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Improvising over Classical Music Masterpieces

This book explores Improvising over Classical Music. The examples in the book were recorded by Spooky Actions, a New York based ensemble created by John Gunther and Bruce Arnold. Spooky Actions has produced a diverse set of recordings include the music of 20th century composers Anton Webern, Arnold Schoenberg and Olivier Messiaen; interpretations of Native American music Volume One and Volume Two, and well as a recording of Early Music from the 2nd century BC through the 1500’s. Their unique and compelling sound is being met with critical acclaim and widespread interest.

Improvising on Classical Music Masterpieces

by Bruce Arnold Add digital copy to cart - $14.99

Contents of the Improvising over Classical Music Book

This book contains not only analysis of how the group "Spooky Actions" improvised over various Classical music masterpieces but a large body of ideas that a musician can use to Improvising over Classical music from various periods. There is a primer section in the book that covers: The most used scales in improvisation. (22 in total) The improvisational concepts of guide tones The improvisational concepts of playing over harmony. The improvisational concepts of using chord tones. The improvisational concepts of using approach notes. The improvisational concepts of using pitch class sets. Fingering for guitarists for the twenty two scales. All of this information is actually useful no matter what type of music you are improvising over!

Full Tracks Included from Many "Spooky Actions" CDs.

MP3s are included in the download as is a webpage where you can listen and see full scores of the music. There is a wide range of Classical Compositions included in this book which gives you a good background on how to approach different periods of classical music. Below you will find a list of the music analyzed and a link to the CD in which it can be found. You can also use this link if you want to listen to an excerpt before buying this book or want to hear a music excerpt from that composer or period.

"Early Music"

The following compositions were analyzed from the "Spooky Actions" CD "Early Music." "Skolion-of-Seikilos" Earliest known piece of music that was written. "Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday" The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi

“Quartet for the End of Time” by Olivier Messiaen

The following compositions were analyzed from the "Spooky Actions" CD "Quartet for the End of Time" by Olivier Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time” 1st Movement “Quartet for the End of Time” 6th Movement “Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement

"Five Piano Pieces," Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg

Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg from Spooky Actions "Five Piano Pieces" recording.. The following compositions were analyzed from the "Spooky Actions" CD Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg "Five Piano Pieces," Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg

The Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern

Ear Training Guided Tour

Ear Training Guided Tour

Many customers need help when deciding which products to purchase. This ear training guided tour will help you decide what are best courses to target you ear training issues. In general a student should work on a listening and singing exercises each day. It is best to do the exercises in short 5 to 10 minute sessions and do at least two sessions for singing and listening each day. That said doing five sessions a day would be much better. Ear training is all about developing your memory for a pitch. Think of it like learning a foreign language is a very good approach because it makes you realize this will take some time to master. The most important thing to remember in this ear training guided tour is to keep a positive attitude when practicing. Ear Training takes time and there are courses here to fix every issue you will run into. So stay positive and contact us if you need help. The courses listed on the ear training page are in a rough order of how to proceed and the number of courses change over time. This can vary depending on the student’s ability and or problems that are occurring. One of the main reasons for the existence of so many ear training courses is the problems students run into over the last 25 years and Muse Eek’s response by releases courses that have help fix issues students have with various aspects of ear training. Advanced Students If you are an advanced student and understand hearing all 12 pitches in a key center. (or at least think you do) Do the following: Ear Training One Note Extreme. (Listening Exercise) Contextual Ear Training (Singing Exercise) Practice Perfect Applied Jazz Ear Training (Applied Ear Training Exercises) Do Scale Analysis so you understand how this ear training works with chord progressions. Once you are at 80% on Ear Training One Note Extreme. and Contextual Ear Training go to: Highest Level of Key Note Recognition Once you are at 80% on Key Note Recognition move on to Two Note Ear Training. Start Melodic Ear Training Three Note Check these audio files to make sure you can hear the entire track in one key centerPractice Perfect Applied Jazz Standard Ear Training (3 Volumes of Jazz and Latin Standards) The idea here is if the course is too hard you can always backtrack. Check out the audio examples when available to double check that the course is challenging. There are many other ear training courses that you might find interesting in the catalog so look around. Always send us an email before purchasing something that you are not sure about because DIGITAL DOWNLOADS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Getting Started

90% of students need to start with Ear Training One Note Complete a listening course and Contextual Ear Training a singing course. It is also recommended you watch the 25 Ear Training Tips. There are a few alternative to these courses that were created because some student prefers to hear exercises with another instrument besides a piano or they prefer to do ear training within a particular music genre. Although you might think of these alternates as merely other choices the “context” in which you hear an exercise can also point out problems you may have. For instance, you might be able to do the ear training with a piano but once you hear the same exercise done with a voice you find the exercise to be much easier or much harder. This is normal and is one of the reasons Muse Eek created the “Instrumental Color” series so that students can work on ear training using the sound of their instrument but also so they can check to see if they have any issues when hearing the ear training exercises done with another instrument. You don’t need to go into this in depth at the beginning of your study but it is something to keep in mind.

Alternate Listening Courses: Ear Training One Note Vocal Edition Heavy Metal Ear Training Blues Guitar Ear Training Ear Training One Note with Degrees (answers are with degrees of a key center rather than note names)

Alternate Singing Courses: Contextual Ear Training Voice Edition Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing In this ear training guided tour a few comments about Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing are in order. This book was originally recommended before the existence of the Contextual Ear Training course. We now recommend the Contextual Ear Training course because it can be practiced anywhere. Some aspects of the Fanatic’s Guide need to be practiced where you have a instrument to check your accuracy. Fanatic’s Guide has quite a few exercises that 99% off all students will need to work on so it can be used in conjunction with Contextual Ear Training if you have time but certainly should be worked on after you are getting around 50% correct answers with Contextual Ear Training.

Applied Ear Training Courses

Once you are getting approximately 50% correct notes on the Ear Training One Note Complete and/or Contextual Ear Training or one of their alternates you should start applying your new skills to real music via either the Applied Ear Training courses or the Direct Application courses. The Difference between Applied and Direct Ear Training Courses Applied ear training is a much more graduated study of applying ear training to real music so is recommended for most students. That said the Direct Application courses have some very good ear training exercises both for listening and singing which can really help a student to cross the threshold between doing an exercise and having ear training work with real music.

