Jonathan Harnum's Blog, page 12

How to Learn a Tune by Ear

If you grew up learning music in school, learning by ear isn’t something you’ve probably practiced, amirite? It’s too bad, because I’d say it’s one of the most valuable things you can do as a musician. If you haven’t done it yet, even just casually, try it. It’s good for ear training, understanding, and developing the ability to play with anybody in any style. Here’s Rick Beato’s take on the subject:

Can You Play This? Are you the 1% who CAN’T play it?

The Harmonic Minor Scale Used in “Bury a Friend” by Billie Eilish

Excellent nugget on the harmonic minor scale from Brit pianist David Bennett

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Diana Krall & The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

Neuroscience reveals how rhythm helps us walk, talk — and even love

Rhythm is of course a fundamental part of music. But neuroscience is revealing that it’s also a fundamental part of our innermost selves: how we learn to walk, talk, read and even bond with others. From heartbeats heard in the womb, to the underlying rhythmic patterns of thought, rhythm — as one researcher puts it — is life.

Source: Neuroscience reveals how rhythm helps us walk, talk — and even love | CBC Radio

Do These 5 Things During Practice

Another excellent vid from YouTub superstar Paul Davids. It doesn’t matter if you don’t play guitar. Try these on your instrument.

5-Step Guitar Fixes You Can/Should Do, from Paul Davids

Paul Davids has a great YouTube channel. Here’s how you can dial in a guitar so you’re not fighting it and/or sounding like crap.

Beethoven’s Hearing: Deafness & Tinnitus While Writing His 9th Symphony

Another good one from Rick Beato. I especially appreciate how he simulated both Beethoven’s deafness and tinnitus. It’ll give you an even deeper appreciation of Beethoven, and maybe even Beato. And I had no idea about the half-step “drift” that happens to perfect pitch as one ages. Fascinating.

The Parallel Tracks method to accelerate metronome practice: Nathan Cole

Comes with a worksheet on Mr. Cole’s superb blog.  Subscribe to his YouTube channel.

The ONE CHORD that fixes your boring chord progressions! Secondary Dominants.

Secondary dominants were baffling to me as a college freshman in advanced music theory. It’s simple when explained well, like Paul Davids does. He covers deceptive cadences, too!

Need to bone up on theory? Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music has you covered.