Playing Techniques

[grooveagent66]

Unfortunately, Peter Davies has not yet released his "Playing Techniques": http://www.theshapeofmusic.com/playing_techniques.html I hope, that they will also be available for AXiS owners or directly via C-Thru-Music.

And, I would be very happy if anyone would have suggestions for me, how to train my fingers and my brain to the AXiS keyboard / harmonic table? What is a good strategy to learn the AXiS? Are there standard fingerings for scales, interval sequences, chords, chord inversions and so on? What is your experience?

[sander1710]

Hi GA66,
Very good item and thanks for the link. Didn't see that one yet.
I have made some graphics with fingering etc. If I can find the time I will post them here.
Cheers,
Sander

[dudestar_99]

I look forward to seeing them, Sander :).

For additional info, check out the excellent links to hexagon diagrams of harmonic table patterns that boultoa posted on the following thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14

I'm hoping to work with some diagram system (like yours or Boultoa's) in the future to map out some progressions, modes, etc.

[grooveagent66]

@sander1710: Thanks and I am keen on your ideas. In the meantime I tried what my guitar textbook recommends: Playing sequences of thirds, fourths, fifths, and so on in major scale. Also I tried to play major scale continuously from the lowest pitch in a key signature to the highest. This gives two main different fingerings, right? I try this also with left and right hand.

Also I tried the (beginner) piano pieces that I played 30 years ago. Very interesting, because now the harmonic structure is immediately revealed by the "Tonnetz".

@dudestar_99: Indeed, the topic of notation is very interesting. I tried in the meantime Express Staves that was created by John Keller. Due to his efforts one can easily try this with FinaleNotePad (free) and his converter. Also I really like the AxisGrid from sander1710. I have made some time ago a very (!) simple hexagonal grid with approximately the dimensions as the original AXiS keys have. One can use it to check the memorizing of the keys and put in chord progressions (root only) or scales.

[dudestar_99]

[quote="grooveagent66"]
I have made some time ago a very (!) simple hexagonal grid with approximately the dimensions as the original AXiS keys have. One can use it to check the memorizing of the keys and put in chord progressions (root only) or scales.[/quote]

Great :)! However simple this is, if you could post it on the web and and give us the url via a forum post, we will be thankful :).

[grooveagent66]

I found a source of "grid papers" better than mine that you will like: http://en.papersnake.de/graph%20paper/hexpaper/

[geir_helgi]

what is that?
The Opal?
It's EXACTLY the same as the AXiS!
..well the AXiS' design is cleaner

are they connected in some way or?

[dudestar_99]

[quote="geir_helgi"]
The Opal?
It's EXACTLY the same as the AXiS!
... are they connected in some way or?[/quote]

Euler invented Tonnetz in 1739, and Riemann worked on it in the 1800's. Then the following history on occurred (taken from the Shape of Music's site; NOTE: Andrew W.Llewellyn is AWL):
http://www.theshapeofmusic.com/history.html

You can email Jacqueline here at C Thru or Pete Davies at Shape of Music for more info. They're both pretty open about discussing the fork between Sonomes and the AXIS.

E.g., Jacqueline makes the following comments in this thread http://www.c-thru-music.com/forum/viewt ... p?f=3&t=16 :
"
there's no competition AXiS vs. Sonome. C-Thru doesn't mind which you buy, and nor does The Shape of Music.

Sonomes are hand-built by the inventor of the Harmonic Table, Peter Davies. Peter is an accomplished luthier, and helped set up the Eggles guitar factory. Craftsmanship can be expected. The Sonome has different controls. There's a link to Peter's site in our FAQ.

Aside from different controls and functions the AXiS-64 is assembled to order in a factory, and we'll hold a small stock of '49's. By doing this C-Thru hopes to bring the Harmonic Table to a wider audience who may not have the budget for a hand crafted instrument.
"

cheers...

[Melodic]

Hi grooveagent66, Playing techniques is not yet released as it's still work in progress. Unfortunately held up by work in progress on mechanical upgrades to Opal's key-action. If only I could clone myself - well, probably not a good idea! I'm overstretched time-wise, but happy to post some suggestions for now.

Firstly, I don't wish to insult anybody's intelligence; please understand I can't know the current level of knowledge and ability of participants! Identify your fingers as T (Thumb), 1 (Forefinger), 2, 3 + 4. For scales that use tone and semitone intervals (such as diatonic scales), it works to use right hand fingers 1 + 4 for a tone and 2+3 for a semitone (ascending), and for the left hand, 4+1 for tone and 3+2 for semitone. Naturally it's the reverse for descending. This is economical and requires less hand-movement than other fingerings. It's a good idea to practice with either hand equally and always descending as well as ascending. The result will in time be fast and fluent.

I also advise using all four fingers of one or other hand for pentatonic scales. It may seem a bit of a stretch at first but as with other instruments, easy once you get used to it! Following the enharmonics (black keys) in diagonal groups of pairs of keys plus single keys, layer by layer, should give you the pattern instantly. Once you have it, practice slowly and accurately, then likewise WITHOUT LOOKING. It'll get faster on its own, with enough slow and accurate practise. Then start with any key and abandon the visual dependency of the black key pattern.

For Chromatic scales, I find that it works to alternate fingers 1+2+3+4 on one horizontal row with 1+2+3 on the next row. this takes the hand up and down the interface vertically.

In the near future I hope to revisit this forum on the subject of Arpeggios, where some interesting and not necessarily obvious tricks are possible! When I do get around to my 'Playing Techniques' page on the website, there will be diagrams! "A picture is worth a thousand words". Let me know if this was helpful though.

[dudestar_99]

[quote="Melodic"]Playing techniques is not yet released as it's still work in progress. Unfortunately held up by work in progress on mechanical upgrades to Opal's key-action. If only I could clone myself - well, probably not a good idea! I'm overstretched time-wise, but happy to post some suggestions for now.
...
Let me know if this was helpful though.[/quote]

It was most excellent and very helpful :).

For those who haven't yet realized, we are fortunate have the following, estimable individuals on our forum who have helped to bring Tonnetz to the masses:

Melodic: Peter Davies
andrew: Andrew W.Llewellyn

This forum gets richer by the day :).