Keep in Mind In this ear training guided tour keep in mind that for most students transferring over from an ear training exercise to using your new ear training skills with real music can be a slow process. You must work on using your newly achieved skills with real music and this is one of the hallmarks of the Muse Eek ear training courses. So don’t neglect this part of your ear training study. You goal is to hear music in real time and these applied ear training courses will do this for you.

Applied and Direct Application Ear Training Courses

There are many courses for Applied and Direct Application Ear Training. In general you can work on as many of these courses at once but they are listed in order of difficulty and many links are for a multiple series of courses. All Applied ear training courses have audio examples so you can check whether the course is appropriate for you. The Direct Application courses tend to not have examples and in general are harder courses.

Applied Ear Training Courses Practice Perfect Applied Ear Training (10 Volumes in different styles) Practice Perfect Applied Jazz Ear Training (3 Volumes using Blues, Minor Blues and Rhythm Changes) Practice Perfect Applied Jazz Standard Ear Training (3 Volumes of Jazz and Latin Standards) Practice Perfect Applied Classical Music Ear Training (2 Volumes using Bach Chorales) Practice Perfect Slash Chords Volume One Practice Perfect Slash Chords Volume Two

Direct Application Ear Training Courses Pure Country Ear Training Direct Application Ear Training Volume One Major Direct Ear Training CD Volume One Dorian Direct Ear Training CD Volume Two Direct Application Harmonic Major Modes Secondary Dominants: Direct Application Ear Training Singing the Blues

Understand How to Hear Chords Within A Chord Progression

Before the ear training guided tour continues a few words about the course Secondary Dominants should be mentioned here. Secondary Dominants as well as the mega course Scale Analysis teach you how this type of ear training translates to hearing chord progressions. This is important to understand as you are starting this ear training so that you learn to think and hear chord progressions in the same way. THIS IS CRUCIAL, don’t go down the path of learning a new key center for every chord within a chord progression this is not how you hear music. I recommend getting the Scale Analysis book right as you start your ear training quest. While you won’t be able to do all the singing assignments right away you can start filling in the scales that work with each chord within the chord progressions. Even if that is beyond your skills at least look at how all scales for all chords within the chord progressions are in one key center.

An Important Addition to Starting Ear Training

In this ear training guided tour I’ve skipped over talking about the MetroDrone which is a tool that I highly recommend using as soon as you start this type of ear training. The MetroDrone makes a metronome into key center producing device with the addition of the drone. Since most students have a problem with hearing everything that they play in a key center it is an excellent replacement for a metronome and should be used when practicing scales, arpeggios or anything else that can be hear in one key center. There is a acoustic string bass version as well as a tuba version. Some students have a problem with hearing the fundamental pitch when hearing a stringed instrument and should therefore use the tuba version. The tuba version also uses shorter lengths of notes which requires the listener to sustain the key center in their own mind which helps build key retention. The MetroDrone app is also available for iPhone.

Severe Ear Training Problems

In this ear training guided tour let's focus for a minute on those folks that are really having a tough time with ear training. If you have problems hearing whether a note is higher or lower than other then use the Total Beginning Ear Training for Adults or Children. If you are teaching a child or need to start with an alternate path to begin your ear training studies use the Ear Training for Children and Others Young at Heart.

Melodic Ear Training Courses

So in this ear training guided tour once you are getting over 50% correct notes with either the Ear Training One Note Complete and/or Contextual Ear Training you can start the Melodic Ear Training Courses. Melodic Ear Training starts with two notes and then adds on more notes. Links can be found below. Melodic Ear Training usually makes a student aware that they have weak key retention because they hear one of more of the melody notes modulate to another key. There are many courses to help fix key retention problems and they are crucial to getting to the next level with this type of ear training.

Melodic Ear Training Melodic Ear Training Two Note Melodic Ear Training Three Note Melodic Ear Training Four Note

Key Retention Courses Key Retention Builder Melodic Modulation Key to Your Kingdom

Advanced One Note Ear Training

Once you are getting over 80% on the Advanced Ear Training One Note Complete it is time to start Ear Training One Note Extreme. Ear Training One Note Extreme will prepare you for the next step in the ear training process where you need very fast recognition skills. Now is also a good time to go and listen to the examples for the Instrumental Color courses to make sure you can hear one note ear training with all the different instruments listed. If not start working on the instruments that cause you problems.

Key Note Recognition

Now as the ear training guided tour continues when you are getting over 80% on the Advanced Ear Training you can also move on to Key Note Recognition. Although this is really an alternative listening method for one note ear training it is usually very hard for students. This is again the idea of context showing you that your mind learns in one context at a time. There are four levels to Key Note Recognition because this course is also meant to build up your ability to recognize key centers that aren’t based on simple major or minor triads. This is a common problem for students that haven’t played or listened to a lot of different types of music. You should move up through the four levels of Key Note Recognition as you get 80% correct answers on each level.

Moving Past Contextual Ear Training Singing Course

Once you are getting over 80% on the Contextual Ear Training Singing Course it’s time to move to Fanatic’s Guide Volume One and Fanatic’s Guide Volume Two. Most important is to work on the Blues Singing exercise and sing through the written examples in the book. With Fanatic’s Guide Volume Two you continue your study of using different types of key centers like dominant, minor major 7 etc... There are 17 different types of key centers presented in this course. You can use the singing examples in Fanatic’s Guide Volume Two but you should also use the singing examples in Fanatic’s Guide Volume One with the 17 different types of key centers. You can also start the Contextual Ear Training Volume Two which has you sing two ascending notes instead of the one note you did with Contextual Ear Training.

Other Courses Once You Achieve 80% on One Note Ear Training

Now with this ear training guided tour if you are getting 80% on either the Ear Training One Note Complete or Contextual Ear Training there are quite a few courses that you can branch out to depending on your goals. Many times a student has interest in developing improvisational skills with chord changes so they might choose Guide Tones or Tools for Mastery One to learn approach note lines. If a student has interest in improvising with pitch class sets they might choose Trichord Ear Training All 3 Note Combinations or 013 Hexatonic Études. Here is a list in no particular order: Hearing Chord Progressions Hearing Bass Lines Diatonic Chords Guide Tones Lines Choral Ear Training Studies SATB Trichord Ear Training All 3 Note Combination Singing Exercises Ultimate Arpeggio 3 Note Combinations 013 Hexatonic Études: Pitch Class Set Exercises for Dominant 7th Key Center Tools for Music Mastery Tools for Music Mastery 2

Moving Past Key Note Recognition

At this point in the ear training guided tour continues if you are getting over 80% on any level of Key Note Recognition you can start Two Note Ear Training. Two Note Ear Training is a quantum leap in ear training skills so plan on being on this for awhile. Good news is once you get two note ear training three note and beyond will be fairly simple. You just need to speed up your recognition as you add in more notes. It is highly recommended that you use either the Grandeur Piano or Oboe two notes studies. With the addition of the “stereo” and “singing” exercises we have found that students cut by a third the amount of time it takes to master two note ear training.

