Chasing the Chords

In this episode, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and educator, Ross Heastings, about lead guitar, music theory, cover bands, songwriting, and education.

During the conversation, Jump and Heastings demonstrate musical examples, perform jazz excerpts, and improvise licks and phrases.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, music educator/guitarist, Brian Jump speaks to bassist/singer, Jonny Southern about contemporary hits radio (CHR). They examine the banal, often offensive music inhabiting Billboard’s Hot 100, and they critique the top ten songs occupying the list for the week of October 6, 2018.

For context, the thesis of John Seabrook's book, The Hit Factory, is covered. This book declares that hits are still what matters in the music industry despite the virtual annihilation of the record business. Moreover, Seabrook explains that the same few writers and producers are responsible for a significant number of hits and a disproportionately large share of the revenue.

To perform this dark magic, Seabrook explains, the hitmakers rely on two principle types of hit: one descended from Europop, which have long-ish melodies and clear verse/chorus structure; and another descended from R&B, which have melodic hooks repeated over rhythmic grooves.

To make these two forms of music, producers today rely on the track-and-hook approach, which features one musician writing the beat and the chord progression and another musician writing the melodies and the hooks.

Essentially, today’s hit songs are constructed by teams of experts who know how to pack their music full of irresistible ear candy.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, music educator/guitarist, Brian Jump speaks to bassist/singer, Jonny Southern about contemporary hits radio (CHR). They examine the banal, often offensive music inhabiting Billboard’s Hot 100, and they critique the top ten songs occupying the list for the week of October 6, 2018.

For context, the thesis of John Seabrook's book, The Hit Factory, is covered. This book declares that hits are still what matters in the music industry despite the virtual annihilation of the record business. Moreover, Seabrook explains that the same few writers and producers are responsible for a significant number of hits and a disproportionately large share of the revenue.

To perform this dark magic, Seabrook explains, the hitmakers rely on two principle types of hit: one descended from Europop, which have long-ish melodies and clear verse/chorus structure; and another descended from R&B, which have melodic hooks repeated over rhythmic grooves.

To make these two forms of music, producers today rely on the track-and-hook approach, which features one musician writing the beat and the chord progression and another musician writing the melodies and the hooks.

Essentially, today’s hit songs are constructed by teams of experts who know how to pack their music full of irresistible ear candy.

Please consider supporting this podcast:

brianjump.net/support/

In this podcast, music educator, Brian Jump, and bass player, Jonny Southern, talk about gender disparities that exist in rock bands and in rock audiences. They comment on the curious phenomenon of all-male styles, the ridiculous ritual of slam dancing, and the relative scarcity of female rock bands. Jump argues that the boy's-club mentality of rock music represents a type of support group for men and boys. Southern argues that equally-balanced audiences, like that of jam bands, is a result of drug culture.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the complicated dealings and elaborate interactions that occur when writing, rehearsing, and performing with other people. Famous band dynamics, like that of The Beatles, The Band, and Metallica, are covered for scope and context.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss musician-types and the importance of establishing a musical identity.

They cover the similarities and differences that exist between drummers, singers, sidemen, producers, electronic musicians, basement shredders, DJs, etc.

Jump and Southern perform the 1965 hit by Lee Dorsey called "Get Out My Life Woman" for this episode's outro.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the traps and pitfalls of learning music. They cover school bands, music teachers, and common student mistakes.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the devolution of music and the plight of original musicians. They cover the following topics: (1) empty rooms, (2)audience-member stereotypes, (3) the future of music, and (4) the disrespect shown to musicians.

The Chasing the Chords podcast can be found here: https://brianjump.net/podcast/

Follow this link to support Brian Jump: https://brianjump.net/support/

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the idolization of dead rock stars versus the indifference to living rock stars. They pursue a theme of gratitude while speaking about Metallica, Ringo Starr, Rick Rubin, Marty Friedman, and others.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to West Virginia native, Jonny Southern, about performance ethics, modern pop, cover bands, and other music topics.

You can check out Jonny's music here:

https://thewilliamsband.bandcamp.com/

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal:

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump