• Do you know the formula?

    in Self-Improvement

    If I ask you what 3 multiplied by 3 is, you’d probably have the answer really quickly — 9.

    2 x 2… 4.

    If I ask you what 3291 x 176 is, chances are you probably won’t be able to answer as fast as the previous questions. But you would be able to get out a sheet of paper and go through the steps necessary to solve this problem. That’s because you know the formula.

    And when you know the formula to something, it doesn’t matter how large the problem… how vast the parts… how long it will take… because you are confident you’ll arrive at the right answer if you’ve followed the formula correctly.

    And the bigger the goal, the longer it may take. But it’s the SAME FORMULA at work.

    Sure: 2 x 2 is easy.

    At first glance, 222 x 222222 seems much more complex. But once you apply the formula you’ve learned to solve multiplication problems, you’ll eventually arrive at an answer.

    In the same way, music has formulas.

    There are formulas for creating major scales. Like WWHWWWH (W means whole step / H means half step). All I did was come along and give you an easy way to remember the formula: “Why Won’t He Wear White When Hot.”

    Likewise, there are formulas for creating chords. Multiple formulas.

    You can go the intervallic approach.You can go the number route.

    There are formulas for understanding chord progressions. One is the circular approach.

    Then, there are entire formulas for learning songs like my Musician Transformation system. There are over 100 pages of free guides at this link.

    In our latest Musician Breakthrough project, there is a 5-part formula to mastering the church service.

    I can go on and on…

    Mostly everything in music traces back to a formula. Understand the formula and you’ll never worry about not being able to play in all 12 keys. Understand the formula and you’ll never worry about where to use big extended chords vs smaller triad chords. Understand the formula and you’ll never be confused over what chords can substitute for others.

    Ultimately, there must be a mindset shift from random thinking to formulaic thinking.

    When you think you’re lost, always remember: “There’s a formula in here somewhere” and you’ll more than likely take a 180 degree turn.

    Until next time.

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    Hi, I'm Jermaine Griggs, founder of this site. We teach people how to express themselves through the language of music. Just as you talk and listen freely, music can be enjoyed and played in the same way... if you know the rules of the "language!" I started this site at 17 years old in August 2000 and more than a decade later, we've helped literally millions of musicians along the way. Enjoy!




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