JazzMando.com | Promoting the mandolin as a legitimate, sonorous voice in the jazz genre.

05.21.13

JazzMando V-picks are back in stock
We've reloaded with an order of our proprietary clear V-picks. A highly successful joint venture with V-picks in 2011, we've since offered a custom variation
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05.19.13

Why music moves us.
Music is "cheesecake?" The following video makes the case for that, and activity that isn't something that drives our evolutionary advancement or need for
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05.17.13

Introducing 5-string chord pairs: 'm7b5 V7'
The 'IV V7' part of the 'IV V7 I' is pretty easy for any folk or blues musician to pick up. It's a major part
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	"Good improvisation communicates harmonic progression melodically. Effective melodies manipulate harmonic content through the use of guide tones and preparatory gravity notes, masterfully woven in systematic tension, release, and transparent harmonic definition."

A collection of our past Mel Bay Mandolinsessions Articles in PDF format:

Enjoying a Draleon 'Royale' Gypsy Mandolin

Articles listed most recent on top, oldest on bottom.

"Sweet" Chords: Fresh chord voicings and their context.

Alternate Fingerings Part 2: Incorporating the Four Pentatonic Fingerings.

Alternate Fingerings Part 1: New ways to get around the fretboard.

Developing Pentatonics for Jazz: A systematic approach to pentatonic mastery in all 12 keys.

Thinking Good Tone Part 2: Using the picking hand to start Good Tone.

Thinking Good Tone Part 1: What the Pros say about Good Tone.

Leading Off Third Base: The benefits of third position fingering.

Linear Leanings: Another look at spicing up bland chord progressions.

Chords in Passing: Exploring Diatonic Chord Progressions.

Keeping in Suspense: A look at "Sus" chords and variations.

Chord Melody: Scratching the Surface.

Reharmonization Secrets Part 2: Taking more "harm" out of Reharm.

Reharmonization Secrets Part 1: Taking the "harm" out of Reharm.

Three Four Pull: Foregoing the Fourth Finger Frack.

Hear it (mp3)! Three Four Pull

Suspicion of Melodic Intent: Principles of effective improvisation and the creation of melody.

Chord Commonalties: m6, m7b5, rootless 9th.

On the Up and Up: Jazz Articulations.

Line, Please? The importance of sustain.

Jazz Ensemble Techniques

Chicken "Nuggets": Afraid to improvise?...Don't be!

Again the Tonal Centers: Understanding the 'ii V7 I'

Extending your vocabulary: The Augmented 11th

Some Minor Issues: 'Gravity' Notes in Minor

Critical Decisions in Improvising: 'Gravity' Notes

Understanding the 'ii V7 I': Tonal Micro-centers

Understanding the 'ii V7 I' Progression

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