The Major 7 #5 chord is a very useful shape for a number of colorful chord sounds. It also is very valuable as a linear structure for improvisation over these same chords when used as an arpeggio.
Improving Your Focus
One of the most important issues facing us as musicians is focus and attention. While there has been a lot of research into what is going on in our brains when we focus, nobody has really figured out what consciousness really is at all. We have not been able to create it in even our fastest computers, and we have not been able to isolate what is going on neurologically in a way that we can control it.
10 Reasons Your Composition Gets Stalled
7 Questions to Ask Before Buying New Gear
When you are considering a gear purchase, what are the factors you can use to decide what to get and how much to spend? When I say gear, what I really mean is anything that you use to make, record, or perform your music. This could be instruments, computers, accessories, even the car you drive to the gig. Because money is tight, especially these days, I have a series of questions I ask to make this decision logically.
The Power of Being Fully Engaged
There are times in our lives when we experience a moment with full awareness. All of our consciousness is focused on where we are and what we are doing right now. I like to think of this state of being as Fully Engaged. Needless to say we could achieve great things if we could assume this state at will. What do we experience when we are fully engaged?
Negotiation Part III: How They Steal Your Gig
We have discussed how clients can use negotiation tricks to put you at a disadvantage, and how you need to prepare yourself with rates and prices, but we also need to discuss how your fellow musician can undermine the market.
There is a class of individuals in our industry who are neither clients nor colleagues. Rather than competing fairly in the marketplace through quality or value, they seek to get work through unfair and unethical methods. They will stop at nothing to achieve dominance and power. You may even know them. They might live in your neighborhood. You may be standing next to one right now.
Scary, right?
Continue Reading…
Negotiation part II: How to Set Your Rates
Last time, we discussed the pitfalls we encounter negotiating with clients. We also need to talk about how to quote “standard” rates for what you do. While I wish I could just put up a chart, this is a complex subject, and varies with location, experience and market. There are some things we can do to get this under control, however.
15 Dirty Negotiation Tricks and How to Avoid Them
Triads Over Bass Part II: Add 11
In our last lesson, We discussed the use of major triads superimposed various intervals above a bass note. Adding tones to these triads can make these voicings even richer. One of many ways to enhance these triads is to add the 11th or perfect 4th to the triads. Not to be confused with sus4 chords, where the 4th replaces the 3rd, these chords keep the 3rd and add the 11th, creating a four-note shape.
The Myth of Difficulty
