A systematic exploration of all 165 4-note chords & arpeggios. in 43 groups. With 43 etudes (duets). Links to audio files & videos provided. INTRODUCTION In a 12-Note system, there are 2047 chord types. 165 of them are 4-note sets (43 if you ignore inversions). When it comes to 4-note sets, most of us have heard of 7th chords: 1-3-5-7. Improvising musicians have explored the typical seventh chord arpeggios and voicings (∆7, Dom7, mi7, mi7(♭5) and °7) as an integral part of mastering both chord theory and their instruments. If you include inversions, those 5 chord types make up only 17 of the possible 165 4-note sets. The systematic study of the remaining sets will give you a firmer grasp on the sounds that are possible, even when those sounds are difficult to label under traditional chord nomenclature. Exploring these alternative chords and arpeggios can yield interesting new sounds and, if mastered, can lead to a unique writing and improvising vocabulary. As you practice and gain familiarity with these new sounds, you’ll be able to: a) have quicker recognition of these sounds when you hear/see/think about them, and b) have greater access to these sounds on your instrument when you hear/see/think about them. Feel free to work sequentially through this book, or to use it as a reference, skipping ahead to whichever types you’d like to explore. There are 5 main categories broken down into 43 groups. Within each group are various arpeggio, chord, and inversion shapes, along with concrete application: their tonal/scale contexts and an étude. Each of the 43 etudes are duets. You can play along with somebody or with the tracks provided, or use a looper pedal and learn both parts. Ultimately, composing your own ideas is the best way to master new sounds... It not only requires that you deeply understand them, but it forces you to physically master whatever it is that you wrote.

Voicing Modes is a book for all guitar players who want to master their modal comprehension and ability. Focuses on a chord-voicing approach to hearing and practicing modes. For comping, improvisation, reharmonization & composition. With detailed explanations, reference material, tune examples, and 12 modal etudes. 181 pages. YouTube links for performance examples available. For a free sample, download link available on this page.

36 short etudes in 35 tonalities. From the Foreword by Dweezil Zappa: "Noel Johnston’s modal dice method reveals all guitarists’ strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously providing fun ways to improve their overall musicality. This is by no means an insipid “Life Hack” guitar book nor is it a judgmental “Theory Wizard” treatise. This is a comprehensive way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the modes and what they offer you as a guitarist/musician. If you have ever found yourself saying, “I wish there was a way that I could identify and understand why I like the sounds I hear in music” then this book is for you. Use it to your advantage and make the best music you can make. Thank Noel when you see him!"

Yes. Reading the manual is a drag. just show me how to do it! You might be wondering, "There's a lot of stuff in these books. Can you just tell me where to start?" sure. Check out the books now or later. We'll meet over zoom for an online lesson (1 hour) and we'll talk about this stuff. You'd get download links to the books right away, and we'll get your lesson scheduled at your convenience. Please come with questions!

A systematic exploration of all 165 4-note chords & arpeggios. in 43 groups. With 43 etudes (duets). Links to audio files & videos provided. INTRODUCTION In a 12-Note system, there are 2047 chord types. 165 of them are 4-note sets (43 if you ignore inversions). When it comes to 4-note sets, most of us have heard of 7th chords: 1-3-5-7. Improvising musicians have explored the typical seventh chord arpeggios and voicings (∆7, Dom7, mi7, mi7(♭5) and °7) as an integral part of mastering both chord theory and their instruments. If you include inversions, those 5 chord types make up only 17 of the possible 165 4-note sets. The systematic study of the remaining sets will give you a firmer grasp on the sounds that are possible, even when those sounds are difficult to label under traditional chord nomenclature. Exploring these alternative chords and arpeggios can yield interesting new sounds and, if mastered, can lead to a unique writing and improvising vocabulary. As you practice and gain familiarity with these new sounds, you’ll be able to: a) have quicker recognition of these sounds when you hear/see/think about them, and b) have greater access to these sounds on your instrument when you hear/see/think about them. Feel free to work sequentially through this book, or to use it as a reference, skipping ahead to whichever types you’d like to explore. There are 5 main categories broken down into 43 groups. Within each group are various arpeggio, chord, and inversion shapes, along with concrete application: their tonal/scale contexts and an étude. Each of the 43 etudes are duets. You can play along with somebody or with the tracks provided, or use a looper pedal and learn both parts. Ultimately, composing your own ideas is the best way to master new sounds... It not only requires that you deeply understand them, but it forces you to physically master whatever it is that you wrote.

