Category Archives: Theory

Circle of Fifths Revisited

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Gandalfe

Overheard: Music has always been a bit of a mystery to me because I didn’t understand it. As a specific example, I didn’t understand why a major chord sounds nice. Why does (0,4,7) harmonize? I’ve finally read enough to figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Guides, Music, Theory | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jim Schmidt’s Linear Fingering System for Sax

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Gandalfe

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut Jim Schmidt, inventor, musician, and part mad scientist has been working on a very unique sax fingering system that takes linear … Continue reading →

Posted in Music Instruments, Saxophone, Theory, YouTube | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Best Guitar Secret I know…

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Gandalfe

My brother is a luthier, a luthier who once repaired a guitar for Rod Stewart. So when he recommended Elixir guitar strings I gave them a try. The nano coating feels good to my touch and lasts sooo long. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertisement, Guides, Guitar, Hobbies, Music Instruments, Repair, Theory | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

XKCD: Age Timeline

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Gandalfe

From XKCD. Hmm… regarding 55 on—we’ll see. 

Posted in Health and wellness, Humor, My World, sex, Statistics, Theory | Tagged | 1 Comment

Balancing work and kids ~ real advice for real life

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Gandalfe

In my travels for Microsoft I often get asked about work/home life balance. Having come from 20 years in the military, I really wanted to find a job where I could create a successful and satisfying balance. I think I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Gigs, Health and wellness, In the news..., Lifestyle, Microsoft, My World, Nerds, Playtime, Research, retirement, Theory | Tagged | 3 Comments

Why is there no B# or E#?‏

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Gandalfe

At work on the company musicians alias a fellow named Wolf asks: Why is there no B# or E#? Or to put it another way; Why are there 7 notes A-G? There’s 12 halftones in the western octave. I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogosphere, Community, Music, Theory, Wikipedia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Top 10 Things that should have Disappeared this Decade

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Gandalfe

The first decade of the new Century and I’m already thinking about what technology and society has made obsolete. The funniest I’ve seen so far is from our friends at the Huffington Post cast as a photo show: 12 Things … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Education, Entertainment, Politics, Technology, Television, Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Searching for Internal Pulse ~ One Musician’s Quest

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Gandalfe

After a ~27 year break from music, yes work and family took front stage during that time, I returned to music performance. I played alto sax from fifth through 12th grade and then auditioned for marching band at the University … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Education, Everyday Science, Music, Theory | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Wannabe Sax Player ~ Greg Fishman

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Gandalfe

Greg Fishman has some wickedly hard and yet delightful Jazz Etude books out there. He also gives online Jazz Sax lessons, is a stellar musician in his own right, and admits to laughing as he responded to this potential saxophone … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Facebook, Jazz, Saxophone, Theory, YouTube | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Music Theory Cheat Sheet

Posted on November 28, 2010 by Gandalfe

The musician’s alias at work often comes up with gems such at this one: It would be nice to provide attribution for this if anyone knows the owner.

Posted in Cheat, Education, Hobbies, Jazz, Music, Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments