John, if I had to guess it's where I live......a very impersonal part of the world. My mother used to say: "nobody's going to tell you to shine your shoes so you look better than me." I say, no one around here dares to talk music around here......they're paranoid....you might become better than them! At least I have the satisfaction of knowing what Frank Sinatra knows......"I did it.......my way."




Where, where where?



Where, where where?



I'm doing a lot of chord substitution lately, but I've seen some "chord substitutions" that looks like Albert Einstein did them. I envy those musicians who have that kind of musical imagination. I'm not one of them.

Mark you’ll find Bill Norrie here in the Technics section of Synthzone.

Because I started as a guitar player I know a lot about chords. I studied chord theory with Joe Monk; he had my interest on the first lesson when he took “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and turned it into a jazz tune. In my studies he had me add a chord change on every beat. I would not play the song that way, it was only a study. I learn that my chords had to tell a story; make a statement. Just strumming the chords was a no no.

We were playing in a club when I learned my next lesson. A female jazz singer was asked to sing a song with my band, Bass, Drums, Accordion, and my guitar. The singer asked the Accordion not to play. I asked why. Her reply: Accordion players normally voice their chords with the melody on the top giving me no freedom to sing what I am feeling.

The good news Mark is what I have is yours – no charge.
John C.

Thats still a mistake i hear quite some OMB's make... playing the meoldy and singing on top of that..

Learning how to comp a singer is an art form in itself, it takes years of experience learning how to "sit in the pocket" volume wise & and when to play solo, lead etc..