Articles tagged with: "jazz"
The Lydian Mode: Bright Colors in Modern Harmony
The Lydian mode, characterized by its distinctive raised fourth degree, creates a bright, optimistic sound that has captivated composers and improvisers throughout musical history. This comprehensive guide explores the theoretical …
Modal Scales: Ancient Paths to Modern Expression
Modal scales have shaped musical expression from ancient to modern times, offering distinctive tonal colors beyond major and minor scales. This article explores the seven traditional Western modes—Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, …
Altered Chords: Adding Color and Tension to Your Music
Altered chords add sophistication and tension to music through chromatic modifications of standard chord tones. This comprehensive guide explores their construction, common uses, and practical applications across genres, providing musicians …
Bossa Nova Chord Progressions - The Brazilian Sound
Discover the harmonic sophistication of bossa nova chord progressions. Learn about their structure, variations, and applications in modern music, with examples from classic Brazilian jazz standards.
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Secondary Dominants: Adding Color and Direction to Chord Progressions
Secondary dominants are powerful harmonic tools that add color, tension, and forward momentum to chord progressions. By temporarily "tonicizing" non-tonic chords, secondary dominants create brief harmonic detours that enrich musical …
Extended Chords: Adding Color and Sophistication to Harmony
Extended chords enrich basic triads by adding intervals beyond the seventh, including ninths, elevenths, and thirteenths. This comprehensive guide explores their construction, voicing, and application across musical styles, providing musicians …
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The Blues Scale: The Sound of American Soul
The blues scale, with its characteristic "blue note" added to the minor pentatonic, is a fundamental musical tool that captures the expressive essence of blues and has influenced countless genres …
The Melodic Minor Scale: A Versatile Tool for Musicians
The melodic minor scale is a versatile musical construct that traditionally features an ascending form with raised sixth and seventh degrees and a descending form identical to the natural minor …
Diminished Scales: Symmetrical Patterns in Music
The diminished scale is an eight-note symmetrical scale that alternates between whole and half steps, creating unique harmonic and melodic possibilities. This comprehensive guide explores its structure, historical development from …