FUSION GUITAR, MASTERTRACKS. Steve Houghton and Tom Warrington CD

FUSION GUITAR, IMPROVISE MASTERTRACKS. CD

Alfred MasterTracks Fusion [Guitar]
Music by Steve Houghton and Tom Warrington

UPC: 038081084381

ISBN 10: N/A
ISBN 13: N/A
CATEGORY: Instrumental Series
FORMAT: Book & CD
INSTRUMENT: Guitar

The music selected for Alfred MasterTracks is intended to provide a broad range of improvisational material for soloists of all skill levels. An improviser needs to feel comfortable in a variety of musical settings, so we have designed a series that addresses a number of different styles, tempos, and keys. Therefore, this book will also serve as a very up-to-date listening reference for many popular Jazz, Latin, and Fusion grooves. In undertaking this project, we decided that we would try to appeal to a wide variety of musicians, from the most raw, beginning improviser all the way to the most advanced improviser. As a result, we have provided charts that indicate a basic structure of harmony and rhythm, plus some very basic melodies for beginning improvisers to play around with, since one good starting point for improvisation is the melody. (These melodies are not recorded on the tracks, however.) More advanced players may want to disregard these melodies completely and dig into blowing over the tracks, worki ng on whatever materials they are currently practicing. It is beyond the scope of this book to present a complete manual for improvisation. Rather, we chose to present some varied harmonic and rhythmic situations that would allow improvisers to practice their craft.

HOW TO USE MASTERTRACKS

After we recorded Essential Styles, Books 1 & 2 (a play-along series for bass and drums), many players said that they would've enjoyed a similar series for other instruments. With that idea in mind, Alfred MasterTracks was born, completely devoted to being a contemporary instrumental play-along for all instruments, not a bass/drum method. These tracks, rather than being designed as a cross section of styles, are more of a collection of varied harmonic and rhythmic situations that melodic improvisers will encounter. For example, in the jazz book, you will find three different versions of the blues. They are obviously the same form and general style, but in different keys and at various tempos in order to provide a more thorough blues "workout." All of the selections in the Alfred MasterTracks Series were professionally recorded and mixed at Chick Corea's Mad Hatter Studios and are of the highest quality. Piano and bass players will be interested to note that the recording is mixed with the piano on the right channel and the bass on the left, so that either of these two rhythm section players can dial out their respective instruments and play accompaniment parts along with the tracks, in addition to soloing with them. Although it is true that the term "improvisation" is foreboding for some young musicians, the selections in these texts have been structured with easy melodic lines which can be used as a point of departure for even the most inexperienced improvisers. The idea here is to have some good-sounding tracks to play along with, and to have some fun! So, without becoming completely encumbered with a lot of intellectual baggage regarding improvisation, young players might simply put on the CD or cassette and start trying to play along by ear. Or they might read the simple melodies that have been provided as a means of gaining some understanding of the form and harmonic content, and proceed from there. By playing portions of the melodies, and then embellishing them slightly, young players will soon find themselves creating their own melodies using the given material as the springboard. Some of the tracks are played in such a way that the harmonies are not extremely complex; altered chords and polyrhythms in the comping have been minimized. On other tracks, these elements are more fully utilized, creating a nice range of intensity levels. The idea is that, while there is an abundance of material here for beginning improvisers, there is also plenty to challenge advanced players. So, have fun with these tracks. We hope they will be a valuable tool in your quest for musical excellence.

FUSION

Foreword / How to Use the Alfred MasterTracks Series

The Soloist and the Rhythm Section .

Thoughts on Improvisation

Understanding Chord Symbols

Understanding Rhythm

Creating Your Own Style

Harmonic Overview - Fusion

Contemporary Fusion-iv- V-Isus (3 :07) 10

CD Track Concert Key

#1 A Major K.C. Blues-bright blues (2:53) .

#2 F Major Blues Shuffle-medium tempo (3:51)

#3 G Major Slow 12/8 Blues Shuffle (4:02)

#4 C Major Contemporary Fusion iv – V -Isus

#5 D Major Up-Tempo Rock & Roll Blues-straight 8ths (2:49)

#6 F Major Half-Time Rock Ballad (3:31)

#7 E minor Medium Funk-minor blues (3:41)

#8 B~minor ii-V Funk Shuffle (5:05)

#9 E minor Techno Funk-8-bar minor blues (3:09)

#10 D Major Early Funk (3:10)

#11 C minor Swing 16ths (2 :56)

#12 F minor Hip-Hop Funk with 16 bar section/solo with guitar & drums (2:53)

About the Authors

Note: All tracks were recorded and mastered at A440.

You may need to make tuning adjustments to match the playback speed of your audio equipment.

Bill Cunliffe, Keyboards

Paul Viapiano, Guitar

Tom Warrington, Bass

Steve Houghton, Drums

Brian Kilgore, Percussion

Recorded and mixed at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles

Engineered and mastered by Talley Sherwood

Exciting play-along tracks for beginning or advanced improvisers!

Digitally recorded and mastered, these top-quality play-along tracks on CD or Cassette provide an invigorating way for you to broaden your improvisation skills while experiencing what it's like to play with a hot rhythm section. The recordings are highly effective as a listening guide to many of today's most popular grooves. Numerous styles are covered in the series, including blues, minor blues, ballads, modal tunes, bebop, rock & roll blues, blues shuffle, funk shuffle, fusion, techno funk, hip-hop, bossa nova, baion, samba, son go, Latinfusion and more.

Also Available for the following instruments:

• C Treble Clef (Flute, Vibes, Oboe, Violin)

• Bb (Clarinet, Trumpet, Soprano Saxophone,

Tenor Saxophone, Baritone T.c.)

• Eb (Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone)

• C BassClef (Trombone, Baritone B.C., Bassoon, Tuba, Cello)

• Guitar (Acoustic or Electric)

• Keyboard (Electronic Keyboard, Synthesizer, Acoustic Piano)

• Bass (Acoustic or Electric)

Book & CD

Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.