The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Here we go. Welcome to the new folks that joined us last week.

    Don't forget to spend some time with the earlier material.

  2.  

    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    I'm reading thru this weeks material...

    Sharp and flats, there is only one exercise that includes and sharps and flats and that is page on 15. For those of you that this sharp and flat info is new, you may need to come back to this later to review. I'd say just read the page do the exercise and move on. Ask questions if needed.

    Page 15 exercise, for me the challenge is muting. M.1, I mute the G with the pad of my 2nd finger as I play the next note, the B. M.2 the G I'm muting with the side of the tip of my 1st finger as I fret the C note. M.6 I mute the G with my 3rd finger as I play the open B note. I need to give extra practice to M.2 and M.6. All other mutes I'm doing with the pad of my finger that is fretting the next note.

    That's just one way to do it.
    Last edited by fep; 01-23-2012 at 02:32 PM.

  4. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by fep
    Ask questions if needed.
    .
    Commonly asked question at this point: why do we need both sharps and flats? Surely one would be enough.

  5. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by ten left thumbs
    Commonly asked question at this point: why do we need both sharps and flats? Surely one would be enough.
    take a key like G# major. if we go up the scale, there are 6 sharps and 1 double sharp (Fx). it's confusing to write out. instead, let's write out the same scale as Ab major. Fx becomes G natural. we still have 4 flats, but it's a heckuva lot easier to read.

  6. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by ten left thumbs
    Commonly asked question at this point: why do we need both sharps and flats? Surely one would be enough.
    I'd much rather have the key of F use all the letters:

    F G A Bb C D E

    rather than

    F G A A# C D E

  7. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by mjsarlington
    I'd much rather have the key of F use all the letters:

    F G A Bb C D E

    rather than

    F G A A# C D E
    Well explained!

    If you buy the reason or not, F major is always written with one flat note and the key signature is always written that way.
    Last edited by Dazz; 01-23-2012 at 05:56 PM.

  8. #7

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    I would just like to thank everyone for keeping this going; I am trying to keep up (through some enforced gaps) and do enjoy all the posts, even if I do not post much on it myself.

    Des

  9. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by mjsarlington
    I'd much rather have the key of F use all the letters:

    F G A Bb C D E

    rather than

    F G A A# C D E

    Right. Every key has all seven letters ABCDEFG in the scale. Sometimes they're #'s and b's but each letter is included.

  10. #9

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    Once you've sharped or flatted a note in the key signature, that note is no longer available as a natural note. That's why sharps and flats are both necessary.

  11. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by ronjazz
    Once you've sharped or flatted a note in the key signature, that note is no longer available as a natural note. That's why sharps and flats are both necessary.
    This is very true, however, as an explanation, it involves more concepts than a student (when first encountering sharps and flats) can normally deal with. I now see that *all * explanations do, though I am particularly taken by the answers of msjarlington and Marty combined.

    I asked because students often ask me, and tbh, I get jaded with what I say sometimes and I wanted to hear what others would say. When a student first encounters a sharp or flat they know nothing of scales, keys or key signatures. It can be hard to get someone past this stage because every new concept also involves them taking on board a hundred and one new concepts. it is truly difficult to break it down into nice easy chunks.

    sorry if I've taken us off at a tangent!

  12. #11

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    Hi, this is my first post here, but I have been following along. This is wonderful. And inspiring. Makes going through the book a whole lot easier knowing others are right there with you for support and guidance. Anyway, the reason I'm writing today is ... I told a friend what I was doing here at Jazzguitar.be and he loaned me his copy of the Berklee DVD that goes along with the book. Whoa! this thing is great. The instructor goes through all the exercises, including the duets part by part. Just thought I'd post this incase others didn't know this aid was available. It is helping me a bunch.
    Amazon has it for $23.09 quite a deal. BTW I'm not affiliated with Amazon or Berklee, just wanted to pass on the news. Back to the shed .......

    Bill

  13. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by leodbil
    Hi, this is my first post here, but I have been following along. This is wonderful. And inspiring. Makes going through the book a whole lot easier knowing others are right there with you for support and guidance. Anyway, the reason I'm writing today is ... I told a friend what I was doing here at Jazzguitar.be and he loaned me his copy of the Berklee DVD that goes along with the book. Whoa! this thing is great. The instructor goes through all the exercises, including the duets part by part. Just thought I'd post this incase others didn't know this aid was available. It is helping me a bunch.
    Amazon has it for $23.09 quite a deal. BTW I'm not affiliated with Amazon or Berklee, just wanted to pass on the news. Back to the shed .......

    Bill
    i have the Berklee DVD. unfortunately, my new Mac doesn't support the interface. my old one did, and it was nice because you could play certain sections of the piece without going through the entire lesson. now it only plays in Quicktime. still glad to have it, but just an FYI for anybody on a Mac running Lion.

  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by ten left thumbs
    This is very true, however, as an explanation, it involves more concepts than a student (when first encountering sharps and flats) can normally deal with. I now see that *all * explanations do, though I am particularly taken by the answers of msjarlington and Marty combined.

