Category Archives: Music: In Theory and Practice

The usefulness of musicians and the purpose of work. The expanse of creativity and the soul connection. The grubbing of egocentric shortcomings and incompetence rewarded. The thinking that musicians are here to entertain you and the perpetuation of nonsense is at an end. Playing other creations as an end goal, the performance of works forContinue reading “It’s what we do.”

Starting guitar lessons as an adult — or getting back into it after years away — can feel a little intimidating. You don’t know what a first lesson looks like, whether you’ll be judged for what you don’t know yet, or how quickly you’re supposed to improve. Here’s a realistic picture of what the firstContinue reading “What to Expect in Your First Month of Guitar Lessons”

Tried this yet? Heard of it? “Learn the guitar neck!” Based on the few basic chord shapes of C, A, G, E, G and D this “system” sets up a basis for a novice or simple application player to gain ability without much investment, and this appeals to the teachers that never did the workContinue reading “The CAGED System”

These facts speak to this question. JIMI Hendrix did not read music and did not study western music theory. Edward Van Halen did not read music and won piano competitions at an early age. Ever heard of them? Starting out a student with a mandatory curriculum of reading staff is one sure fire method ofContinue reading “How to Read Music, and why!”

A Parking Equation, as related to the nature of musical composition with an overview of a Linguistics Practice This is because of the shade provided by some trees, a common goal with the sunshine heating up the parked cars as it does. this is fine, until another car arrives and parks between myself and theContinue reading “Advanced Composition & Improvisation Skills”

Once upon a time… a lot of young and inexperienced teachers, new and experienced students are in the clutches of unwise instruction based on learning vast amounts of misleading and seemingly practical repetitious efforts that can do almost nothing for the creative and the muse, along with all the offspring and outputs to come! WhatContinue reading “Selective Learning and the lasting results of loyal muscle memory”

To enhance skills with the guitar, a strong desire for creative experience is essential. Embrace the tactile connection through regular playing and tuning. Focus on goals while exploring chord shapes and sound patterns, using imagination to manipulate pitches. Cultivating inspiration encourages a deeper relationship with the instrument. Keep playing!

After dialing in a sense of timing, the ability to play behind/on/ahead of “the beat”, phrasing can develop. A useful tool that helps with this is the Metronome.

The focus of musical development should initially be on understanding intervals and essential elements like “The Modes” to build a strong foundation. Knowledge of an instrument and consistent practice, including scales, finger exercises, and rhythmic training, is crucial. Arranging by pattern and improvisation, paired with a background in music theory, leads to new creative opportunities. Building muscle memory through practice is essential. To progress efficiently and avoid correcting bad muscle memory, consistent practice and seeking guidance for overcoming plateaus are key. For guitar enthusiasts at all levels, reaching out for personalized guidance can lead to significant breakthroughs in playing skills.

Music theory explains the building blocks of music. Each pitch is assigned a number, with 8 being the octave of 1. Inversions add up to 9, such as 1=8, 2=7, and 3=6. The “3” is the “Third”, which when combined with letters becomes a musical note. Letters A-G, including sharps and flats, are used in music. A# is equivalent to Bb, known as “Enharmonic”. A Major consists of specific notes with defined steps between them. It is essential to learn the notes on the fingerboard early on. The next step involves learning about chords and scales.

The content emphasizes efficient practice and muscle memory for musical skills. It advises against time-wasting activities and stresses hands-on practice, integrating diverse routines, and maintaining a relaxed yet focused demeanor.

Practicing tedious scales, memorizing patterns and chord shapes 1 2 3*4 5 6 7*8 1 3 5 1 b3 5 1 3 +5 1b3 b5 For example, DORIAN MODE: 2 3*4 5 6 7*8 1 (DEFGABCD) 1 2*3 4 5 6*7 8 (DEFGABCD) C Major CDEFGABC has a “d” ii CHORD: d f a, 1Continue reading “Getting better faster and spending less time correcting bad muscle memory.”

A three-note chord, or triad, consists of the root, third, and fifth notes of a scale. In the key of A Major, this would be A, C#, E. Power chords typically use only the root and fifth. Jazz chords can be embellished with additional notes, such as the 9th or 13th. Chord “substitution” involves using different notes than the traditional triad.

Octave, Tonic, Equal Temperament, Scale, Mode, Half-step, Meter, Major, Orchestra, Minor, Dominant, Diminished, Tertiary, Triad, Interval, Pentatonic, Ratio, Cents, Sharp, Octatonic, Flat, Triplet, Modulation, Transpose, Trill, Arpeggio, Parallel Keys, Timbre, Clef,