On the road - useful Android apps for musicians

As I travel quite a bit I like to have things with me to help me practice when on the road. Plus it's a little bit of fun when journeys, especially here, can be extremely long.

Rhythm Sheep

This one looks like a toy but it really has a lot of depth. Listen to the given rhythm and tap it back as accurately as you can. It's not as easy as it looks! The sheep appear on the left if you tap late and on the right if early. A great rhythm and memory tool.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=turskagames.rhythmsheep.free&hl=en

Click Plus

For me this is the best metronome out there. You can pretty much program it to play any time signature and it has the option to add accents, which can also be saved for further practice sessions. Simple and good.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=myapp.metronomy&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm15YXBwLm1ldHJvbm9teSJd

Jazz 2 5 1's

Another simple but very useful app. Pre recorded ii v i's in every key both major and minor versions. It also has two speeds. Sadly the loops are the same in every key, but as a practice tool you can't complain.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_colano100dio.Jaz_251z&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImFwcGludmVudG9yLmFpX2NvbGFubzEwMGRpby5KYXpfMjUxeiJd

Chord Bot

Frankly I find this better than band in a box. As soon as I downloaded this I paid for the full version. Tons of styles, chord types, time signatures. It's got it all. The only down side is that it is no longer available for older phones.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chordbot.demo.gui&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5jaG9yZGJvdC5kZW1vLmd1aSJd

Saxindia: Journal Day 1

Saturday June 1st 2013

Probably my first day of holiday in a very long time. Woke up late, ate, and slept again. Reflecting upon a year in music it's been one full of work and travel but little practice. Fourteen hours to be precise (as I do keep note), simply not enough.

The positive things are that I have performed alot, and that the confidence is there. Strangely it only takes a week or so without a concert and I start to feel twitchy and nervous, even if like now I really need the time off.

Studying Carnatic music in the last year has probably provided the greatest benefit. My ear has really opened up, and I am able to learn longer phrases and rhythmic patterns than before since it is all taught aurally. It still needs alot of work, but it is going in  the right direction. It is like a muscle, it needs regular exercise and practice to keep it fit.

In general rhythmic work has been the basis of almost all of my work in these last years, but now I realise I need to keep working with harmony and chords especially if I'm to play well with bands that have standards or similar material as their base. I have noticed in the last gigs that I have become somewhat stuck in this area as no new real input has come other than through transcribing and listening. I am relying on my ear a little too much now and some new concepts need to be looked at.

First on the agenda are minor ii - v's. I noticed during gigs that when they appear in progressions that do not resolve, odd keys or in chord sequences unrelated to the home key i'm fumbling to find things to play. The ear is not quick enough in these situations, and you simply need a more solid harmonic technique. I will start by simply working out some ideas in various keys, revise my scales and come up with some patterns. Hopefully that will open me up to further ideas and I'll take it from there.

Update

Sadly is been a year since I've worked on this blog. Music has taken me many places in the last year but writing hasn't been on my mind.

In order to make this blog a little more personal I've decided to start publishing extracts from a music diary I keep.

I keep this as a useful exercise for myself as I pursue my path as a professional musician. Hopefully it will provide useful insights for others too.

More to follow...