IMPROVISATION - by Michael Furstner
IMPROVISATION EMAIL COURSE - by Michael Furstner
INTRODUCTION
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CONTENTS
Intro 1. Use a 'Fixed font' for viewing and printing out.
Intro 2. Midi files and Sheet music
Intro 3. Email Music Notation System
Intro 4. Transposing Instruments
Intro 5. How to transpose Melodies and Chord symbols
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Intro 1. USE a 'FIXED FONT' for VIEWING and PRINTING OUT
Hello and Welcome to the Jazclass Improvisation Course.
I am sure you will enjoy this Course and learn a great deal as the lessons
gradually unfold.
Make sure to read and print out all Email Lessons using an equal spaced
'fixed font' ('typewriter font'), like for example Courier, Monaco or
Mishawaka (size 9 or 10), so that the illustrations display properly.
Other fonts will not display illustrations and notations properly.
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Intro 2. MIDI FILES and SHEET MUSIC
The Jazclass Improvisation Email Course includes a LIBRARY on CD-ROM which
contains all midi file demos, play-a-longs and sheet music for all
instruments.
The sheet music appropriate for your instrument is indicated as follows :
* 'C-instrument' files are for :
accordion - banjo, bass - flute - guitar - harp - keyboard
mouth organ - oboe - recorder - trombone - vibes - violin - voice
* 'Bb-instrument' files are for :
clarinet - cornet - flugelhorn - tenor saxophone - trumpet
soprano saxophone
* 'Eb-instrument' files are for :
baritone saxophone - alto saxophone - Eb clarinet
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Intro 3. EMAIL MUSIC NOTATION SYSTEM
Before you start let me explain how to read the music in these Email lessons.
In the Email music notation I write the melody notes and rests on the upper
level(s), and the beats in each bar on the bottom level between the two
dashed horizontal lines. (Where appropriate the Time Signature will appear in
front of the system (as shown below) :
--------------------------------------------------
4 | C D | - A G - | <--- notes and rests
4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 + 3 4 + | <--- beats in the bar
--------------------------------------------------
Notes go up in pitch from left to right as on a keyboard :
C D E F G A B c d e f g a b c'
-------------------->|------------------->|
one octave | one octave
c is one octave above C, c' is one octave above c.
In most cases : capital C = middle C on the keyboard.
Sometimes, (when writing scales or chords) the lower case letter may indicate
the note 1 octave above the note with a capitol letter :
For example : F major scale - F G A Bb C D E f
G9 chord - G B D F a
Common sense will prevail.
When notes are placed on top of each other (or on different levels), then the
lowest placed note will always be lowest in pitch, and higher placed notes
will be progressively higher in pitch :
--------------- ------------------
highest note --> | C | | D | <-- higher note
| A | | B | <-- lower note
lowest note --> | F | ------------------
---------------
Rests are shown as minus signs (-). Its minimum length is half a beat.
A beat is divided in a down-beat (beat number) and an up-beat ('+'), each of
a half beat duration. Like tapping your foot :
down - up - down - up - down - up - down - up
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^
v | v | v | v |
In 4/4 time : 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
In general I will only show an up-beat (+) when there is a note or a rest at
that point in the bar, but I will also insert them at places where this makes
the music easier to read.
NOTE- and REST-LENGTH
Each note length continues until the next note or next rest regardless of bar lines.
Likewise each rest (-) continues until the next note regardless of bar lines.
(Occasionally I may use several rest signs (-) where this makes it easier to
read the music.)
EXAMPLE 1
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4 | C D | F A G - | (<--- notes and rests)
4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 + 3 + 4 + | (<--- beats in the bar)
------------------------------------------------
In above example :
C = 2 beats D = 3 beats (3, 4 and 1 of the next bar) F = 1/2 beat
A = 1/2 beat G = 1 1/2 beats - = 1/2 beat rest
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EXAMPLE 2
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4 | C - D | - F A G | (<--- notes and rests)
4 | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 4 | (<--- beats in the bar)
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In above example :
1st bar : C = 1/2 beat - = 1 beat D = 2 1/2 beats
2nd bar : - = 1/2 beat F = 1/2 beat A = 1 beat G = 2 beats
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Intro 4. TRANSPOSING INSTRUMENTS
The trumpet, saxes and clarinet are so-called 'transposing instrument.
They are tuned in a different key than the piano. Therefor the pitch of the
'C' on their instrument is not the same as a 'C' on the piano.
To play in tune with 'Concert key-' (C-) instruments their sheet music for
songs is notated in a different key.
In the Jazclass courses sheet music is included for all transposing
instrument.
The three groups of instruments are :
C INSTRUMENTS all keyboards, banjo, bass, flute, guitar, mouth organ,
trombone, violin, voice)
Use the G Blues Midi files for your Blues in G
Use the C Blues Midi files for your Blues in C
Use the F Blues Midi files for your Blues in F
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Bb INSTRUMENTS (trumpet, clarinet, soprano- and tenor- sax)
Use the F Blues Midi files for your Blues in G
Use the Bb Blues Midi files for your Blues in C
Use the Eb Blues Midi files for your Blues in F
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Eb INSTRUMENTS (alt- and baritone- sax)
Use the Bb Blues Midi files for your Blues in G
Use the Eb Blues Midi files for your Blues in C
Use the Ab Blues Midi files for your Blues in F
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Intro 5. HOW TO TRANSPOSE MELODIES and CHORD SYMBOLS
You can use the two note letter strips below to transpose notes and chord
symbols quickly from one key to another.
Use Strip 1 (with both sharp and flat note names) for the notes or chords of
the original song.
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STRIP 1
C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A#
C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use Strip 2 to find the notes or chord symbols in the new key :
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C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C
STRIP 2
(Transposition)
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Example : Transposing Triad Blues from C (original key) to G (new key)
Simply align the new key letter name 'G' on Strip 2 with the original key
name 'C' on Strip 1 :
STRIP 1
C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A#
C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C
C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C <--- STRIP 2
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align G with C
Now read from Strip 1 : C E G E C (in the original key of C)
straight underneath are : G B D B G on Strip 2 in the new key of G.
The chords C (I) , F (IV) and G (V) in the old key of C,
become G (I) , C (IV) and D (V) in the new key of G.
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JAZCLASS - www.jazclass.aust.com
Copying permitted for personal use only.
Copyright 1997 Michael Furstner. All rights reserved.
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