From MRK7421@aol.com Wed Aug 06 20:42:44 2008
Subject:Re: Reading Music versus Learning by ear Suggestions?

I think music reading is a good thing obviously .... though 99 percent of
what I do involves reading chord charts with melody lines.

I saw an interesting chord study recently called "Mr. Goodchord's Almanac of
Voice Leading" by Mick Goodrick. Some very heavy players are endorsing this
system such as Michel Camillo, Russell Ferrante, Lyle Mays and others.

The System explores chord movement possibilities Chords are written like
this - there is no notation involved
E E D
C B B
A A G
F F E

The whole thing is set up to explore a minimum of movement from chord to
chord.

I actually have been writing using this method as sort of a " shorthand"
system with some of my students and have been getting terrific results. Goodrick
also uses a system of arrows to indicate tones moving higher or lower, but
most of the time it is pretty clear just to use the letters.

I spent years trying to make sense out of jazz fake books, but now it is
starting to make sense. I try to look at a new tune every day. I still have
major questions concerning what scales to use over certain altered chord
sequences, and how it all connects. I am amazed at some of the great jazz and bebop
players, and am always curious to know some of the things that they used
to get to where they are.

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