36 short etudes in 35 tonalities. From the Foreword by Dweezil Zappa: "Noel Johnston’s modal dice method reveals all guitarists’ strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously providing fun ways to improve their overall musicality. This is by no means an insipid “Life Hack” guitar book nor is it a judgmental “Theory Wizard” treatise. This is a comprehensive way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the modes and what they offer you as a guitarist/musician. If you have ever found yourself saying, “I wish there was a way that I could identify and understand why I like the sounds I hear in music” then this book is for you. Use it to your advantage and make the best music you can make. Thank Noel when you see him!"

Voicing Modes book (3rd edition) but with Spiral or Comb binding option. To get the most out of this book, you'll want to learn the etudes, the arpeggio, scale and chord shapes and that means putting it on a music stand. It's easier with spiral or comb binding. (spiral binding pictured) For a free sample of the book, download link available on this page.

A systematic exploration of all 165 4-note chords & arpeggios. in 43 groups. With 43 etudes (duets). Links to audio files & videos provided. INTRODUCTION In a 12-Note system, there are 2047 chord types. 165 of them are 4-note sets (43 if you ignore inversions). When it comes to 4-note sets, most of us have heard of 7th chords: 1-3-5-7. Improvising musicians have explored the typical seventh chord arpeggios and voicings (∆7, Dom7, mi7, mi7(♭5) and °7) as an integral part of mastering both chord theory and their instruments. If you include inversions, those 5 chord types make up only 17 of the possible 165 4-note sets. The systematic study of the remaining sets will give you a firmer grasp on the sounds that are possible, even when those sounds are difficult to label under traditional chord nomenclature. Exploring these alternative chords and arpeggios can yield interesting new sounds and, if mastered, can lead to a unique writing and improvising vocabulary. As you practice and gain familiarity with these new sounds, you’ll be able to: a) have quicker recognition of these sounds when you hear/see/think about them, and b) have greater access to these sounds on your instrument when you hear/see/think about them. Feel free to work sequentially through this book, or to use it as a reference, skipping ahead to whichever types you’d like to explore. There are 5 main categories broken down into 43 groups. Within each group are various arpeggio, chord, and inversion shapes, along with concrete application: their tonal/scale contexts and an étude. Each of the 43 etudes are duets. You can play along with somebody or with the tracks provided, or use a looper pedal and learn both parts. Ultimately, composing your own ideas is the best way to master new sounds... It not only requires that you deeply understand them, but it forces you to physically master whatever it is that you wrote.

36 short etudes in 35 tonalities. From the Foreword by Dweezil Zappa: "Noel Johnston’s modal dice method reveals all guitarists’ strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously providing fun ways to improve their overall musicality. This is by no means an insipid “Life Hack” guitar book nor is it a judgmental “Theory Wizard” treatise. This is a comprehensive way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the modes and what they offer you as a guitarist/musician. If you have ever found yourself saying, “I wish there was a way that I could identify and understand why I like the sounds I hear in music” then this book is for you. Use it to your advantage and make the best music you can make. Thank Noel when you see him!"

36 short etudes in 35 tonalities. From the Foreword by Dweezil Zappa: "Noel Johnston’s modal dice method reveals all guitarists’ strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously providing fun ways to improve their overall musicality. This is by no means an insipid “Life Hack” guitar book nor is it a judgmental “Theory Wizard” treatise. This is a comprehensive way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the modes and what they offer you as a guitarist/musician. If you have ever found yourself saying, “I wish there was a way that I could identify and understand why I like the sounds I hear in music” then this book is for you. Use it to your advantage and make the best music you can make. Thank Noel when you see him!"

The latest edition. (3rd edition) Voicing Modes is a book for all guitar players who want to master their modal comprehension and ability. Focuses on a chord-voicing approach to hearing and practicing modes. For comping, improvisation, reharmonization & composition. With detailed explanations, reference material, tune examples, and 12 modal etudes. 181 pages. YouTube links for performance examples available. For a free sample of the book, download link available on this page.

Mix up your practice session. Compose or arrange with this set. The 6-sided die has the parent scale options (Major scale, Harmonic minor, Melodic minor, Harmonic major, and Hungarian minor, as well as 'synthetic/symmetrical' option), the 8-sided die indicated the mode (8 would usually mean "roll again"), and the 12-sided die indicates the pitch. For example if you roll "3/Melodic Minor/Bb" that would indicate "Bb Lydian-Augmented" (3rd mode of Melodic Minor starting on Bb). Check out the Voicing Modes Web App for for some possibilities!

"I talk about this stuff at parties!". Let's face it. You know you got into playing guitar because of the girls, but now that you are married it'll be easy to stay faithful with this uber-nerdy (and non-political) fashion statement, sure to fend off all those pesky fusion gold-diggers. If a cutey asks you "what do all these numbers mean?" and you open your mouth to explain and if she seems interested after 30 seconds, you'd better watch out! Put that beer down and go straight to church. You can all but guarantee that she is lying and/or she plays waaaay better than you. 100% cotton.