Modern Music Theory Improvisation and Application

Goal Setting for Musicians: Writing down your goals!

Posted on April 7, 2021October 26, 2021 by Modern Music Theory and Application

The key to rapid learning and reaping the rewards of quality progress for musicians is to set “Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Goals”.

The next most important step is to write these goals down. If you do this then you will enact them and get into the habit of enacting them with greater and greater clarity. It will also instill a natural discipline, inspirational outpouring and perseverance.

These are the books that I use, but any creative goal setting book will do because the days weeks and month are already laid out for you, all you have to do is fill it in with your objectives.

If you follow this then you will rise through the levels. Talent only takes you so far. For musical development discipline and hard work account for everything. Goal setting will take you there on pleasant terms and give you back that which you craved for at the outset.

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Messiaen Mode 6 Lesson/analysis/how to use it

Posted on April 5, 2021June 26, 2021 by Modern Music Theory and Application

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Messiaen mode 6 as used for this presentation.

Messiaen’s 6th mode is great for manipulating “Diminished” and “Augmented” intervals.

Mode 6 allows for this to be sequenced easily

Messiaen mode 6 Diminished and Augmented Sequences

Below is a descending Augmented sequence

Messiaen mode 6 Augmented descending sequence

For common sequences: The Augmented sequences move in tones whilst the Diminished sequences move in minor 3rds.

Although, Diminished intervals can move in semitones and tones. For Example:

Messiaen Mode 6 Diminished intervals in Semitones

Getting back to our common sequences we can see below the brilliance of diminished intervals moving in minor 3rds with the employment of the simple triplet figure.

More examples of mixing up the Augmented and Diminished ideas to avoid the cliches and develop something fresh sounding

Messiaen mode 6 diminished and augmented mix

We can also make interesting intervallic motifs from the notes of the Messiaen mode 6

Finally, we can employ a contrapuntal counterpoint “Mirror” compositional device to really manipulate this brilliant 6th mode of Messiaen.

Messiaen mode 6 Contrapuntal Mirror Compositional device

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Alternate Picking beginners Scale exercise lesson

Posted on March 27, 2021 by Modern Music Theory and Application

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https://youtu.be/XqZ4N-uXUqM

This simple alternate picking exercise employs a C major scale starting with the note G on the sixth string of the guitar that ascends to the C note on the 1st string of the guitar. This scale then descends back to the G note on the 6th guitar string.

You can think of this scale as G mixolydian or C major starting on the note of G. But, in this lesson it is just a convenient way to cross all 6 strings of the guitar to gain fluency.