Photo: KoolShooters

What makes good jazz?

In many college jazz courses, they teach students that the three basic qualities of jazz are syncopation, swing, and improvisation. Among the songs that have none of these are “My Funny Valentine,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “All the Things You Are,” and a sizable percentage of the entire Great American Songbook.

bmi.com - What Makes a Great Jazz Piece? | The Weekly | BMI.com

How did EVH hold his pick?

I tend to hold it more with my thumb and middle finger with a little bit of my index finger, but mostly just my thumb and middle finger. The only...

Last updated Feb 10, 2018

Why are 7th chords used in jazz?

Including the 7th in the chord (or playing it instead of the 5th) lets you hear a clear difference in the dominant chord (major 3rd, minor 7th). In...

Last updated Aug 25, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

With all the different genres of music in the world, you might think the way to approach creating music for a specific genre would be unique. Not necessarily so, especially when it comes to production. Read on for good advice for readying your music for decision-makers, no matter what the genre.

Pat Cook, Creative – NY:

Is it the songs themselves? In many college jazz courses, they teach students that the three basic qualities of jazz are syncopation, swing, and improvisation. Among the songs that have none of these are “My Funny Valentine,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “All the Things You Are,” and a sizable percentage of the entire Great American Songbook. Of course, jazz artists will add these things to the songs, but many of them were written for movies and Broadway shows, and using them as jazz pieces was usually an afterthought.

So if it’s not the actual songs, what is it? Melody? Harmony?

In the Miles Davis classic “So What?” the melody is basically two notes repeating themselves. The harmony is two chords repeated in two keys. Rhythm? Jazz classics run the gamut from no rhythm at all to the metric complexities of a Brad Mehldau. So what makes a jazz piece great? To me it’s the conversation of the players in performance. It’s each player listening to the other players to communicate a shared vision of how the piece should sound. If a soloist states a musical idea in his improvisation, it’s picked up by the others and built upon. In any great jazz piece, listen to the drummer during the solos. The great drummers are listening and reacting to everything the soloist is doing. When I was asked what makes a great theatre piece, I answered that everyone involved has to be on the same page. And that’s also my answer to great jazz pieces; everyone on the same page creating a spontaneous work of art.

Who turned down 50 Shades?

Garrett Hedlund "50 Shades" is aÂ guaranteed trilogy. REUTERS/Yves Herman "50 Shades" author E.L. James has said actor Ryan Gosling was the...

Last updated Apr 26, 2018

What is a piano black key called?

sharps and flats The white keys are known as natural notes, and the black keys are known as the sharps and flats. Jul 20, 2017

Last updated Feb 23, 2018

Promotion

What type of piano is used in jazz?

Jazz piano is the use of the piano and other keyboard instruments in jazz music. Because both individual notes and chords can be played on the piano, it is considered the gold standard for any jazz musician to learn.

piano.frost.miami.edu - Jazz Piano | Frost School of Music | University of Miami

Jazz emphasizes improvisation, which often takes the form of riffs on a theme a song establishes early on. Although pianists can play jazz unaccompanied, they can also play with many different kinds of ensembles including quartets, big bands, and more. While classical pianists may perform works like sonatas, fugues, and nocturnes, jazz musicians play blues, 32-bar or 64-bar songs, and other forms. Many pianists play multiple genres and styles of music. However, as a musician becomes more and more advanced, he or she is typically hyper-specialized in a particular genre. Music theory is important for any pianist. Jazz piano uses all of the chords that traditional western classical music uses, but jazz genres tend to use different rhythms. To play effectively, jazz pianists must learn swing rhythm and gain other types of stylistic expertise.

How can I stop being so unhappy?

Try these 12 ways to become less miserable—and even happier—right now: Recognize the unhappiness you are experiencing. ... Offer yourself some...

Last updated Jun 27, 2021

How hard is Grade 2 piano?

Much like Grade 1, Grade 2 is generally one of the more straightforward grades to pass, it may sound obvious, but if you are prepared, you will...

Last updated Aug 24, 2022

Promotion

What key is my song?

The easiest way to figure out the key of a song is by using its key signature. The number of sharps/flats in the key signature tell you the key of...

Last updated Jul 3, 2021

Promotion

What happens when you play piano alot?

Results of too much practice can manifest in depression, burn out, and physical injury. In fact, overuse injuries are not only prevalent among...

Last updated Oct 23, 2018