The (half-step/ whole-step) diminished scale is arguably the most flexible harmonic and melodic device available to the improvising musician. We talked about this great device before in terms of using it chordally so I thought I would explore some melodic applications.

The diminished scale is a symmetrical scale that is nothing more that alternating half-steps and whole-steps. Due to this construction, anything derived from diminished harmony can be transposed up or down in minor thirds and you never leave the scale.

In this video, I play the same phase in four different ‘keys’ over C13b9 – Fm progression: a common V-i. All four of the variations offered here can be equally used over A13b9 – Dm, F#13b9 – Bm or Eb13b9 – Abm. If you’re careful with the final note, you can also resolve the like to major chords.

I think that really makes this a 32 for the price of one… I’ll let you work-out the math.

Want to study with me privately? You can–from anywhere in the world via my Online Guitar Lessons.

Dig it.

I recently released my solo guitar Christmas EP “Rob Michael’s Christmas by the Fire.” I’ve had some very pleasant positive feedback from both casual listeners and other guitarists.

My offering today is my printed arrangement of Little town of Bethlehem.

If you decide to play this, I would love to hear it!!

It may have been a year since the last online show, but I’m bringing it back: My Live Stream Studio Concert. This is the studio where I compose music, record albums and this is also where I practice. It’s a comfortable spot and I like to take chances and test-fly pieces of audio-tech that I might not try in other settings.

it all started…

Over the past couple of years, I streamed a bunch of Solo Guitar Shows, which are still the core of what you may hear. I was also joined by several very special guests. My friend guitarist/ vocalist Ruth Parry and I first started out streaming our duo guitar gig from a cafe that happened

to have free wifi. I streamed my Atmos Trio gigs. Touring musicians caught wind of the show and when they were traveling through my area, they’d come play. That’s how I ran in to the good fortune of playing with electric bassists Damian Erskine and Todd Johnson. I even recorded an entire album on the show w/ Steve Uccello.

This time it will be different.

This time, I’m inviting you to join in a more real way. Rather than play to the unblinking eye of the camera, I’ll be able to see you too!

Nine front-row seats will be available via my Google Plus Hangout. There you’ll be able to see, hear, be seen and be heard just as if we were all in the same physical space. (Except here, if you need to sneeze really loud, you can mute your mic.) Want to know what song that was or what effect I have on my guitar? You just ask and I’ll answer. Your free to come and go but if you leave, someone else may take your seat.

When the hangout gets full…

I will also be streaming the Hangout to my Video Page and my Ustream Channel so that more than just the original 10 (me and 9 others) can be there. On Ustream, you can watch and listen and communicate w/ those of us in the hangout via Usteam’s chat module, twitter (#GPlusConcert), or a designated G+ thread.

This will al happen on Friday July 22nd 4PM (PST)/ 7pm (EST). Let’s hangout.

Among all of the great features, the one that gets talked about the most is the ‘Hangout’ where up to ten people can participate in a video chat; either public or private. It’s bone-head easy and works great!

I pretty much always have my guitar in my hands–even when surfing the web. It’s nothing new to me. Whenever I would see a hangout float down the stream, I would pop-in, say ‘Hi’ and play a bit and split. Folks in the hangout have generally reacted very positively. I would always offer to not play (or mute my channel) because I didn’t want to be that obnoxious guy who imposes his guitar playing on everyone. That offer has, so far, always been declined.

Edit By request, I’ve decided to make this tune available for streaming and download. As always, “Pay What You think it’s Worth.”

One potential use for this amazing tool is a real-time jam session with musicians in remote locations. There is still plenty of lag for this not to be totally useful for this yet, but I can see it coming. That gave me the idea to make this video: a Proof of Concept of sorts.

So–wanna hangout?

“Reptile” is basically a funk tune. The instrumentation is a little different in so far as the rhythm guitar part is played on a steel-string acoustic guitar. The solo is my old work-hourse frankestein ’80′s-era Strat.

This track features my buds Joe Shotwell on drums and Jack Hines on bass.

Reptile by AtmosTrio

I love playing this guitar, this excerpt from an upcoming album provides a glimpse into why.

Desire solo by AtmosTrio

A few months ago, a fellow guitarist and friend, Ruth Parry and I decided to play a series of gigs on Thursday afternoons just for fun. It was at a small local cafe a few blocks from Ruth’s house and near where I teach. Fun and convenient, why not!

The venue has wi-fi so on impulse, I showed-up to the first gig with my laptop and streamed the show to Ustream. I thought it was a neat idea and sure enough, the Ustream audience seemed very into what we were doing. We would play to the room and not really notice much what was gong-on with the laptop. I would read comments in the chat module later in the day when I finished teaching. Ruth and kept doing this weekly gig for a month or so before she secured a new teaching position that conflicted with our Thursday schedule.

When the next Thursday came, I decided to live-out a longtime joke/ fantasy of mine: I would play a gig from home. No loading gear into my car, setting-up, tearing-down… just play. Now the “room” was the Ustream audience. I could interact quite directly with them, and I know many of them from Twitter, Facebook and Friendfeed.

This is turning into my favorite gig. I like to let the audience in on what it’s like being a working musician. Let the whole experience be inclusive and invite them into my world (which for me, is a fantastic dream). A pleasant and unexpected side-effect of this is a fairly dramatic spike in CD sales for my main Jazz group, The Atmos Trio.

So, as I’ve said during nearly every show, “Gigging from home–I’m DOIN’ it!” You’ll find me on Ustream every Thursday afternoon at 1:30 pm (PST).

LIVE on Ustream.tv

Tip: Don’t Hear/ See anything? Press PLAY or REFRESH button

Live Concert Videos

Here are the latest two Atmos Trio Albums. FREE (low res)/ PAY WHAT YOU LIKE (High Res).

(2786 KB) 

I recorded this piece as an experiment sometime around 2001. I played all of the parts on guitar. Good fun!
 
Originally composed for the organ, this piece goes well beyond the range of the guitar: I kept tuning lower and lower. I had to give in and use a bass for a few of the phrases.

Posted via email from atmosmusic’s posterous

On the 4th Friday of each month, Joe and I play this super-great gig
with bass virtuoso Cliff Hugo and his wife, singer Cynthia Tarr.

Not only are they both great musicians but really great folks on the
human-level too.

This all happens at The Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen, CA.