Bassist Wanted

Comics for musicians

Bassist Wanted

Comics for musicians

Storyline

Teaching Music Theory

Roni knows music theory and the rest of the Ambulance Men don’t, so she translates “add more emotion” and “hit more weird notes.”

6 stripsFrom the beginning Most popular

#230. What’s that called?

April 9, 2009

COREY BROWN: Hey, you sounded great up there. What was that called?

RONI: Well, my guitar solo used a scale called the Hungarian Minor (or Harmonic Minor #4). It has a large number of half steps and a slightly ambiguous tonal center.

COREY BROWN: I just sort of meant, "What's the name of the song?"
RONI: Oh.

RONI: I have no idea.

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#231. Dan and sheet music

April 10, 2009

DAN: That's amazing, you played that solo IDENTICALLY to the last time you played it.
RONI: Oh, well, yeah. I have the notes all written out.

DAN: Hmm, this is interesting...
RONI: Oh, Dan, I didn't think you could read music.

DAN: Oh, I can't, no...

DAN: But if you blur your eyes this looks like a little guy with a handlebar mustache.

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#232. Hit more weird notes

April 13, 2009

RONI: You mean like... this?
JOHN: YES! Yeah. That.

RONI: OK, so when you say you want me to "hit more weird notes" in my solos, you actually want me to use chromatics to create melodic tension.
JOHN: I guess.

RONI: (sigh) This would be so much easier if you guys had a strong music theory background.
JOHN: Yeah...

JOHN: Or, I mean, if you DIDN'T.

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#233. Add more emotion

April 15, 2009

RONI: If that's what you want me to play, then say that!
JOHN: I DID say that!

RONI: No, you said, "add more emotion"! Who knows what that means!
JOHN: People! PEOPLE know what that means!

RONI: Isn't it much easier to remember that I play the root and fifth note as an arpeggio?

JOHN: Yeah, if you're a MIDI sequencer, Roni!
DAN: Wait, now I'm not even sure I was playing the same song as you...

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#234. Resolving the melody

June 8, 2009

RONI: No, John, you can't do that.

JOHN: Do what?

RONI: You ended your song before you resolved the melody!

RONI: You can't DO that!
JOHN: Why NOT?
RONI: You just CAN'T!!
JOHN: I CAN!!
RONI: No, you CAN'T!!!
JOHN: Says WHO?!

RONI: Says MUSIC!!!!
JOHN: I AM music!!!!
CHRISTINA: OK, let's... take a rehearsal break...

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