10 February 2012
by Bill Parsons
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Diminished Scale In a recent Fusio class I introduced the diminished scale. It’s a symmetrical scale that has two versions: whole/half and half/whole. This is a rich scale that is most easily found in classical music and jazz. Whole-half C … Continue reading
8 February 2012
by Bill Parsons
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How to find your voice What draws a person to express themselves through music is a mystery. Usually a recording or a particular performance just at the right moment sparks the desire. And then it can take years before the … Continue reading
31 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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HARMONY Playing chords is a big part of what a guitar players do, whether they know the rules of tertian harmony or not. Knowing basic theory can help take your playing to the next level. Create a Chord Progression Chord … Continue reading
23 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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The Maples Inn I first met Blair at the Maples Inn in Montreal somewhere in the mid to late 1970s. The “Mapes” was a local watering hole on the north shore of Lac St. Louis. It was the place to … Continue reading
21 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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(still image: Chuck Samuels) Translating Grace The fourth large project I am involved with is Grace, a soon to be released CD by Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan. Back in 2005 I was commissioned to compose a piece for the Sundanese … Continue reading
17 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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Hurting Tune The first time I heard I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams I thought it sounded like a movie that was made during the Great Depression. Some guy on the road with a guitar, singing songs … Continue reading
9 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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3 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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Portrait Photography The phenomenon of genius discovery after the fact is Mike Disfarmer’s story. From a small town in Arkansas he was a curious man who photographed his community. His portraits remind me of Diane Arbus. There’s an odd story … Continue reading
31 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
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LOOPING Looping is a technique I have often used when composing. It involves repeating or “looping” musical materials, such as a melodic phrase, a texture, or a chord progression. The term “loop” comes from early electronic composition where a piece … Continue reading
23 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
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Grammy Award Winners In September 2010 I shot sixty-four lessons for the Creative Guitar Ensemble DVD project, Grammy Award Winners. The idea for the DVD was to create multi-guitar arrangements for eight classic songs for Beginner to Semi-professional guitarists to … Continue reading