Keyboard Harmony: Ma7#5 Shapes
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.
Author: Randy
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…
10 Reasons Your Composition Gets Stalled
Probably the biggest issue composers face, especially when getting started is the problem of finishing pieces. Somewhere in the process, we get “stalled” and in many cases, we never get started again, leaving unfinished works. In this article, we will look at some of the ways we…
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…
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…
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…
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…
15 Dirty Negotiation Tricks and How to Avoid Them
Here is part 1 of a two-part series on setting rates and getting properly compensated on your gigs and sessions. Today, we will discuss 15 of the nasty tactics some clients will try to get your rates down or take advantage of your time and skill.
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,…
The Myth of Difficulty
When confronting a task, it is common for people to describe it as “difficult,” or “hard.” While superficially valid, these labels do little to move us toward completion. In fact, they may lead us in the wrong direction. Let’s re-examine our concept of “difficulty.”