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Forums :: Tip of the Day

Changing from the Chromatic to the Diatonic in the Middle of a Song - Part 2

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Thu, 03/28/2013 - 08:01
David Barrett Admin
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Head InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 11/30/2009

Simply put... bending! Once you've presented the big sound of the chromatic with the use of octaves, fake octaves, slaps, pulls, flutters, two-note textures, shakes, etc., when switching to the diatonic focus on the use of bluesy single-note bending. Though the diatonic can present the same heavy textures as the chromatic, what the chromatic doesn't have (beyond basic dips and cuts) is bending, so making a point to focus on bending is a wise choice for contrast in your song. Listen to the two recordings again that I mentioned yesterday and you'll hear this approach.

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