💾 Archived View for rawtext.club › ~dalorin › log › 21_03_10.gmi captured on 2022-06-11 at 20:37:29. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2021-12-03)
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Let's take a moment and talk about what I know of music. After all, it is my knowledge that will color every other post. And this will allow you to see where your level of understanding is relative to mine.
I understand chord progressions and the Nashville number system. I understand all of the different keys and how to play notes in key. I can play chord progressions in any key on both the piano and the guitar.
I understand how chords are built and I understand the extended chords like 7, 9, and 11. I have to do a bit of research when the chords get really wacky. I am not an expert on chords.
Recently I've been studying borrowed chords and will probably make some posts on the subject in the near future.
I have no difficulty playing melody on the piano. Most people would describe me as an advanced pianist. On the guitar I am still learning.
I know all of the different pentatonic boxes and how to move between them. I've started adding the blue notes (the flatted fifth).
Lead improvisation is the main reason that I picked up the guitar. I really want to just make my guitar sing. To that end I have a way to go.
I can read music very slowly. I cannot sight read music at the piano. I have to dissect the backing chords and melody and memorize everything before I can play. I do not really consider this a weakness. It feels like most of the piano music I play is advanced enough that you could never effectively play it on the spot just by sight reading. Music played by sight seems robotic to me. Played with no emotion.
The exception to this of course is fake books / lead sheets. I totally respect improv players that can see a melody and chords and instantly start churning out awesome tunes. But this is improvisation based on a suggested melody. Totally different than playing straight note for note what is in front of you.
This is probably my weak point. If I'm sitting at a drum machine I can put together some backing beats but they are not going to impress anyone. I respect percussionists and recognize that this is its own field of study.
I'm thinking about getting a Pocket Operator PO-12 to just lounge around and dabble with so that I can get more comfortable with arranging beats.
I have a Novation Circuit, Gameboy, and a couple of other synthesizers that I tie together. All of these are wired into my computer along with an electric guitar.
You would describe my music as experimental. There are a lot of different sounds that I can explore using this equipment and it is what inspired me to start this site.
I need to go deeper into theory. The more I understand about different chord voicings and substitution the more interesting progressions that I can put together.
I need to get better on lead guitar. Raw speed and dexterity focusing heavily on legato exercises.