Questions tagged [jazz]
An original American music style that originated in the early 20th century by improvisation and syncopation.
552
questions
4
votes
2answers
281 views
What is the difference between an augmented and diminished scale?
I understand little music theory, so I do not understand the difference between an augmented and diminished scale.
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Gypsy Jazz style violin vibrato notation
The way vibrato is used in gypsy jazz violin, like Stephane Grappelli is a bit different from normal classical playing. Typically only used on long notes and developing after the note has sounded, ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
How do you memorize the modes of the melodic minor scale on guitar?
I'm looking for ideas to memorize the 7 positions of the melodic minor on the guitar fretboard. Any suggestions? Is there a way to map each pattern to a chord shape? Or a way to quickly visualize the ...
3
votes
7answers
739 views
Jazz piano, chords: planning ahead
I’m an aspiring jazz pianist, playing tunes without sight reading of any kind (once I’ve learned it), in ensembles and solo.
I have for long had the problem that my chords are staggering. Once I’ve ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
PRS SE245 with Thomastik Jazz Swing strings
I have a PRS SE 245 electric guitar and to be able to get more jazz sound I want to restring my guitar with Thomastik Jazz Swing JS112. Since this guitar is not a hollow body and its neck is shorter ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I use uppercase or lowercase roman numerals in Jazz harmonic analysis?
I know that there is not a fully defined specification for the language used in jazz harmonic analysis, as it has grown slowly and organically and has many variations. I have seen some textbooks use ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Walking bass, two bars per chord, on tritone substitution
This is a follow up to my earlier question about step-wise walking bass. But this is for a full scale for two bars per chord.
Part of the question is about when and where to add extra half steps if ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Piano: getting chords up to speed
I practice a transcription that involves more elaborate jazz chords, modal sus9 and 13-chords, those kind of things, occupying many or all of the hands' fingers. I've played such things before (for ...
7
votes
1answer
84 views
Who was the first to teach jazz improvisation with an approach that matches scales to chords?
I'm reading George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept right now, and I'm trying to better understand its place (and his) in the history of jazz theory. Was he the first to posit this improvisational ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
How to simply voice-lead melody for jazz brass
Hello and thank you for your time!
My knowledge in music theory is limited, so excuse me. I don't know where to look for the answer.
The goal is simple: harmonize a upper melody with chords stacked ...
1
vote
2answers
92 views
Next steps for playing the piano [closed]
I've comfortably played Nuvole Bianche and Fur Elise by watching youtube videos, I can sense patterns between keys and I think have developed some musical sense(I can pick up new song, only with the ...
4
votes
2answers
123 views
Step-wise walking bass for tritone substitution
I'm unsure how to handle a step-wise walking bass under a tritone substitution progression.
I'm working on piano and using what I understand to be basic "Evans" voicings in the right hand ...
5
votes
3answers
582 views
What is the function of this ♯V major chord (or ♭VI major)?
From this video, just listen to the first 8 bars (first 15 seconds). It sounds like the chord progress is I III7 II7 V# V7 in F major scale to me.
I don't know how to explain the function of this V# ...
3
votes
2answers
499 views
What do these diamond and slash note heads mean?
Can someone tell me what do the symbols here mean? and how to play them in triplets as written in the lead sheet?
3
votes
1answer
88 views
Jazz quartets without chord instrument [closed]
I want to write my degree thesis in music theory on arranging for jazz quartets without chord instruments (i.e. Vibraphone, piano, guitar...). For instance, there are the recordings of Gerry Mulligan ...
10
votes
1answer
247 views
Meaning of a Notation Symbol (
I wonder if anyone can tell me what the curved notation next to the 8th notes are. If it helps, this is a score for saxophone.
Thanks.
2
votes
3answers
137 views
How do I learn to improvise outside of the jazz realm?
I'm a classically trained pianist and I've spent a lot of time in the last year or two really learning the blues. I've worked through some of my favorite pieces and it's safe to say I can now rip a 12 ...
2
votes
3answers
247 views
Why do some musicians count "un, two, three, four"?
