Music Theory Jazz

It has been said of Music Theory Jazz that if you don’t know what it is, no one can explain it to you. Well, that may be the opinion of hardcore Jazz Music Theory afficionados, but it’s not entirely true. While it’s true that many seemingly disparate types of music improvisation can be classified as Music Theory Made Easy, there are some basic elements of jazz theory that you can learn to recognize. And knowing them will help you appreciate this art form that began in the early twentieth century in the United States, but soon was played and enjoyed around the world. Here’s Tips On Music Theory Jazz :

1. History. Several American cities lay claim as the birthplace of Music Theory Jazz. Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City all have jazz roots dating back to the early years of the twentieth century. But New Orleans can probably make the strongest case. Musicians there took West African folk music and mixed it with European and North American classical and popular music, producing ragtime and the earliest examples of what we know today as jazz music. Musicians in the other cities also took African-American blues music, and started playing with the melody lines and improvising throughout standard songs to create this most American of musical forms.
2. Syncopation. If there is any single characteristic of Music Theory Jazz that sets it apart from other musical forms, it is a tendency to break from the regular and expected flow of music into something new and unexpected. Ragtime and early jazz was marked by syncopation, a style that might put a beat where a rest in the music might have been expected (and vice versa), or stressing a beat where you might otherwise think that beat would go unstressed.
3. Improvisation. In keeping with that idea of unexpected changes in the flow of music, Music Theory Jazz has also long been characterized by improvisation. Jazz bands have traditionally allowed soloists to improvise in the middle of a song before bringing the music back to a steady melody line. In rock music, improvised guitar and drum solos, as well as “jamming,” have become standard, but their roots are in jazz. Jazz forms such as bebop, free jazz, scat singing and more all include elements of improvisation and straying from established melodies.
4. Mixing Melodies. Another staple of jazz music is the combination of ragtime-like syncopation with traditional popular songs, hymns, marches and even classical compositions. The familiar New Orleans-style jazz version of the gospel hymn “When The Saints Go Marching In” is a perfect example of how horns, big drumbeats and a change in rhythm can take a solemn “church song” and turn it into a jazz classic.
5. Swing. When big bands started taking the essence of New Orleans-style jazz music, complete with improvised solos, and creating dance music, the enduring type of jazz known as swing was born. Swing music was an important development in the history of jazz because it made jazz more accessible to young and old, black and white.
6. Blues. As mentioned above, Music Theory Jazz has roots in blues music, a type of music that focuses on personal tales of heartbreak and despair. Today, blues music tends to fall under the jazz umbrella. Many blues musicians incorporate the practice of improvised solos and unexpected rhythm changes that maintain the strong link between jazz and blues.