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This is another version of the etude that goes through the same chord changes as Blues for Alice. There's a few different approach notes in this version. Remember that when playing this etude with the additional ii-V-I's, figure out all the other tunes you can use these lines on and try it in different keys!

Check out the attached PDF!

I got this idea from Ed Saindon, but I use the term a little differently now. "Dampening effects," to me, are different sounds you can produce while dampening. This includes deadstrokes, half-dampening, and dampening speed.

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

🎵 Harmony Without Chords – Pt. 7: Scale & Chord Outlining Combinations

In Part 7, we combine two essential approaches to line construction: scale-based motion and chord outlining. These exercises move through ii–V progressions in descending whole steps, blending linear scale passages with clear chord-tone targets to create lines that sound both melodic and harmonically grounded.

Check out the attached PDF!

Rhythm Changes Harmonic Vocabulary - Part 4

In this fourth installment of our rhythm changes harmonic vocabulary series, we continue to develop both rhythmic and harmonic fluency over the first A section. While the rhythmic pattern remains consistent with Part 3 in the first four measures, this lesson introduces new voicings and inversions that shift the color and register of the progression.

Check out the attached PDF!

Get to work! 

I am making some Tik Tok MalletKat videos for Alternate mode. (The Malletkat is the pro model of electronic keyboard percussion). So I decided to play some tunes and then I thought I'll notate them as an etude for all of you. 

Can you play it? I left out the pedal markings? Why? Because they are a pain to notate partly. And partly because you can listen to the pedaling of the track and study that and then at the pedaling yourself. I think it's really important to not have it all handed to you. That's too easy.