METHOD BOOK REVIEW: A SUCCINCT PATH TO MASTERY.

This is my most recent search for a book that would dramatically assist me in teaching others what I already know. Everyone approaches learning differently. Music is no exception.

Although I consider Music to be "the ultimate language of all known languages,"I know that the raw information and concepts STILL have to be PROCESSED. Which is why I'm so excited to review this book! 

Let me first start out by saying, out the dozens of music-related book, CDs and DVDs I've invested my time and money in, THIS ONE BOOK does the job of about 75% of my current collection! SO to me, it's very important that I give this book it's proper distinction and place above the rest.

It's also different in that it addresses questions that most guitarists (INCLUDING ME!) are unsure about that stay stuck in our minds. These hidden questions are out in the open and ALIVE inside the pages of Tom Kolb's book (PUBLISHED BY HAL LEONARD, OF COURSE!). He not only asks them, but answers each vital main point involved in cracking the guitar-code towards mastery.

I'll describe this place of mastery: It's a place where you "just know." It's an area of "natural" knowing. Where you're SURE of each interval between  notes  and can emulate/copy/mimic patterns within a seemingly stagnant scale. This area is a region where, because of the work you've done to find out what notes you're playing, you can  improvise without worrying/thinking about hitting a wrong note.


STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT REVIEW OF - PHILIP TOSHIO SUDO'S LEGENDARY BOOK -- "ZEN GUITAR"!!!

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The Miracle of New Songs

It is said that "Love finds those who are ready to receive it." With that being said, when you develop  those melodies throughout the day inside your head, THAT'S when a song comes to you! And then you promptly part the sea that is your room and throw anything out of your way from you to your guitar and that blessed RED BUTTON that says RECORD. Sorry "stuff", it's just the way it is with us musicians! HA. :o)




Creating something out of nothing (ironically, a name of an album by the band, Modest Mouse) is surprisingly difficult if you think too hard about it. But as you "feel out" the melody and understand that the 1 to 4 single notes you're playing are home to a scale, your goal/vision for the original song becomes clearer.

Also, the corresponding chords that are near to the scale ( and/or the notes you're playing) will be at your command. That the true power of creating music; knowing the essentials about music theory. 

Something to think about: you won't know what the finished product will be until you play it back after recording it. Until you complete the writing process. Don't "get married" to your work. Sometimes, it can never feel fully "done" or complete. And other times, we have riffs or lyrics that never see the light of day - they never get put into a finished song. And I'm here to tell you - that's okay. All of that will be logged onto the backburner for later use or maybe not at all - and if you have to throw some lyrics away. Don't worry - there are plenty of words, phrases and idioms within your mind's reach. And if you get writer's block, there's always Ask Jeeves or Google.


A huge reality check for me was that more often than not, all my guitar melodies and riffs sound like choruses. Meaning - I have all these catchy notes bunched up together, where the verse should be. And i do have a song that has the same notes for the chorus and the verse; there are huge hit songs out there like that. but traditionally, you want to tell them what you're going to tell them (your audience) for the verse, then the chorus should be the hook and main idea of the song. 

And you really need a chorus - your verses and the listener should be CRAVING it! Besides your intro, it's the first thing everyone hears. And it NEEDS to be solid enough to make the ears tell the brain to tell the hands to not change the radio station or track number.


The lyrics should match up the building elements of the sound you are creating:


And there's this thing on my mind
And I'll surely tell you in time
It has the feeling of almost
And what you now know, isn't a ghost


Obviously, those are merely lyrics to describe the progressing knowledge of the writer to the listener but it's written to give you an example of what you need to be doing. 

I'D SAY GOOD LUCK BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT. YOU AND I, WE CREATE OUR LUCK. :)

-Troy

Today, i'll let you in on a secret that songwriters and coverbands have known for years. Music Theory - is the key to unlock the inner workings of the songs we know and love.


Here's the book on the left. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


As you can see, it's color coded. The top portion that's yellow covers where music starts. The "Key of C". This point is known i nthe world of written music, espeicallly on piano. AKA "Middle C" as the least amount of tension or centerpoint. It's the Lodestar of understanding HOW music WORKS.


Buy this and you'll be ahead of SO many others. This is for ANY type of music. From Folk to Rock, Jazz and Country, Classical and even Death Metal. It's all the same. Even if you don't even know what you're playing - music theory contains the reason, logic, answers, and pathway to being a true professional musician.

And the great thing is that it's not as hard as the average person thinks. Even BETTER, the book is litterally less than a tenth of an inch. Maybe around 20 pages. AWESOME RIGHT?!!!!!