Dick Hauser - Posted - 01/01/2015:  09:45:23

Years ago, I bought two of Peter Martin's fiddle/guitar books (i.e. Petimar Press).  In the back of one of the books was a little chapter on applied music theory.  After reading it I thought "Holy smokes.   This little chapter taught me more about APPLYING music theory than all the other theory books I bought".  Over the years I often thought of that little chapter and mentioned it in conversation.

I just purchased "Mandolin and Fiddle Improvisation Using the Chord Tone Scale" by Peter Martin.  Bought it on Amazon.com.  When I first started reading it, my initial thoughts were "Ah well, same old stuff".  That attitude disappeared when I discovered that this book is a project, not light reading.  The reader has to study and work to learn this material.  I have seen many postings begging for material that would teach a person how to improvise.  Well, here it is.  

I will be off tomorrow to have it spiral bound, like all good books I purchase.  I will be using it every day, and don't want it to fall apart.  Now I will be able to learn to apply all this musical theory I have stashed away in my memory banks - and more.

Hey all you folks who play by "ear", this book will work for you as well as players who play by "reading the dots".

Disclaimer - I am in no way affiliated with the author.  I have never met, seen, or spoken to this individual.  I have just purchased his excellent publications. I have shelves of fiddle books, and every dozen books or so, maybe one really good book will show up.  This is one of those books.

haggis - Posted - 01/01/2015:  09:59:42

I have never quite understood, what is a chord tone scale?

forestabri - Posted - 01/01/2015:  14:03:12

I just Googled this, and found this thread with an answer from the author answering Haggis' question:

mandolincafe.com/forum/showthr...-quot-%29

FiddleDiddler - Posted - 01/01/2015:  18:29:57

The book referenced is a great resource. It isn't necessary to order it from Amazon. It is available as a free download. Just do a Google search for it.

fiddlinsteudel - Posted - 01/01/2015:  19:44:13

quote:

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Originally posted by FiddleDiddler

 

The book referenced is a great resource. It isn't necessary to order it from Amazon. It is available as a free download. Just do a Google search for it.

---

That's not quite true, it's distributed as shareware. From the first page of the book:

This book is distributed using the shareware system. Try it out, if you like it please send me $10.00. Go to petimarpress.com for payment info, or send to:

Pete Martin

PO Box 33482

Seattle, WA 98133 206-367-9756

petimarpress.com

email: pete@petimarpress.com

Pete has put a lot of effort into these materials, 10 is not very much money to support that.

FiddleDiddler - Posted - 01/01/2015:  22:18:36

Correct ... Free to download, not necessarily to use at will.

Dick Hauser - Posted - 01/02/2015:  07:27:05

I purchased the Amazon.com book because it was more cost effective than buying a $30+ ink cartridge. I don't mind using computer files for researching a specific thing, but for studying, I prefer the written word. Considering what this publication can teach me about improvisation, the price is much lower than I would have expected. The author should probably have included the word "PRACTICAL" in the title.

haggis - Posted - 01/02/2015:  12:01:09

Forestabri I checked out your link but I am not sure it helps me too much. It seems to assume all that chords in a tune are found within the diatonic scale of the key in which you are playing. However, take the key of C major and an Fminor chord crops up ,or for that matter a D7 or a G#diminished? I am at a loss to see how " chord scales" ,as described, can be applied. Can you grasp it? Thanks for your help anyway and Happy New Year to you.

martynspeck - Posted - 01/02/2015:  13:21:18

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dick Hauser

 

Years ago, I bought two of Peter Martin's fiddle/guitar books (i.e. Petimar Press).  In the back of one of the books was a little chapter on applied music theory.  After reading it I thought "Holy smokes.   This little chapter taught me more about APPLYING music theory than all the other theory books I bought".  Over the years I often thought of that little chapter and mentioned it in conversation.

I just purchased "Mandolin and Fiddle Improvisation Using the Chord Tone Scale" by Peter Martin.  Bought it on Amazon.com.  When I first started reading it, my initial thoughts were "Ah well, same old stuff".  That attitude disappeared when I discovered that this book is a project, not light reading.  The reader has to study and work to learn this material.  I have seen many postings begging for material that would teach a person how to improvise.  Well, here it is.  

I will be off tomorrow to have it spiral bound, like all good books I purchase.  I will be using it every day, and don't want it to fall apart.  Now I will be able to learn to apply all this musical theory I have stashed away in my memory banks - and more.

Hey all you folks who play by "ear", this book will work for you as well as players who play by "reading the dots".

Disclaimer - I am in no way affiliated with the author.  I have never met, seen, or spoken to this individual.  I have just purchased his excellent publications. I have shelves of fiddle books, and every dozen books or so, maybe one really good book will show up.  This is one of those books.

---

How do you get your books spiral bound? I have several that would benefit from this.

BanjoBrad - Posted - 01/02/2015:  14:17:24

Most office supply stores (the chains like Office Max and Staples) will spiral bind things you bring in.  I download the APOD calendar every year, print it out on 65# cardstock and have Office Max spiral bind and center punch it for me.  Not counting the paper and ink, it costs me less that $5 for a great astronomy-oriented calendar every year.

FiddleDiddler - Posted - 01/02/2015:  16:58:17

It definitely is worth it in any form. I have it on my IPad. It is convenient, but it would be nice to have it in printed form sometimes. If I ever lost my IPad I would lose half of my library, lol. There are similar references like this one for other instruments, ie. guitar, piano, etc. It is nice to have this one tailored to fiddle.

martynspeck - Posted - 01/02/2015:  19:56:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by fiddlinsteudel

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by FiddleDiddler

 

The book referenced is a great resource. It isn't necessary to order it from Amazon. It is available as a free download. Just do a Google search for it.

---

That's not quite true, it's distributed as shareware. From the first page of the book:

This book is distributed using the shareware system. Try it out, if you like it please send me $10.00. Go to petimarpress.com for payment info, or send to:

Pete Martin

PO Box 33482

Seattle, WA 98133 206-367-9756

petimarpress.com

email: pete@petimarpress.com

Pete has put a lot of effort into these materials, 10 is not very much money to support that.

---

Now that I've bought it, I'll go download it.

martynspeck - Posted - 01/02/2015:  20:15:15

I linked this to the Learning Jam Technique Group here.