Moving Past Two Note Ear Training

Once you are getting over 80% on Two Note Ear Training you can move on to each of the following levels: Ear Training Three Note Ear Training Four Note

Additional Ear Training Studies

And now for something different in your ear training guided tour. If you are getting over 80% on Ear Training One Note Complete or Contextual Ear Training you could also start Perfect Pitch Ear Training. Keep in mind that Perfect Pitch Ear Training is a COMPLETELY different way of hearing a pitch so make sure you are solid on your understanding of hearing a note in a key center before working on Perfect Pitch Ear Training.

Last But Certainly Note Least is Rhythm Ear Training Studies

Let us not forget in this ear training guided tour that rhythm is one of the core ingredients of music so don’t over look doing some Rhythm Ear Training. Muse Eek’s Rhythm Ear Training is unique because it can be done anywhere because the answers are supplied at the end of each exercise. There are various packages you can purchase but at least start with some level of Rhythm Ear Training so that it doesn’t become a hole in your musicianship. There is also the Rhythm Ear Training Video Course which helps a beginning student or student not familiar with were certain types of rhythms are used in real music. This Rhythm Ear Training Video Course is unique and can really help a budding musician understand how rhythms are used in many different styles. This also helps you when you are writing charts so that you have confidence that you are writing your parts on the correct metric level.

Honorable Mention

Contextual Ear Training

Contextual Ear Training

Add digital copy to cart - $24.99

Contextual Ear Training is one of our most popular Ear Training Singing Books.

If you are just getting started with the Bruce Arnold System of Ear Training, then Contextual Ear Training is an indispensable companion course that we cannot recommend highly enough. Contextual Ear Training is usually done with its sister course Ear Training One Note Complete.  The combination of both courses gives a student a listening and singing regimen of exercises that will totally transform your ability to hear music.  These two courses have been used by thousands of musicians to transform their ear training skills.  Both courses are not based on interval training or the distance between notes but upon the sound of each pitch within a key center.  Through the consist use of these exercises you will memorize the sound of all 12 pitches within a key center.  If you are having troubles along the way Mr. Arnold gives free and unlimited email support to customers that purchase his books.  There is also an extensive FAQ build into this website and well as multiple blogs where Mr. Arnold talks about many music subjects.  You are not out on your own once you start this ear training process and you are encouraged to check in and check in often to make sure you are not doing any of the exercises incorrectly.

Physical or Digital Download?/h2>

We are often asked which is better for doing the ear training exercises the physical book with CDs or the Digital Downloads. If you have a smart phone like an iPhone or a tablet that will play MP3s then the digital download should be your preferred choice. MP3s can be played on your desktop computer or any MP3 player like a cell phone. This allows you to do these exercises anywhere which is important. One of the first things Mr. Arnold recommends is doing these exercises multiple times a day and what better device to use that a portable phone. Got 5 minutes at the office as you wait for client. Listen to 5 or 6 examples. This type of approach will have you improving at a remarkable rate. Check in with Mr. Arnold after purchase and tell him about your everyday schedule and he will work with you to design the best approach. Digital downloads give you more options so that is what we highly recommend in most instances.

If you are just becoming aware of the this idea of "hearing within a key center" let's look at a little history of ear training for musicians

The "Interval" method of Ear Training has been taught in music schools for literally hundreds of years and rarely been questioned. This method is based on singing the distance between each note with no regard to a key center. The problem with this approach is pretty simple. It just doesn't work when you are trying to sing a melody. Some of the most common problems with singing by interval is: You can sing an interval but are totally lost when you try to apply it to real music. You have a tendency to sing sharp or flat Not being able to find the first note of melody when you start singing a song. You try to think the distance between each note as you try to sing or listen and get lost. Inability to maintain your own part when singing with in groups or choirs If you are experiencing any of these problems then you need to get Contextual Ear Training and start working towards hear music based by "key center."

Why doesn't interval training work?

If you are trying to sing each note as it flows by in music, there is no way that you can calculate the distance between each note even at a very slow tempo much less the usual speed that notes flow by in real time. The only way to instantly know what notes are being played is to ingrain in your mind the sound of each note within a key center so that you know the sounds you are singing in the same way that you see the color blue and know it's blue.

Our minds can't process interval relationships at the speed needed to sing notes accurately.

You can sit in a classroom and do sing a Major 6th when a teacher ask you to but if you are trying to do this in time as you are singing real music the problem gets worse and worse the more complicated the music becomes. In the real world, when music is being played in real time, as a musician, your mind just cannot calculate the intervals and analyze what you need to know in order to react properly right away. This isn't about intellectual ability, it's about the reality of TIME. So how do musician identify the sounds they are singing instantaneously?

Key Center is the "KEY"

Here's how they do it: They use the "key center" of a song and internalize the sound of all 12 notes within that key center. Quite simply when they sing the 3rd they are not thinking that the note is four half steps above the root or in relation to any other note --they are recognizing the sound of a 3rd because they have memorized that sound within a "key center."

Contextual Ear Training teaches you the "Key Center" process.

By working with the audio files in the Contextual Ear Training over time, you gain the ability to sing the sound of all 12 notes with a "key center." For some students this will be a quick and painless rebooting of the way they hear sound; for others it can be a frustrating path with many possible pitfalls.

Ear Training is a two pronged process. You need to work on singing notes and internalize what they sound like in a "key center" but you also need to identifying sound as you hear them from an external source.

With this in mind we have created a whole series of books that develop these two aspects of ear training. They basically boil down to listening exercises and singing exercises. For someone just starting our method we recommend: Contextual Ear Training and Ear Training One Note Complete. or Ear Training One Note Vocal Version

Contextual Ear Training and Ear Training One Note Complete together make a great ear training program.

Listening exercises found in Ear Training One Note Complete teach you to identify the sounds from external sources such as another band member or a song that you are hearing on your MP3 player. Singing exercises found in Contextual Ear Training help you identify the sounds you hear inside you when you are singing, improvising or composing. You need both sides of ear training to become a great musician. The good news is they complement each other so the more you work on one, the more it will the help the other.

Bruce Arnold is here to help you through the process.

Some students can fly through this ear training with no problem. But many musicians have problems and need personal help. Luckily Mr. Arnold offers email support for students as they work through this process. So rest assured as you enter this ear training method that you are not alone, and you can get expert help if you run into problems.

Helping musician for almost two decades!

This method has been helping musicians for almost 20 years now. It's one of the best selling methods Ear Training systems on the market. Simply put: It is successful because it works! BUT the secret weapon is Bruce Arnold. He is only an email way to help you. If you are a beginning or an advanced student seeking to perfect their skills, you can call on Bruce to help you through this process.

The FAQs

Over the years we have developed a FAQ resource containing thousands of questions that students have asked over the years. It is recommended that you read these FAQs because they will give you: A more complete understanding of the method. An insight into the problems and solutions others have had with this ear training. Encouragement and hope that you can do this, and that it just takes daily dedication. The knowledge that EVERYONE that has really put their mind to it has mastered this ear training without exception. The knowledge that dedicating a short amount of time each day: 5 to 10 minutes 5 to 10 times a day will be all it takes to master this ear training.

Where should you start?

First let's talk about how you will be doing this ear training. We have found that the best way to do this ear training is with an MP3 player. It allows for many more ways to organize the audio files and is very portable. We do offer physical books and CDs with with some of our ear training products but we HIGHLY recommend you not take this path with our ear training method. Digital downloads is a much better way to study this ear training because MP3s are much less expensive, easier to organize and cost half as much as physical books with CDs. We also have many ear training products that are ONLY available as digital downloads so it just makes more sense to go the digital route. So unless you REALLY only can use a CD player we sincerely recommend that you buy digital downloads of our ear training products.

For singing we most commonly recommend students start with Contextual Ear Training.

We do recommend along with Contextual Ear Training. that you also work with Ear Training One Note Complete.

More Information about Contextual Ear Training

The exercises found in this course are similar to the 1st assignment in the Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing. The main difference is you can do the exercises found in Contextual Ear Training anywhere that you can listen to an MP3 player, which is just about anywhere, whereas the exercises in the Fanatic's Guide require you have your instrument on hand to check your answer. There are two versions of the Contextual Ear Training: The version found on this page uses a piano to play the key center and also to give the answer. Contextual Ear Training Voice Edition uses voices to form the key center and gives you the answer with either a Tenor, Alto or Soprano sung voice. For many students who struggle with ear training, the Voice Edition can be easier, particularly if you choose an edition that is close to your own vocal range, so keep that in mind. The idea of singing sound based on a "key center" as opposed to an singing an "interval" really began a revolution in the way musicians perceive sound. When a seasoned musician sings a melody they are not thinking the distance between each note they are hearing that they are singing as pitches within a "key center." Seasoned musicians sing this way naturally after years of playing and singing but with Contextual Ear Training a student can fast forward their learning so that they can experience 30 years of ear training experience in a fraction of the time.

A complete transformation of musical perception with this ear training concept.

You will see from reading the reviews that this system of ear training has changed many musicians' careers. Even students that are just beginning with music have found that it completely transforms the way they hear and sing music. Additional Information: Digital IBSN: 978-1-59489-790-0 32 pages 4 CDs in audio MP3 format What people are saying: I'm a singer and I've struggled with pitch problems for years. At first I thought it was poor technique and just not breathing correctly but I've dealt with those issues and it lead me to the realization that I wasn't hearing music correctly. I always thought that you gauge the distance between each note and go note to note to sing a melody. Mr. Arnold's ear training completely changed the way I approached singing and from working with Contextual Ear Training and some of his other books I've very seldom sign off pitch now. I think I should also mention something that I had quite a few conversations in email with Mr. Arnold. Context is an extremely important aspect of learning and it's especially true with ear training. Take Contextual Ear Training for instance. You can be getting 100& correct answers with this book but you may still have problems singing and hearing when you are playing music. Mr. Arnold explained that we learn in a very contextually based way. So obviously the singing exercises in Contextual Ear Training book aren't a real music situation. In my case and I'm guessing in most people's situations you need to get Contextual Ear Training together but then you need to apply it to real music situations. Muse-eek has created some great products for this that I've been using and I highly recommend you check them out as a follow up to Contextual Ear Training or start using them when you get somewhere above 50% with the exercises. I've been using: Singing the Blues Contextual Ear Training, Lines Volume One: Sight Reading and Sight Singing Exercises and MetroDrone™: I use this to sing through songs that are all in one key center. This helps my timing too. I'd also strongly recommend you stay in contact with Mr. Arnold. He is very helpful and has saved me a bundle of money by recommending ways I could work on different aspects of my musicianship without spending a fortune of books. G. Gallagher I started playing guitar a few months ago and contacted Bruce. He recommended 1st Steps for a Beginning Guitarist and two ear training books: Ear Training One Note Complete and Contextual Ear Training. I started off getting about 30% right on the Ear Training One Note Complete exercise but I was completely unable to do the exercises in Contextual Ear Training. Bruce gave me encouragement and told be that my situation wasn't hopeless and that I should limit the Contextual Ear Training files that I used each day until I got my bearings. It took a couple of weeks but I started singing the notes rights. It's as start but I have a long ways to go. I feel like the support I get from Mr. Arnold makes this process doable. I know if I run into problems I can contact him and this helps me not get too down on myself and understand that I don't basically just suck but just need to work on music in the right way and I will improve. Thanks Bruce appreciate you being there! E. Hensley My 7 year old son and I really enjoy these materials by Bruce Arnold. We have One Note Complete, Contextual Ear Training, and Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing. We have been using One Note Intermediate and Contextual for just over one month. My son loves to do this ear training program, especially "name that note!" We home school, and we do Ear Training One Note and Contextual Ear Training as soon as we get out of bed, and then later in the school morning. I also do both programs later in the day, especially when I am working in the kitchen. My son almost always listens in, and sings along, or names the note, even when he is playing in the next room. After just one month, my son can accurately name all 7 diatonic notes, but none of the non-diatonic yet. I can accurately name C, D,G, and B. I can sometimes get A and F, and I hardly ever get E (yet!). For Contextual, both my son and I can sing Root (Do) for all the keys, although sometimes the minor keys do give us a bit of trouble. We can both sing 3 (Me) most of the time, but 3 still needs work. My son was able to sing 3 much sooner than me. I asked him how, and he said he "just knows what 3 sounds like." As for me, I got every single 3 wrong for over two weeks, and I was doing them at least 5 to 7 times per day! Then one day, I started getting a few of them correct! Then within a few more days, I was getting most of them correct. This system really does work. After listening to the cadence, the sound of the 3 would just form in my mind. We have been singing 5 (So) for about a week. 5 is coming along much faster than 3. Both of us could sing some 5's right away. We also continue to review Root and 3. This system is really fun to use and its working for us! F. Campbell Bruce Arnold's series of books are designed to achieve one and only one purpose: to teach...and to teach each subject the right way and in the most rational manner. He makes mention in different books and interviews to the fact that most music books or methods are designed for students to get good grades in school (I can't see how this method could be easily grade-able) or to offer the consumer a quick fix of success to feel that the book has worked and they haven't wasted their money, while in fact they will not really retain much of the information at all in the long run and the whole experience will have been a waste of time and money. I personally in my quest for good books on the subject of music have found this to be true, and I think that most of these books are made solely for the purpose of generating money (as most things are these days) and not really achieving their true purpose...the ones that seem to try to go past this I have found to be filled with half baked ideas and hazy methods. I am a professional jazz/classical saxophonist and a composer. I have a degree in music composition and performance and studied with some of the greatest teachers that I believe that are out there. For me, disappointment with music study books, whether they be for improvisation, ear training, composition, has been a normal experience and I have been mainly writing and inventing my own exercises,techniques, and practice routines for lack of finding anything that made any more sense from any "educational book". This ended when I found Bruce Arnold's series of books. I am in awe of the infallible logic behind every method in every book. I have been working out of many different books of his: the ear training books, the sight singing books, the Rhythm series, Big Metronome and Time Transformation, and they all WORK. I mean they really, REALLY work, as long as you follow the instructions and have patience and make up your mind before you start that you are going to stick with it. When I first found the books I instantly knew that I finally stumbled across something finally that made sense...but have refrained from writing a review anywhere until I thoroughly tested the products out. I believe that many of the more negative or indifferent reviews you will find here or on other sites are from recent buyers who have not yet started to see the results or are from people who have not made the decision to follow the directions and truly have the patience to follow through. I have been working with the Ear Training Method for some time now and am in the Two Note Series now, and my ears are at a level that I never thought possible. The concept of relative pitch as opposed to interval training is dead-on and if you study the method diligently you will see why it makes so much more sense. I have been working from THE BIG METRONOME every day and going through the rhythm books...and I am feeling rhythm in a way that is so effortless. When I play or compose music now it becomes more of a joy every day rather than a strenuous effort. If you want to learn music the right way, so that every aspect of music from theory to transcription to rhythm is like a second nature, then I recommend Bruce Arnold's books. As an added plus, you can (and are encouraged) to email him about any problems you are having or just even on your progress and he is very prompt and thorough in his responses. This is clearly a person who truly cares about what he is teaching and who has limitless integrity in his methods. If you ask me, the series of Bruce Arnold's Books and CD's are a goldmine, priceless treasures that can be bought for an incredibly low price considering the immense benefit that can be reaped from them. J. Mescia I'm currently working on Two Note Ear Training and singing jazz standards with close directions from Mr. Arnold. This has taken me 3 years of work but I've gone from not having a clue what I was hearing when I played music to sitting in a movie and knowing large swathes of notes and exactly what their relationship is to the key center. My composing skills have been transformed. I don't even need an instrument to compose I just hear sounds in my head and write them down. My improvisation skills have also made huge advances. I only wish I would have found Muse-eek.com earlier. I'm 32 years old wish I would have found this site when I was 15. Get with this program you won't be sorry. M. Hendricks Add digital copy to cart - $24.99  

Buy Contextual Ear Training and then contact Mr. Arnold with a detailed explanation of your level and goals.

Ear Training is very specialized to a students goals and abilities. It makes a lot more sense to use the contact information at the bottom of this page to contact Bruce after you have purchased these books to see what other products you might consider and how to organize your practice.

The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and Contextual Ear Training differences.

Contextual Ear Training and The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing are two closely related books. The 1st exercise and arguably the most important exercise for a beginning is the The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing is the "One Note" exercise. This "One Note" exercise develops the ability to instantly sing any of the 12 pitches over a "key center." Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing requires you to work with a CD and check answers with an instrument to do this exercise. Contextual Ear Training allows you to do this exercise anywhere because the answer is supplied in the audio files. Therefore you will improve quicker if you use the Contextual Ear Training "One Note" exercise because you can do it anywhere that you can use an MP3 player.

Which book should I get or should I get both?

We do occasional recommend both Contextual Ear Training and The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing to students that are working in a choir or other places where they are reading music. Contextual Ear Training you are not singing notes from a page. It will help you to sing notes from a page once you gain the ability to hear all 12 notes of a "key center." but it isn't building your sight reading skills. The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing does work with many exercises where you are singing notes from a musical staff. So if you are a singer where you need to work on both aspects of your musicianship we recommend both books.

Where do I go after I finish Contextual Ear Training?

Once you are getting 80% correct answers with the Contextual Ear Training Book we recommend you move on to The Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing. This book will offer you many other exercises to apply your skills

The FAQs

Over the years we have developed a FAQs resource containing thousands of questions that students have asked over the years. These FAQs are searchable by key word and we recommend that you read these FAQs because they will give you:   A more complete understanding of the method.     An insight into the problems and solutions others have had with this ear training.     Encouragement and determination that you can do this, and that it just takes daily dedication.     The proof that EVERYONE that has really put their mind to it has mastered this ear training without exception.     The reason why dedicating a short amount of time each day: 5 to 10 minutes 5 to 10 times a day will be all it takes to master this ear training.  

Bruce Arnold's Blog

Mr. Arnold's Blog on ear training and other musical topics can be very useful to learn about our ear training products. Some of the topics covers are linked below. Ear Training Guided Tour. Ear Training for Young People. Ear Training Encouragement.

Helpful Links to other products:

Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99  

Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing our best selling singing method.

The idea of singing sound based on a "key center" as opposed to singing an "interval" really began a revolution in the way musicians perceive sound. When a seasoned musician sings a melody, they are not thinking the distance between each note they are hearing, they are singing pitches within a "key center." Seasoned musicians sing this way naturally after years of playing and singing but with Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing a student can fast forward their learning so that they can experience 30 years of ear training in a fraction of the time.

A complete transformation of musical perception with this ear training concept.

You will see from reading the reviews that this system of ear training has changed many musicians' careers. Even students that are just beginning with music have found that it completely transforms the way they hear and sing music.

If you are only now acquainting yourself with this idea of "hearing within a key center" let's look at a little history of ear training for musicians

The "Interval" method of Ear Training has been taught in music schools for literally hundreds of years and rarely been questioned. This method is based on singing the distance between each note with no regard to a key center. The problem with this approach is pretty simple. It just doesn't work when you are trying to sing a melody. Some of the most common problems with singing by interval are: A tendency to sing sharp or flat Not being able to find the first note of the melody when you start singing a song. Inability to maintain your own part when singing within groups or choirs If you are experiencing any of these problems then you need to get Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and start working towards hearing music based by "key center."

Why doesn't interval training work?

If you are trying to sing each note as it flows by in music, there is no way that you can calculate the distance between each note even at a slow tempo much less the usual speed that notes flow by in real time. The only way to instantly know what notes are being played is to ingrain in your mind the sound of each note within a key center so that you know the sounds you are singing in the same way that you see the color blue and know it's blue.

Our minds can't process interval relationships at the speed needed to sing notes accurately.

Maybe you have no problem in the classroom when the teacher plays a note and asks you to sing a Major 6th above it, but if you are trying to do this in time as you are actually singing a piece of real music, it becomes problematic, and the problem is compounded the more complicated the music becomes. In the real world, when music is being played in real time, as a musician, your mind just cannot calculate the intervals and analyze what you need to know in order to react properly right away. This isn't about intellectual ability, it's about the reality of TIME. So how do musicians identify the sounds they are singing instantaneously?

Key Center is the "KEY"

Here's how they do it: They use the "key center" of a song and internalize the sound of all 12 notes within that key center. Quite simply when they sing the 3rd they are not thinking that the note is four half steps above the root or in relation to any other note --they are recognizing the sound of a 3rd because they have memorized that sound within a "key center."

Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing teaches you the "Key Center" process

In most cases we recommend you first work with Contextual Ear Training before moving on to Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing . By working with the audio files in the Contextual Ear Training over time, you gain the ability to sing the sound of all 12 notes within a "key center." For some students this will be a quick and painless rebooting of the way they hear sound; for others it can be a frustrating path with many possible pitfalls.

You have multiple singing method books. Which should I use first?

Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and Contextual Ear Training differences.

Contextual Ear Training and Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing are two closely related books. The first and probably most important exercise for a beginner in the Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing is the "One Note" exercise. This "One Note" exercise develops the ability to instantly sing any of the 12 pitches over a "key center." Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing requires you to work with a CD and check answers with an instrument to do this exercise. Contextual Ear Training allows you to do this exercise anywhere because the answer is supplied within the audio files, and it is much more portable. Therefore you will improve more quickly if you use the Contextual Ear Training "One Note" exercise because you can do it anywhere that you can take an MP3 player.

Which book should I get or should I get both?

We do occasionally recommend both Contextual Ear Training and Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing to students that are working in a choir or other places where they are reading music. With Contextual Ear Training you are not singing notes from a page. It will help you to sing notes from a page once you gain the ability to hear all 12 notes of a "key center," but it does not build your sight reading skills. Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing does contain many exercises that require you to sing notes from a musical staff. So if you are a singer who needs to work on both aspects of your musicianship we recommend both books.

Practicing Ear Training from two different perspectives is the best way to improve.

With this in mind we have created a whole series of books that develop these two aspects of ear training. They basically boil down to listening exercises and singing exercises. For someone just starting our method we recommend: Contextual Ear Training and Ear Training One Note Complete.

Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and Ear Training One Note Complete together make a great ear training program.

Listening exercises found in Ear Training One Note Complete teach you to identify the sounds from external sources such as another band member or a song that you are hearing on your MP3 player. Singing exercises found in Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing help you identify the sounds you hear inside you when you are singing, improvising or composing. You need both sides of ear training to become a great musician. The good news is they complement each other so the more you work on one, the more it will the help the other.

Bruce Arnold is here to help you through the process.

Some students can fly through this ear training with no problem. But many musicians have problems and need personal help. But have no fear, Mr. Arnold offers email support for students as they work through this process! So rest assured as you enter this ear training method, that you are not alone, and you can get expert help if you run into problems.

Helping musician for almost two decades!

This method has been transforming musicians for almost 20 years now. It's one of the best selling Ear Training systems on the market. Simply put: It is successful because it works! BUT the secret weapon is Bruce Arnold. He is only an email away to help you. If you are a beginning or an advanced student seeking to perfect your skills, you can call on Bruce to help you through this process.

Where should you start?

First let's talk about how you will be doing this ear training. We have found that the best way to do this ear training is with an MP3 player. It allows for many more ways to organize the audio files and is most portable. We do offer physical books and CDs with with some of our ear training products but we HIGHLY recommend you not take this path with our ear training method. Why? Because digital downloads are a much better way to study this ear training as MP3s are much less expensive, easier to organize, more easily portable and cost half as much as physical books with CDs. We also have many ear training products that are ONLY available as digital downloads so it just makes more sense to go the digital route. So unless you REALLY can only use a CD player we sincerely recommend that you buy digital downloads of our ear training products.

Recommended order of books.

For singing we most commonly recommend students start with Contextual Ear Training. and then move on to Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing . Also with Fanatic's Guide to Sight Singing and Ear Training...we recommend you work with Ear Training One Note Complete.

Where do I go after I finish Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing ?

Once you have worked through the exercises in Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing we recommend you move on to Key Retention Builder.

The FAQs

Over the years we have developed a FAQs resource containing thousands of questions that students have asked over the years. These FAQs are searchable by key word and we recommend that you read these FAQs because they will give you: A more complete understanding of the method. An insight into the problems and solutions others have had with this ear training. Encouragement and determination that you can do this, and that it just takes daily dedication. The proof that EVERYONE that has really put their mind to it has mastered this ear training without exception. The reason why dedicating a short amount of time each day: 5 to 10 minutes 5 to 10 times a day will be all it takes to master this ear training.