I've seen and heard, in particular jazz musicians, count in using "un" instead of the regular pronunciation of the word "one". It seems unlikely there's a technical or practical ...
25
votes
10answers
4k views
Randomly and Programmatically generate a "good" next chord?
I am a Software Developer/Musician who has free time before summer classes start up. I wanted to sharpen my chord reading and improvising skills.
What I would like to do is generate a phrase of ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Bossa Nova Arrangement
I'm preparing a Bossa Nova Tune and it will feature a Singer, Guitarist, Pianist(me) and some percussion. Now i want the guitar to play the typical Bossa Nova rhythm but I don't know what do play with ...
4
votes
3answers
405 views
non understandable key switches in jazz [closed]
I am trying to learn jazz. I got a handbook with some jazz standards. Given a jazz tab, is there a dominant key ? like in classical music. I don't understand the structure of the music. For instance, ...
4
votes
3answers
122 views
What's it called when you play the same exact melody with a different rhythm?
As an example, here is the original iconic melodic phrase that's used throughout the Trails Sky games:
https://youtube.com/embed/3GB-xej4GFc?start=66&end=85
But here in this next piece, the exact ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Practice one pattern per day or one key per day? [closed]
Assume one needs to practice pattern A and pattern B in keys 1 and 2.
Is it better to practice one day pattern A in all keys and the other day pattern B in all keys, or to practice patterns A and B in ...
2
votes
3answers
88 views
Do sus chords exist in Locrian?
I have recently been exploring chords in the Locrian mode. Down to the flattened 5th and 9th degrees, I have come up with some pretty bizarre sus chords. This got me thinking: Are such chords still ...
2
votes
3answers
108 views
Usage of Melodic Minor instead of Harmonic Minor on Secondary Dominant
Recently I watched this video which discusses secondary dominants and specifically for the case of A II - V - I in the key of C.
They play a secondary dominant for the II chord, so they are playing an ...
4
votes
3answers
112 views
How to play outside over a major 7 chord?
What are some (fusion-like) options to temporarily play outside over a major 7 chord? E.g. if I improvise over Am7 - Fmaj7 in A aeolian, what are some options to escape F lydian or such and sound ...
3
votes
4answers
254 views
What is this embellishment called?
There's a technique I've seen used a lot in jazz, gospel, pop singing, etc. where someone will play a note and play a quick semitone up and back down into another note. Heres an audio example. Does ...
4
votes
3answers
382 views
How do I learn jazz on piano? [duplicate]
I am very interested in learning piano but more specifically jazz. I really like the way people can just improvise. I know that I would not be easy but I would like to know what the best book or ...
7
votes
2answers
497 views
Creating chord-melody from The Real Book (or other fake book)
I practice songs from The Real Book, and I am quite new to the chord-melody concept. I have knowledge of scales and chords, and I can play melodically these standards. Now I want to play them as chord-...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
Jazz tones with PRS SE245
I am playing a solid body guitar, PRS SE245 and actually I want to have some jazz sounds.
I am combining this guitar with Blackstar LT Echo 10 and actually couldn't succeed to get the tones of jazz.
...
2
votes
4answers
151 views
Do I understand correctly this relationship between m6, m7, and m7b5 chords?
While reading the Jazz Guitar Chord Mastery book by Joseph Alexander, I've encountered a passage that is not 100% clear to me. I would be very thankful if you might help.
Playing a m7b5 chord on the ...
2
votes
0answers
36 views
Why does F#dim resolve to C/G? [duplicate]
So heres my question:
F#dim -> C/G
How does this work?
Well I understand that F#dim is functioning as D7b9 and resolving to the G in C/G but my question is why? It would make perfect sense to me if ...
2
votes
2answers
113 views
Old school reharmonization of jazz songs
I'm wondering how to reharmonize a jazz song using a traditional jazz style that avoids modern substitutions and extensions.
As an example, I've got this score here. You can see the two ...
7
votes
2answers
274 views
tuning of marimba in a jazz band
I started playing the marimba and although it seems a bit unusual I wish to be part of a jazz band with that instrument. Fortunately, before buying my own instrument I found out that marimbas have ...
4
votes
1answer
140 views
Keys in Real Book vs. Real Vocal Book
I like seeing the lyrics to jazz standards, but I would also like to practice standards in their original/standard keys.
How many tunes in the Real Vocal Book "High Voice" (which has the ...
2
votes
3answers
145 views
Improvising: can't play what I hear (internally)
When I play jazz/pop, I struggle to get the musical thoughts I "hear" in my head out onto my instrument. I can tell that what I've played isn't what I wanted to play, but I don't know how to ...
6
votes
4answers
770 views
Is there any reason to use F flat in notating this blues riff (jazz)?
I am reading though Dariusz Terefenko's Jazz theory book, and in the chapter on Improvisation (chapter 10) he lists a few typical 1-, 2- and 4-bars blues riffs, all on a Bb blues scale. Several of ...
16
votes
4answers
1k views
How much of a jazz tune should I pre-arrange?
I have been learning jazz piano (mainly solo) for a few months and am trying to incorporate more color and more interesting voicings in my chords. However, I find it very difficult to keep the ...
2
votes
0answers
101 views
Improvising Chord Progressions
Usually when playing along with jazz standards we check out the changes before we start, the changes define the song.
I was wondering if it is possible to not have a predetermined set of changes ...
5
votes
2answers
801 views
Notes in a Chord
I'm trying to work my way through the Mark Levine Jazz Theory book but I'm scratching my head at the start of chapter 2 (Pg15). Maybe this book is too advanced for me and I need to pick something less ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Chord-Scale Theory: Determine chord qualities
I started to learn about the chord-scale theory lately which i find quite interesting. I came across this table of modes (scales) and their corresponding chords:
Chord-Scales of the Major Modes:
...
3
votes
2answers
456 views
Interpolated chords: How do they work?
Recently, I studied the tune 'Misty' by Eroll Garner. I was slightly confused as to the middle section of the piece, as it involves a passage with some delayed resolutions. I have come across three ...
6
votes
3answers
258 views
The ambiguity of certain chord qualities in Roman numeral Analysis
Roman numeral analysis uses capitalization to disambiguate Major from minor, so the paradigm is not entirely based on inference. There seems to be a double standard as to what is explicit and what isn'...
4
votes
2answers
177 views
How does music theory explain I-VII7-I? [duplicate]
In the tune called Whispering we find C-B7-C (I-VII7-I). The melody descends from C to B in bars 2 and 3. The chords also do this. B7 sounds a bit like a dominant chord to me but it uses non-scale ...
0
votes
3answers
78 views
Chord naming conventions: When is a 6 a 13? [duplicate]
I have seen/ heard people say that you only write a 6 when there are no other upper extensions used (meaning no inclusion of 7 and above).
I have also heard people say that you only write a 6 when ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Can someone tell me the meter of the verses, chorus, and bridge in "A Night in Tunisia" by Ella Fitzgerald [closed]
I have a project for my music class where I need to analyze a song and I am having trouble figuring out the meter of each section. Could someone help me out?
4
votes
5answers
200 views
What makes a chord a sus chord?
In light of some recent answers to questions I have asked on Stack Exchange with regards to naming chords, I have decided to refine things a little further, focusing on sus chords.
If a chord contains ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
Name of Song this jazz melody comes from [closed]
Can someone please tell me the name of the song this melody can be heard? comes from some hard bop tune in the 70's or something I don't know
https://musescore.com/scores/unknown/unknown-...
12
votes
4answers
953 views
How to find scales to improvise with for "How Insensitive" by Jobim
I am pretty new to improvisation. So far I have improvised over a 2 5 1 change using the diatonic 7th chords and the underlying scale tones that fit in with that chord. I am playing on a guitar.
As a ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
what is the method behind naming jazz chords? [closed]
I have recently become confused about how to name chords in jazz.
This is my current understanding:
Add chords (without 7th)- chord that contains the root, third, (optional 5th) and one or more ...