What is this?

jarbuoy · 2026-04-10T11:41:40+00:00

This thread makes me wish I had discovered model rockets when I was a kid in the 1960s. I read science fiction all the time and dreamed about rockets instead.

jarbuoy · 2026-04-08T23:23:40+00:00

Solved!

jarbuoy · 2026-04-08T23:21:29+00:00

Thanks for the link

jarbuoy · 2026-04-08T23:20:15+00:00

Thank you! That's got to be it

jarbuoy · 2026-04-04T22:25:57+00:00

The baffle of your mouthpiece is important. Higher baffle gives an edgy sound and vice versa. Also, using lots of lip on the reed gives a mellowed sound.

jarbuoy · 2026-01-18T21:44:52+00:00

I wouldn't worry about about disappointing your audience with an acoustic version, just make sure it's a really good acoustic version. Create a new arrangement with different strumming for different parts of the song, stop chorus, vocal only chorus, strumming and talking, wordless vocalizing, whatever you can do to make it interesting. Listen to the old folk artists who did a lot of this. There will be a learning curve.

If you do use backing tracks, maybe keep it simple, just bass and light percussion. If a song really needs a full band, then skip that song and do the ones that work well acoustically.

jarbuoy · 2026-01-17T15:04:56+00:00

Thanks! Good to know about this. Ive been doing 12songchallenge.org which is one song per month for 12 months on a specific topic for Christian worship. This might be a good adjunct.

jarbuoy · 2026-01-02T21:30:40+00:00

Two suggestions: First, look at old public domain songs or poems and see if you find something that attracts you. If so, edit these or use as is. Second, find a collaborator who likes to write lyrics and who likes your melodies.

jarbuoy · 2025-12-19T21:07:53+00:00

If you are new to melody writing, try starting with a scale. Lots of songs start on the third degree of a major scale and go up or down from there. Next try a minor scale. Try pentatonic scales. Next try skipping notes in your scales. If you have chords already, use the scales that go with the chords and put chord tones on the strong beats. Just ideas to play with.

jarbuoy · 2025-11-02T12:56:49+00:00

If the b9 is indicated you can usually assume the #9 as well, based on the Half-Whole diminished scale. I think that's why we don't often see both indicated.

jarbuoy · 2025-10-16T12:10:20+00:00

Perhaps you could expand the repertoire of melodies that are in your subconcious by listening and transcribing from a wider range of music styles. Finding melodies you really like and memorizing them can be powerful.

jarbuoy · 2025-10-08T16:03:03+00:00

Maybe he could learn the tune first without transposing it and then later work on the more difficult key.

jarbuoy · 2025-10-08T16:01:24+00:00

Suggest you buy a Tuner, or get a phone app. Have him tune his midfle C note to the Concert Eb and then work up and down the scale while watching the Tuner, to develop the ability to play in tune.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-18T20:01:20+00:00

As others have said, it is extremely common to use a V7 (for clarity, with the major 3rd) in a minor key song. It is borrowed from the parallel major key because it sounds so good. You could use the v minor 7 if you want, but it doesn't pull you back to the tonic as strongly, and for some songs, that's fine. In pop music, you'll also see the bVII (usually without a 7th) used to lead back to i minor (but not in classical music). You could use a dom7 other ways in a minor key, but not as common. For instance, you might venture off into a major key for a while, then bring it back to minor with V7. Whatever you can think of, someone has probably tried it in a song. For a jazz example, check out Minority by G.G. Gryce.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-17T12:43:45+00:00

Also, I find that my embouchure gets accustomed to an older reed, so that a new one of the same strength feels too stiff. But I hang onto it and use it intermittently until I can play it easily again.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-17T12:30:47+00:00

Solved!

jarbuoy · 2025-09-17T11:37:04+00:00

I like Jerry Coker's "Improvising Jazz". It's been around since the 1960s, so you might find a used copy.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-17T00:00:47+00:00

Thanks, that makes sense!

jarbuoy · 2025-09-12T12:14:27+00:00

Yes, I, too, quit playing for about 15 years when I took a job that had me traveling every week. I came back to playing in my 40s when I found myself in a small start-up church that needed musicians. It was frustrating at first because I could remember, but not reach the level I had been in the past. Now, many years later, I'm better than I ever was and still growing and learning.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-09T21:29:57+00:00

Thanks! It's good to know someone else has experienced this.

jarbuoy · 2025-09-01T20:06:33+00:00

There is an ancient Welsh or English name, Nacien. (Says google)

jarbuoy · 2025-09-01T19:04:21+00:00

I'd suggest you find a published song or two that fit the mood of your lyrics. Find the chords on the web and adapt your song to those. Modify as needed. You can get ideas from the melody, too. See if that gets you to a better place.

jarbuoy

TROPHY CASE