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Post new topic Fun with intervals: Tenths (Blue Monk)
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Author Topic:  Fun with intervals: Tenths (Blue Monk)
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2011 7:07 pm    
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For those who are interested, I just posted up a little exercise introducing the use of the tenth interval. The exercise was written for C6 tuning, 8 strings, but if you have a 6 string, you can do part of the exercise.

My goal is to explore this in more depth as it is one of the really important factors in playing in a chordal style.

Fun with Tenths

Fun with tenths, part 2, Blue Monk
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Last edited by Mike Neer on 27 Jul 2011 8:03 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2011 10:08 pm    
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Great stuff Mike!! On a 10 string C6 you can extend the scale down, using strings 9 and 4, and 10 and 5, and 10 and 6. I've been having fun exploring; even doing a few slants every now and then. Thanks.
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2011 3:17 am    
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Although the exercise I created was for C6, you can find tenths in almost every tuning. If you play G dobro tuning, the 10th interval exists in string pairs 1 and 5 and 2 and 6. With a tuning like E or D (1 5 3 1 5 1), though, you are limited to just one pair of strings tuned a 10th apart: strings 3 and 5.

You can play through any chord progression, outlining ALL of the changes with just these shell voicings. I believe this to be one of the most useful devices in playing a rhythm or comping type of steel in addition to its usefulness in creating harmonized melody lines. I have a ton of good stuff worked out for it that I'm going to share, a little at a time.
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2011 8:21 pm    
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I've now created a part 2, which is an arrangement of Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk" in tenths, very much like you hear him play it.

The tenth interval stuff will really open a lot of doors to understanding chord movement.

Fun with tenths, Part 2, Blue Monk
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Geoff Cline


From:
Southwest France
Post  Posted 27 Jul 2011 5:44 am    
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Mike:

Your blog and teaching materials are the best things to happen to steel guitar in a generation. Thanks for your spirit, generosity and musicianship.

Inspiring!
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 1 Aug 2011 3:59 am    
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I guess this is not much of a popular topic, but if you consider the fact that you can substitute the interval of a tenth anywhere you'd play a third (using exactly the same bar positions), it adds a whole new dimension to your sound. I'm listening to Jules Ah See lately and he employs this wide harmony quite a bit to his melody playing.

The wider distance between the strings also makes slanting quite a bit easier, so it is easier to get around more quickly for melody playing. The right hand picking is a little more challenging, as it's easier to pick the wrong string. That's what practice is for! Laughing

Try it--use a tenth anywhere you'd normally play a third.
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