    I asked because students often ask me, and tbh, I get jaded with what I say sometimes and I wanted to hear what others would say. When a student first encounters a sharp or flat they know nothing of scales, keys or key signatures. It can be hard to get someone past this stage because every new concept also involves them taking on board a hundred and one new concepts. it is truly difficult to break it down into nice easy chunks.

    sorry if I've taken us off at a tangent!
    I like to start any student out with the explanation of the scale, using both the piano keyboard and the "do-re-mi" concept. Getting the formula into their heads early on makes the explanation of sharps and flats very easy when the time comes. Singing the scale as do-re-mi in any given key is also good for ear training, and helps to lock the concept in.

  15. #14
    hi everyone- i am writing this for my own information so please bear with me. i would like to know just how much time you should stay with a lesson. should you have it memorized or stay with it until you know the concept.i have studied a lot of these lessons and i know what is being asked and i understand but i dont have it memorized. when would you advize going on to the next lesson?

  16. #15

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    You don't need to have any lessons memorized. You need to be able to play each lesson with good time and tone, and understand the concepts. Leavitt was a stickler for constant reviewing, so once you've done the first lesson, when you move on to the second one, use the first one as your warmup before tackling the exercises in the second one, and so on. The only memorization required is the basic notes, time values and key signatures; everything else will build on these basics.

  17. #16
    ronjazz- thanks for the reply. i have been worried about shirking my duty to the lessons by not having them momorized . i know key sigs., time and notes. those are not the problem. it is just that i would like to play them smoother and more rapidly. appreciate your help!!!!!

  18. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by oldhead
    Nice job, Rock. I like the dissonant sounds in there.

    I've posted 3 or 4 posts but they vaporize into Cyberspace. They appear for a second and then they are gone!! Any ideas?
    Mr. Beaumont and Administrator can hopefully figure it out.
    Hi Oldhead, I'm guessing you are trying to attach mp3's with the reply 'manage attachments' tool. That has been hit and miss for years, I think to work it needs to be a small file and then you have to get lucky.

    Most of us use a separate hosting site and attach a link. I use youtube for videos, and Box.net for mp3 files. There are a lot of free choices, another one that I've used is Soundcloud, I see the Help!I'maRock! uses dl.dropbox.com.

  19. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by richard vandyne
    ronjazz- thanks for the reply. i have been worried about shirking my duty to the lessons by not having them momorized . i know key sigs., time and notes. those are not the problem. it is just that i would like to play them smoother and more rapidly. appreciate your help!!!!!
    +1, Thanks Ron for your insight and knowledge.

    Richard, How about recording some of the examples and/or tunes from the book and posting them here?

    That's a great exercise that helps you focus, critique yourself, and share with the rest of us... and you might get a critique or two from us.

  20. #19

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    P 15 EXERCISE
    Pg 15 EXERCISE.mp3 - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

    FEP, thanks. Had a couple days of frustration but think it's taken care of now.
    Just for anyone new to the forum, Mr. F. told me you have to be approved before posting w/links.

  21. #20
    fep- again thanks for the input. i think recording my playing would be a great help. that way i can see and hear what i am doing and get help from more knowledgeable people. my only problem is that i have no idea on how to set up a recording situation and how to transfer it to the web. may sound crazy in this day and age but i am not that smart about the computer and am at a loss as to how to go about that process. have any ideas on how i could learn?????????

  22. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by richard vandyne
    fep- again thanks for the input. i think recording my playing would be a great help. that way i can see and hear what i am doing and get help from more knowledgeable people. my only problem is that i have no idea on how to set up a recording situation and how to transfer it to the web. may sound crazy in this day and age but i am not that smart about the computer and am at a loss as to how to go about that process. have any ideas on how i could learn?????????
    It's not too hard Richard. Are you using a PC or a laptop? A laptop has a built-in mic. That might be good enough. Or you can plug your guitar into the mic or line input, via an 1/8" mini jack.

    I use free recording software called Audacity. The controls are easy to understand, similar to a cassette recorder. You just need to save your recording as an mp3 file.


    Quote Originally Posted by Help!I'maRock!
    being a rock guitarist, i'm used to attacking the chord instead of letting it bloom.
    That's a great description. I like the imagery of strumming the chord with the melody blooming on top.

  23. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by oldhead
    P 15 EXERCISE
    Pg 15 EXERCISE.mp3 - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

    FEP, thanks. Had a couple days of frustration but think it's taken care of now.
    Just for anyone new to the forum, Mr. F. told me you have to be approved before posting w/links.
    Sounds nice and smooth.

  24. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by ten left thumbs
    Sounds nice and smooth.
    Thanks, TLT.

    P16: This, I'm sure, is blatantly obvious to most of you; but what is the significance of the double bars at the end of every 8th measure on page 16, then beginning bar on P17 and then there isn't one until the end of the piece?
    On page 3 it mentions the double bar but doesn't explain it. Then on P4 and continuing there are double bars at the beginning and end of the exercises, but not on the duets, just after 8 measures. If these are too much novice type questions for this forum, just let me know.
    thanks.

  25. #24

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    Usually double bars mean repeat, but I wonder if they mean that in the context of these exercises... To me they seem to mark off sections of the piece...

  26. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by jaydogg
    Usually double bars mean repeat, but I wonder if they mean that in the context of these exercises... To me they seem to mark off sections of the piece...
    I Googled it and it seems to indicate different sections of a piece, but I didn't find anything on what differentiates the sections or why you'd have one at the beginning. Maybe one of our esteemed educators here can enlighten us.