I believe in programatic lists. Jazz is a personal intuitive journey. What I do believe in is finding... Continue Reading →
Bb altered scale, Hanon 5 melodic pattern, diatonic and chromatic approach in Tessitura Pro.
Bb altered scale, Hanon 5 melodic pattern, diatonic and chromatic approach in Tessitura Pro.#scalesandmodes #musicscales #scales #musiceducation #musiced https://t.co/64mTGzoG0x … pic.twitter.com/rhbMawt0Sy— mDecks Music (@mDecksMusic) May 6, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Sight-reading exercise in 3/4 for double bass using See Music Pro.
Sight-reading exercise in 3/4 for double bass using See Music Pro.#sightreading #musiceducation #musiced https://t.co/rE6rI6neUo … pic.twitter.com/b2TiLwBOkK— mDecks Music (@mDecksMusic) May 5, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Reharmonizing the V7 with the SubV7
One of the most-often-used re-harmonization of the V7 is done by replacing that chord with the subV7. Which chord is the subV7 The subV7 is a dominant chord a tritone away from the V7 (also a half step above the tonic or I) Why does the subV7 work as a substitute of the V7? There... Continue Reading →
Introduction to using mCircle
This is an introduction to the free online software (javascript app) from mDecks: mCircle located at http://www.mdecks.com/graphs/mcircle.php mCircle was created by Ariel J Ramos using his Decoding the Circle of Vths (fifths) method to analyze and study musical structures and subsets using a graphical approach. In this introduction we will use mCircle to find the answer... Continue Reading →
Decoding the Circle of Fifths Chart description
The "Decoding The Circle of Vths" Chart is laid out as a poster sized page of 18 x 24. In high resolution PDF format. The chart is organized in six sections: The Circle and the Mode/Transposition Formula Symmetry and Inversions over the circle Limited-Mode Structures Most Common Source Scales and their Modes Secondary & Substitute... Continue Reading →