If you want to adapt popular music to jazz, the best approach is to think of the harmonic functions (rather than just the chords) and then use techniques of tonal harmony. In the following video we show how to turn a very basic piano version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" into a jazz... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
There are 4 ways you can represent a scale's intervalic formula: Degrees Chord-Tones and Tensions Roman Numerals Melodic Intervals Degrees Here's the major scale (Ionian) as degrees. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (all degrees al major) Chord-Tones and Tensions The major scale as chord tones (1 3 5 7) and tensions (9 11 13)... Continue Reading →
Almost every musician knows how to use the circle of fifths (and what it is), but there are a few countries and music schools that teach the order of the notes in the circle going the other way. This is called the Circle of Fourths and not many musicians talk about it anymore. Here are the... Continue Reading →
Tessitura Pro Tip of the Day #10: Chord Extensions and Avoid NotesTessitura Pro: The whole world of scales over the Circle of Fifths.#ScalesAndModes #MusicEducation #MusicScales #ChordScales #CircleOfFifthshttps://t.co/C6vnN9cv6C pic.twitter.com/vxB2dwAEOe— mDecks Music (@mDecksMusic) June 13, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Sight-reading exercise in F# Major for alto saxophone using See Music Pro.Sight-read and get instant feedback of your performance.#sightreading #saxophone #SaxophonemusicMusic #Woodwinds #musiceducation #MusicStaff #MusicMajor #musiced #ReadMusichttps://t.co/pla21bBl7O pic.twitter.com/iDfLMZxh6O— mDecks Music (@mDecksMusic) June 8, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
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