It's Just Three Chords
Sep 01, 2019
On the surface, the blues seems simple – hey, it's just three chords! – as do other blues-based songs that may not be literally 12 bars long but still have that feel, like "St. James Infirmary" or "Trouble In Mind." And this is both...
Blues Chord Substitutions Workshop – Preview Webinar Today
Aug 29, 2019
Just a reminder that I am doing an hour-long webinar at 1PM CST today on ZOOM to preview some material from my upcoming six-week Blues Chord Substitutions online workshop. You can tune in for free; just sign up using the link below:
Confidentialistas!
Aug 28, 2019
I'm pleased to report that last week's test of the Zoom platform was a raging success, at least according to the dozen brave Confidentialistas who volunteered to test it out and, theoretically at least, learn a little along the way. Enthusiasm ran...
I Can Explain
Aug 22, 2019
Back in July, I mentioned that I was putting the finishing touches on a new membership program, and would be rolling it out in just a few more weeks. Well – that clearly did not happen, but to paraphrase every middle school kid since the...
Light Verse In August
Aug 15, 2019
The pines are tall, the spruce are blue
Itinerant Chaos Theory
Aug 08, 2019
I went down to the Travis County Appraisal Board this morning, to conduct a formal protest of my property tax assessment. It was about as much fun as going down to the St. James Infirmary (I'm guessing), and a hell of a lot less picturesque. And...
Experimental Music
Aug 01, 2019
To the extent that I have a reputation for anything amongst my musician friends, it's for practicing as little as possible. What began as a matter of disposition in my twenties has become a practicality in my fifties, when time seems to be the...
Jerry, Chet and Merle
Jul 18, 2019
I met John Knowles, C.G.P., when I was maybe 23 years old, so we've known each other a long time. For the past ten years, he's been telling me to come check out CAAS – the annual meeting of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, also known...
From Blues To Standards In Six Chords
Jun 06, 2019
Download the chord charts and chord diagrams for this lesson and get weekly updates:
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Improvisation Manifesto
About three months ago, I was sitting around playing guitars and talking too much with my pal Bret, as I often do. Sometimes...
Horizontal Or Vertical?
May 02, 2019
I've been thinking about Thelonious Monk this week, specifically an observation I once read about his repertoire. Unfortunately, I don't remember exactly where I read it. It may have been in Martin Williams' book The Jazz Tradition, which I've...
