Chord Construction and Harmonic Mastery for Acing The Real Book - Paperback

by Eddie Landsberg (Author)

"The Real Book" has set the gold standard for Jazz fake books. This book aims at giving you the rich harmonic vocabulary that you need to benefit from its lead sheets, as well as effectively utilize any fake book that requires you to be able to make and substitute chords on the spot. The author, Eddie Landsberg, is a master theorist and Jazz clinician from Philadelphiawho has developed a reputation as a musician's musician. Work through this book and you'llfind out why his "7 Secrets" method has grown into an international underground phenomena selling thouands of copies around the world. Step-by-step, this book will teach you how to construct and connect rootless chord voicings, analyze tunes, alter tones and substitute chords and more. Using plain and simple langauge, Eddie is a master of taking the esoteric and making it common sense. Not since the release of Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory" and "Jazz Piano Book" has so thorough a method been available. In the tradition of master educators such as Schillinger, Schenker, Sandole, David Baker and others, Eddie Landsberg takes must know theory and brings it to life with insight, wisdom and teacher know-how. Welcome to The 7 Secrets of Jazz and Soul and the first volume of "Chord Construction and Harmonic Mastery for Acing The Real Book".----------------------------------------------------------Book Overview: Intro: Building Your Repertoire, Building Your Chord Vocabulary Mastering scales and chords using whole tone scales and overtones A different approach to Major Thirds and Perfect FourthsMastering Major 7th and Minor ChordsHow to memorize tunes quickly using Roman Numeral AnalysisDominant Chords, Upper StructuresAlternating M6 and Diminished Chords to Harmonize Key CentersConcept of "Resolving to the I"Mastering Chord CentersThe book also covers modes, advanced harmonization with block chords, dealing with tricky modulations and more. Chords and Modes Covered: Major (triad, rootless, 7ths, 9ths, etc.)Minor (triad, rootless, 7ths, 9ths, etc.)Dominant (9th, b9, #9, 13, b13)DiminishedHalf DiminishedMinor#7AugmentedFourth VoicingsDorian ImprovPhrygian Dominantet. alWhat instrument is the book suited for?The activities are meant to be worked out on a keyboard instrument; however, the theory is cross applicable to all instruments.Is the book suitable for beginners?The author believes that even advanced musicians lack rudimentary knowledge at times, therefore, very basic concepts are reviewed before tackling more advanced ones. Is the book suitable for more advanced musicians?The author recommends this book for any musician who has not mastered Jazz harmony and chord construction regardless of their level. What books is it similar to?/How is it different?One key concept that sets the book apart from others is that it is that it is super practical. Also, it distinguishes between "chords" and "melodic harmonizations". By the end of the book, the reader is able to construct, alter and connect chord voicings on the spot, as well as harmonize melodies with rich 3, 4 and 5 note voicings in all keys. The book also combines block chord, modal and overtone based approaches to chord construction in a way lacking in many other books. For this reason, it is somewhat different than other books on the topic.How much music notation is required?None. The book uses graphs and charts to demonstrate voicings For example to explain how to play C-7 to F7 the book might say: (C) Eb G Bb D(F) Eb G A D(*Play the note in parenthesis in your LH in the bass. Play the right hand notes above middle C.)

Author Biography

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Eddie Landsberg began classical piano training at the age of 5, starting his Jazz Studies at Settlement Music School in his teens. Switching to Hammond Organ, he received his first organ lesson from the legendary Shirley Scott and studied composition and performance with Big John Patton, with additional guidance from Austin Mitchell (an early Jazz organist who was a favorite accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald.) Eddie holds a B.A. in Music from Thomas Edison State University and has done Graduate work at Rutgers University. After recording several CDs which received national radio play in the U.S and serving as a studio demonstrator for the Nord Electro organ, he moved to Japan where he spent almost 20 years teaching, leading bandstands and doing studio work. He returned to the U.S. in 2017.