Bruce Arnold's Blog

Mr. Arnold's Blog on ear training and other musical topics can be very useful to learn about our ear training products. Some of the topics covers are linked below. Ear Training Guided Tour. Ear Training for Young People. Ear Training Encouragement.

Helpful Links to other products:

Our ear training books are available worldwide at different on-line stores. It is important to realize that there are physical versions of our books available that don't include the CDs. The book will plainly state in the description that it doesn't include a CD(s). In those cases you can either purchase a CD from Muse-eek.com or digitally download it from our website or itunes. If you have lost a CD or it's become damaged you can also order or download replacements. Please find links to other ear training products associated with the "One Note Series" below: CDs and Downloads only (contains no book). Direct Application "One Note" method recommended when you are getting 50% correct answers on any "One Note" level Melodic "Two Note" method recommended when you are getting 50% correct answers on any "One Note" level. Instrumental Color Series recommended when you are getting 50% correct answers on any "One Note" level. Additional Information: Digital IBSN: 978-1-59489-876-1 85 pages and 12 MP3s. What people are saying: Mr. Arnold offers practical advice and information to the contemporary music student. His several books present methods for learning music in an efficient and enjoyable manner. The methods were developed and refined during his many years of teaching, and are well informed by his professional associations with many of the world's finest musicians.I have taught music theory and aural comprehension to well over 1000 music students at New York University. These future performers and composers hail from a wide variety of musical backgrounds - classical, jazz, rock, music technology, and music theater - and I have instructed them in ear-training techniques that are similar in methodology to Mr. Arnold's. These techniques have caused dramatic improvement in almost all students that have applied themselves and allotted sufficient time for practice. In the 10 years of our acquaintance, Bruce Arnold has consistently impressed me with his abilities as a performer, composer, and educator. I share his philosophy of ear-training instruction and feel that he has realized it in a highly functional and useful manner with his books and CDs. For these reasons, I especially recommend his materials to my students, as I recommend them to anyone with the desire to expend effective hard work in the pursuit of their musical aspirations K. Sinfelt, Assistant Director of Music Theory, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, New York University I have been working with Mr Arnold's ear training methods for just over two years now and would like to share with you some of my experiences over that time. There is no other system of ear training i know that constantly pushes the boundaries of your aural perception. Working with this is as Mr Arnold reminds us a "lifetime's journey". Over the years i have steadily gained the ability to recognize any pitch in relation to a key center and sight-sing any required pitch readily (including chromatics). That is what one note complete and the fanatic's guide seeks to achieve. The above lays the foundation for further development. In December of 2007 I finally completed key note recognition, that helps you to learn to adapt to various modes(major and minor) and recognize the key by listening to how notes function in relation. Now I am beginning work on two note that builds recognition for multiple notes and following complex modulations. All this is impossible without dedication and an intense commitment to practice, practice,practice. As a gauge i have worked at this at least an hour a day broken up into short sessions over the last two over years. And without keeping to this and really working at it, you won't be able to really understand what this method is all about. But IF you do, this will really change the way you are involved with music. Just to describe a few simple experiences... Early on I began to gain a deeper sense of the music i was listening to. Suddenly everything opened up what can only be described as a kaleidoscope of colours. As an active musician, people began commenting on how musical and expressive my performances were getting and always "spot on" with pitching. Am now coming to grips with progressively more harmonically complex melodic forms such as modern jazz and funk. I'm now embarking on the next phase in my ear training that is two note and beyond. I know it's going to be nothing short of grueling, but with the positive changes that I have experienced in aural perception, I really can't wait to discover what else happens along the way. Many thanks to Mr Arnold for his fantastic work, a gift to aspiring musicians and his continuing commitment to music education. N. Siang This method is excellent! If I could give it more than five stars I would. If you're willing to put in the time it pays off. I have been working on the exercises from this book for almost a year and my ear has improved tremendously. Follow Mr. Arnolds directions in the book exactly as spelled out and you will do yourself a big favor. He has put in the time learning this material himself and knows all the pitfalls of doing it wrong and has distilled a method that works. He learned from the pros and has published what he learned. If you want a nice glossy book with lots of cool pictures this isn't for you. If you want something that works get it, do it, and you'll be amazed. The bottom line is you have to the work for the results. I have noticed some reviews that note the starkness of Mr. Arnold's books. His books are all substance and no jive! He shows his dedication to the material he presents by providing a FAQ section on the museek Website. You can submit a question and he answers it right away, sometimes in minutes, never more than 24 hours. That really surprised me! M. Todd.

Get Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing today and transform your sense of key.

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99 Status: In stock, Digital book is available for immediate access. Recommended books to use with Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing MetroDrone Ear Training Direct Application 25 Ear Training Tips Rhythm Ear Training What should I work on after Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing? Ear Training Two Note Lines Volume One: Sight Reading and Sight Singing Exercises Singing the Blues: Contextual Ear Training

Have a story or a review you want to submit. We would love to hear from you please send us an email.

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists by Bruce Arnold

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99 Learning the essential scales is key to your success as a musician. Watch this video to learn more.

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes.

When you start to think about which essential scales to learn ask yourself these questions: What techniques do professional musicians use to play scales at super-fast tempos? What is the best way to learn scales? What are the important scales to know? How do chords and scales interact? How does my ear influence my scale choice? What chords can be derived from a scale? Please Note: We recommend that all guitarist work with the Guitar Technique and Physiology Course so that you learn with proper scale technique. This course gives you a comprehensive approach to playing guitar and includes a videos on all aspects of guitar technique.

All of these question are answered in Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalistsis an in-depth study of the scales you must know to be ready for any musical situation. For all instrumentalists (with a special section showing guitar fingering) this book covers the 22 most commonly used scales in contemporary improvisation, which include: Modes of Major. Modes of Melodic Minor Ascending. Diminished. Symmetrical Diminished. Whole Tone. Blues. Major and Minor Pentatonic.

Essential Scales goes the extra mile

Most books stop with these previously mentioned scales but Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists goes the extra mile with a close-up look at that "secret sauce" the professionals use to gain their Master Musician ability. You too can gain this knowledge which includes: Chord/scale relationships are explored in depth including how your "ear" will influence your scale choices. The 3 and 4 note chords generated from each scale used in composing, developing modal chording patterns and exploring new chord voicings; Guitarists, pianists, and composers will find this specifically useful. Only this book demystifies the process professional musicians use to achieve master musician facility and knowledge of scales, using 2 and 3 note modal sequencing. The secret to shred level speed which is revealed with the "Long Line Rhythm" concept. This will take your playing to warp speed.

Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced musician this book will open the world of scales to you in a way that no other book can.

Additional Information: Digital IBSN: 978-1-59489-708-5 Physical IBSN: 978-1-59489-706-1 237 pages What people are saying: Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalistsdeserves to be up there with Schillinger. It takes the study of scales to whole new level, and contains things that I've never seen anywhere else. The 3 and 4 note chords section for each scale is brilliant. I've been using this for composing and it's really opening up new doors for me. F. Owen ....Arnold's inclusion of how you hear these scales in musical situations is very revealing, making a strong case that if you can't hear these scales in relationship to chord progressions you are kidding yourself that you have scales together. The 2 and 3 note sequencing patterns are really a great way to get that scale knowledge together, by the way. Based on the strength of this impressive compendium I also purchased Ear Training One Note Completee and Contextual Ear Training. S. Handel I saw this book and thought "Yeah another scale book --YAWN." I had emailed Bruce about ear training and he recommended I get this book along with some of his direct application ear training CDs and improvise over the tracks on the CD with some of the scales from the book. NO YAWNS! This really turned my head --and my ear-- around. I realized I was THINKING about music a lot more than I was USING MY EAR to tell me what to do. Do yourself a favor get in touch with Bruce and do a study of scales and ear training with him. You'll see a complete transformation in the way you think about music. D. Nordlinger. I play bass and guitar so this book really helped me in a bunch of ways. It obviously helped me understand bass lines and how to re-harmonize chord progressions to get a hipper sound but I also spent a lot of time just improvising over the audio tracks. It's like having an in-house bass player to jam with everyday. Highly recommended .... B. Ryan

Get Started today with Essential Scales and have a whole new experience learning scales!

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99 Status: In stock, physical book ships in 24 hours. Digital book is available for immediate access. FREE SHIPPING WHEN ORDER TOTAL IS OVER 200.00 USD. Recommended books to use with Essential Scales Rhythm Ear Training MetroDrone™ Ear Training One Note Complete What should I work on after Essential Scales? Best to contact Mr. Arnold at email address at bottom of page to discuss best material to work on after Essential Scales.

Have a story or a review you want to submit. We would love to hear from you please send us an email.

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists by Bruce Arnold

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99 Learning the essential scales is key to your success as a musician. Watch this video to learn more.

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes.

When you start to think about which essential scales to learn ask yourself these questions: What techniques do professional musicians use to play scales at super-fast tempos? What is the best way to learn scales? What are the important scales to know? How do chords and scales interact? How does my ear influence my scale choice? What chords can be derived from a scale? Please Note: We recommend that all guitarist work with the Guitar Technique and Physiology Course so that you learn with proper scale technique. This course gives you a comprehensive approach to playing guitar and includes a videos on all aspects of guitar technique.

All of these question are answered in Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists

Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalistsis an in-depth study of the scales you must know to be ready for any musical situation. For all instrumentalists (with a special section showing guitar fingering) this book covers the 22 most commonly used scales in contemporary improvisation, which include: Modes of Major. Modes of Melodic Minor Ascending. Diminished. Symmetrical Diminished. Whole Tone. Blues. Major and Minor Pentatonic.

Essential Scales goes the extra mile

Most books stop with these previously mentioned scales but Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalists goes the extra mile with a close-up look at that "secret sauce" the professionals use to gain their Master Musician ability. You too can gain this knowledge which includes: Chord/scale relationships are explored in depth including how your "ear" will influence your scale choices. The 3 and 4 note chords generated from each scale used in composing, developing modal chording patterns and exploring new chord voicings; Guitarists, pianists, and composers will find this specifically useful. Only this book demystifies the process professional musicians use to achieve master musician facility and knowledge of scales, using 2 and 3 note modal sequencing. The secret to shred level speed which is revealed with the "Long Line Rhythm" concept. This will take your playing to warp speed.

Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced musician this book will open the world of scales to you in a way that no other book can.

Additional Information: Digital IBSN: 978-1-59489-708-5 Physical IBSN: 978-1-59489-706-1 237 pages What people are saying: Essential Scales: Twenty Two Indispensable Contemporary Modes for all Instrumentalistsdeserves to be up there with Schillinger. It takes the study of scales to whole new level, and contains things that I've never seen anywhere else. The 3 and 4 note chords section for each scale is brilliant. I've been using this for composing and it's really opening up new doors for me. F. Owen ....Arnold's inclusion of how you hear these scales in musical situations is very revealing, making a strong case that if you can't hear these scales in relationship to chord progressions you are kidding yourself that you have scales together. The 2 and 3 note sequencing patterns are really a great way to get that scale knowledge together, by the way. Based on the strength of this impressive compendium I also purchased Ear Training One Note Completee and Contextual Ear Training. S. Handel I saw this book and thought "Yeah another scale book --YAWN." I had emailed Bruce about ear training and he recommended I get this book along with some of his direct application ear training CDs and improvise over the tracks on the CD with some of the scales from the book. NO YAWNS! This really turned my head --and my ear-- around. I realized I was THINKING about music a lot more than I was USING MY EAR to tell me what to do. Do yourself a favor get in touch with Bruce and do a study of scales and ear training with him. You'll see a complete transformation in the way you think about music. D. Nordlinger. I play bass and guitar so this book really helped me in a bunch of ways. It obviously helped me understand bass lines and how to re-harmonize chord progressions to get a hipper sound but I also spent a lot of time just improvising over the audio tracks. It's like having an in-house bass player to jam with everyday. Highly recommended .... B. Ryan

Get Started today with Essential Scales and have a whole new experience learning scales!

Add digital copy to cart - $19.99 Status: In stock, physical book ships in 24 hours. Digital book is available for immediate access. FREE SHIPPING WHEN ORDER TOTAL IS OVER 200.00 USD. Recommended books to use with Essential Scales Rhythm Ear Training MetroDrone™ Ear Training One Note Complete What should I work on after Essential Scales? Best to contact Mr. Arnold at email address at bottom of page to discuss best material to work on after Essential Scales.

Have a story or a review you want to submit. We would love to hear from you please send us an email.