Here is a video demonstration of how I use the biiidim7 chord. If you don’t see the video below, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV5l9LDe6ew
Category Archives: Free Lessons
Here is a demonstration of one of the easiest and most effective reharmonization ideas I know. If you don’t see the video below, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VtuEJSegcw
Music is a complicated business but it is furthered complicated by the fact that there are various schools of theory that are used to try to explain it. There are a couple of reasons for that. The first reason is that the increased understanding over the centuries of how music works has sort of invalidated some of the […]
I just uploaded a new video that discusses another little tip for improving your sound: changing V major triads into dominant 7ths. Lately, I have started doing a lot of these short videos and I will probably continue. If you have ideas for other little things you want me to cover, please let me know […]
Yesterday, I recorded a new video about a little tip you can use to make your music sound more sophisticated. It involves adding the major 7th to your I chords. I don’t need to discuss it here because the video will explain everything. If you don’t see it below, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooNYkwyC790
I don’t think that I have ever really talked about pedal point here before. This is a very simple idea that really can make your music more interesting. If you don’t see the video below, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKmQull39qU
Every year, I like to give you guys a project to work on throughout the year and today, I want to introduce this year’s project: transitions between songs when doing congregational accompaniment (or similar situations). The video below gives you a three step process for learning how to modulate as well as how to adjust your […]
I cannot tell you how many musicians I hear from that feel overwhelmed. Many of them know how to play by rote (from books) but they feel as though they have a huge mountain to climb to be a real world musician. Let me explain what I mean by “real world musician.” Colleges churn out musicians by […]
Yesterday, I posted a new free arrangement . If you have not downloaded it yet, just click on that link and you will get it instantly. There are a few things going on in this arrangement that I want to talk about really quickly. One is a harmonic idea and one is a rhythmic thing. […]
A lot of you have asked me for information about the class I am taking at Berklee. It is called Reharmonization Techniques and that is what it is about: tons of different reharmonization strategies. Every week, there is a big project that is due on Sunday that involves working on a song or a few […]
I think one of the hardest things for musicians to do is to intentionally play at a level of sophistication that is lower than they are capable of. We are wired to want to demonstrate our skill; in some cases, we just flat out want to show off. In my early years, I remember picking out […]