music notes | The Musicians blog

Spike Jones and his City Slickers, free App…

Spike Jones

Some of the old entertainers laid it down for many of us musicians to take note and to follow in their footsteps… Now, iOS Universal has created an app that gives you free access to over 50 plus episodes of Spike Jones performance. And they have a list of some earlier great works available… (see story lead, below)
Ron-
btw, here’s an earlier clip of Spike Jones doing his thing. If you get an opportunity, check out a couple more clips to witness his cleaver works of yester-year…

https://youtu.be/BHTryPVFMao

The very name of Spike Jones became synonymous with crazy music. While he enjoyed the fame and prosperity, he was annoyed that nobody seemed to see beyond the craziness. Lindley Armstrong “Spike” Jones (December 14, 1911 – May 1, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader specializing in performing satirical arrangements of popular songs. Ballads and classical works receiving the Jones treatment would be punctuated with gunshots, whistles, cowbells, and outlandish vocals…
Free App and more info here ->
https://appshopper.com/music/spike-jones-collection

White Boys and Metal Music…

The Heavy Metal minority includes women and blacks. Interestingly enough, some music does have a fair amount of race and gender exclusions… some that you’d never think would be the case…

Ron-

(by Mike Bell, Postmedia News)

What shouldn’t happen and what is entirely inexcusable, though, is when the self-proclaimed gatekeepers of a certain musical style let more important things such as race and gender enter into their “membership requirements,” and do all that they can to make sure those who don’t fit the bill know they’re interlopers…
Read On Here ->
https://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/heavy+metal+minority/8975442/story.html

Janis Joplin on Girls in Rock n’ Roll…

Janis Joplin… “You are only as much as you settle for.” Check out this excellent (video/audio) biography of one of our era’s most influential musicians and most tragic cultural icons… (click image above)

Ron-

(by blank on blank)
On September 30, 1970, four days before her death, Janis Joplin gave her final interview, a profound conversation about creativity and rejection with Howard Smith of the Village Voice, found in the altogether fantastic The Smith Tapes Box Set — an archive of Smith’s restored interviews with such icons as John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Jane Fonda, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, and more.

Fan page ideas for your website or social media…

As a musician, having a decent ‘Fan’ page on your website or any social media platform is a great way to develop your following. This article provides some cool and helpful insights as to how your might consider expanding on your current fan page (or building one from scratch)…

Ron-

(by WixBlog)
Making a fan website is a great way to show appreciation to actors, musicians, athletes, artists or any other remarkable person that made an impact on your life. If you play your cards right, your website can become a hub for communication and conversation with fellow fans…

5 Fan Page to do’s here -> https://www.wix.com/blog/2013/09/create-a-successful-fan-website/

Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, The Trondheim Experiment…

A previously unreleased concert performance by former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord is available online, courtesy of his family and friends.

Called ‘The Trondheim Experiment,’ the show features Lord working with a chamber orchestra at Nidaros Cathedral in Norway on May 24, 2010.

Noted as “a celebration of good friends and music” at a venue that Lord credited with changing his life, the recordings are now being offered as his tribute.

A celebration of a very special concert that offers fans a chance to hear an experiment of new arrangements, new musicians, and songs rarely played.

Lord himself passed away in July 2012, making ‘The Trondheim Experiment’ a sweet tribute to an artist who remained restlessly creative until his final days.

Check out the website — which also includes behind-the-scenes bonuses and an interview with Lord…
— here->
https://trondheimexperiment.com/intro.html
Ron-

New Orleans noise ordinance a mixed bag for musicians…

Wow, as of today New Orleans is going through a strange noise ordinance change, which will make a marked notation on her music heritage…
Ron-

(By Richard A. Webster, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
A new report commissioned by the New Orleans City Council on how best to revise the city’s noise ordinance was challenged as too lenient by several residents who spoke Monday at a meeting of the council’s Housing and Human Needs Committee. On the other side, members of the local music community urged the council to tread lightly and respect the city’s cultural heritage…

More on this noise compensation here…>
https://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/new_report_on_noise_ordinance.html

Guitar Chords and Scales guide…

I was going through one of my files 
the other day and ran across this small
pamphlet for musicians. 

It's a guitar note and chord musical 
reference guide...

And I want you to have it at no charge!

Just click on image above or hop-over here to download...
https://www.musicdials.com/MusicDialsReferenceGuide.pdf
(btw, no email opt-in required)

This free booklet includes; Key Signatures and 
the Circles of Fifths, how to play chords 
in accompaniment, playing chord extensions, 
melody and lead notes, scale references, 
and much more.

Enjoy your complimentary pdf download as 
my 20th Anniversary Music Dials gift to you!

... yep, it's free!

Until next time, Jam On!

Ron Greene

How to Transpose Music

Basic Music Transposition…

OK… as we discussed in our recent posts (basic music theory, guitar power chords, et.al.) it was suggested that we visit the subject matter of… Music Transposition.

To transpose music simply means… to change the pitch of each note without changing the relationships between the notes. Now, relationship between notes is one thing, another topic we’ll touch on is, how it actually changes the ‘feel’ of the original composition. But, first let’s take a look at the basic fundamentals. Continue reading How to Transpose Music →

Guitar Power Chords

“Guitar Power Chords” relating to the Music Dials…

Hi –

Rhythm and chords have always been the popular foundation for all types of music. Power chords are essentially, just 2 (many times 3) of the strongest tonal notes in the key of the song, which creates powerful sounding chords all to themselves.

In this case, by playing these notes as viewed on the Music “Power Chord” Dial, you will immediately find yourself laying down some substantial rock and blues sounds, indeed. Generally, they are played on the lower registered (bass) strings, where they have the most ‘punch’ to them. Continue reading Guitar Power Chords →