It was late 2009 when I got my first taste of Agadez. Searching a relatively…
Tag: blues
Getting to Know Your Reverends of Song
There’s really no arguing that the church has produced many of the most significant contributions…
Thelonious Monk and Harnessing Dissonance
Today, Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) would have been 100 years old. Happy birthday, brother! To celebrate a century…
Recognizing Jazz Idioms in Modern-Day Rhythms
By Emanuel Harrold As I go out and listen to new music on a daily…
The Unacknowledged Impact Gregg Allman Had on My Life as a Musician
I never listened to the Allman Brothers much, which is probably not what you’d expect…
Focus on Simplicity: Exercises to Strengthen Your Foundations in Improvising
By Mike Casey Raise your hand if you’ve heard this cliché before: “Simplicity is the…
3 Ways Learning an Instrument Can Help Your Songwriting
Although a lot of songwriters have at least a basic sense of either the guitar…
What Is the Saddest Chord Progression in the World?
The next time you’re writing a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching tune, try using this handful of chords to drive your sadness home.
6 Songs That Prove Otis Spann Sold His Soul to the Devil, Too
Blues legend has it that at the corner of Highway 61 and Highway 49 in…
5 Essential Alternate Tunings for Acoustic Guitar
By Casey van Wensem At some point in the 16th century, guitarists agreed that the…