Scott Henderson Discussion

[PRSMAN]

Hello Mr Henderson, I must say that I take my hat off to you for taking the time to interact with your fans. A busy working musician that does this is almost unheard of, so I commend your humility and accessibility.

As for me? I started out as a rocker so I didn't need much theory to play the college bars, etc. Always had a love for jazz & fusion since before that time so even though I have no theory I was able to teach myself how to play some jazz standards and compose my own progressive & fusion music.

The problem is I look at music like a painter, brushstrokes and color variations is how I hear and envision it all, but to further my improvisational skills into playing more intervallic (for example) I don't have the theory basics to absorb much of the advanced lessons I find on subjects like this. Plus, every time I try to sit and get down the basics of theory I just run into a rut and go back to flying around the neck with what I do naturally. As an older cat with other things on my plate too (family, work, etc.) it doesn't seem time effective to try to start from scratch with notation and theory, especially when I can sit in at a jazz jam session and blow some decent improv lines. (Even though I don't know WTF scales I'm playing.)

Any suggestions on bridging this gap?

Below is a link to my playing and original songs.

https://soundcloud.com/tony-barbas

[Scott Henderson]

There's nothing wrong with playing by ear, but if you want to learn some music theory and general music knowledge, I suggest taking some lessons. Music books are bullshit, simply because you can't ask them questions.

I give Skype lessons - I could show you quite a bit in one hour, enough so that you'd see the connections between what you're doing by ear, and general music theory. Or find a good player where you live - that might be cheaper. The point is that a one on one lesson is the most productive way to learn it.