Major And Minor Key Cycles
One of the most common tools used in songwriting is the Key Cycle. Also referred to as the Circle of 5ths or Circle of 4ths. Chords have a natural tendency to move to a chord a 4th above or a 5th below the current chord. For example if you are playing a C Major chord, moving to an F Major chord (an interval of a 4th) would sound natural as the next chord in the progression.
Music Notation On The Guitar
Many guitarist can read tabs and play by ear, but some turn away when you mention reading music on the guitar. In this short lesson we will get you on your way to finding the notes on the guitar as their displayed on the musical staff.
Pulse, Rhythm, Meter
The durations of tonal music are divisible by the pulse. Pulses are organized into measures. Measures are organized by patterns of accents. Accents result from both rhythmic placement and harmonic content.
Understanding Rhythm Notation
To keep things organized, we group our notes in something called "bars". A bar of music usually contains 4 beats, 3 beats etc. To figure out a bar of music by listening to it, we can count and tap along and find out where the accents seem to repeat. When reading music, we can look at the time signature. This is that fraction that happens at the beginning of a piece of music.
Arpeggio Substitution
The most important cadence in all music and exploited extensively in jazz-is the V7 to I chord progression. In the key of C the cadence is G7 (V7) to C (I) in the key of E the cadence is B7 (V7) to E (I) and, as with all music theory, the relationship is the same in all keys. This theory lesson will explore some important and popular arpeggio substitution possibilities for the V7 to I cadence.
Minor Key Theory
In this lesson we will take a look at Minor Keys. Minor keys are a little more complicated then major. There are 13 chords in a minor key because on the 6th and 7th degrees of a minor key there are two alternative notes.
Intervals On The Guitar
Intervals on a guitar take on distinctive shapes depending on whether or not the interval cross the boundary between the second and third string, here marked with a red line. This boundary is created due to the fact that there is a Major 3rd between the second and third strings, and a Perfect Fourth between all other strings.
Bass Guitar Music Notation Primer
If your a beginner bass player, or you just want to learn how to read music notation for the bass this file is for you!
4 String Bass Guitar Notes
The notes on a 4 string bass guitar are the same as a regular 6 string guitar, but the bass is missing 2 strings (B string and high E string).
Music Notation Symbols
Notated music makes use of a variety of other symbols to indicate dynamics, articulation, tempo, ornamentation, and other aspects of music. Dynamic markings include, from quietest to loudest, pp, p, mp, mf, f, and ff. These symbols, which are abbreviations of the Italian words pianissimo, piano, mezzo-piano, mezzo-forte, forte, and fortissimo, are generally placed below the staff to which they apply.