| Different styles of music have different "sounds." We | | | | allowing it to speak through them. Of course, I'm not |
| can all pretty much agree on that point. For example, | | | | saying that this can't happen in Jazz, but, just watch |
| Jazz uses seventh chords almost exclusively. This, | | | | a Jazz performer and you'll see what I mean. |
| and the kind of chord progressions used in Jazz gives | | | | Last but not least is rhythm. Let's do a comparison |
| it its unique flavor. But what about new age music? | | | | contrast between Jazz and New Age music. Jazz has |
| Does it have it's own special ingredients? Yes it does. | | | | a definite discernible rhythm. It is what makes Jazz |
| Now, there are no hard and fast rules here but for | | | | Jazz. New age music can have a pattern or an |
| the most part, new age music is a consonant music. | | | | underlying rhythm to the music. It can be used to |
| That is, there is little or noharshness going on in the | | | | create trance like states in the listener. Drums are |
| music. No Saxes wailing and what not. Having said | | | | usually a part of Jazz music. Percussion is mostly |
| that we can eliminate most of the tense jazz chords | | | | absent from the New Age sound simply because it |
| and their voicing. So what are we left with? Mostly | | | | would not add to the atmosphere most New Age |
| Major and minor chords based on the regular scales | | | | musicians create. Timing is very important to the Jazz |
| and the modes. The chord progressions are simpler | | | | musician. The soloist has the freedom to play |
| and usually start on the l chord. No ll-V-l progressions | | | | whatever he wants as long as he maintains the |
| here. | | | | meter and stays in time. New Age music is more |
| What about melody? In jazz, we have a soloist who | | | | elastic in that timing is there, but is not a master of |
| usually plays a lot of chromatic notes. This is rare in | | | | the player. The New Age player can disregard time |
| new age music because it would create dissonance. | | | | altogether. Just listen to Zen flute music as a good |
| New age melodies tend to be softer and more on | | | | example of this. |
| the spiritual side. Solos, if there are any, are not so | | | | Now, what does all this mean for the aspiring New |
| much concerned with the expression of the self than | | | | Age musician? A couple of good things. It means that |
| they are with letting the music express itself. A | | | | there is a definite new age "sound" out there. That it |
| subtle but very important distinction. Jazz players | | | | is here to stay and that people like and need to hear |
| may have some ego invested in their performance. | | | | it. And it means that there are some guidelines out |
| New age musicians learn to let the music play them. | | | | there for what defines the meaning of New Age |
| They learn to become a channel for the music itself | | | | music. |