"F.A.Q.s" or Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

1. How do M.A.M.I. Scale Atlases to help me play better...?

2. Where can I get a free M.A.M.I. Scale Atlas sample for my Instrument...?

3. Why don't M.A.M.I. Scale Atlases "feed me lines", or tell me exactly what to play...?

4. Who is "Spock"...?

5. What M.A.M.I. Scale Atlas versions are available and in what formats...?

6. When and how do I use the Matrix Approach Cubes...?

How do M.A.M.I. Scale Atlases to help me play better... ?

Go to our website http://www.mamimusic.com/all_about_mami.htm for more information.

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Where can I get a free M.A.M.I. Scale Atlas Sample for my Instrument ... ?

There are currently nine sample and complete versions available.

 

One version for Piano / Keyboards and General Studies

 

Five versions for Right-Hand Guitar:

1. Six-string E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

2. Seven-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

3. Six-string D-A-D-G-A-D tuned

4. Seven-string A-E-A-D-G-B-E tuning

5. Six-string A-D-G-C-E-A "Alto" tuning

 

Three versions for Left-Hand Guitar:

1. Six-string E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

2. Seven-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

3. Six-string D-A-D-G-A-D tuned

 

Go to our website http://www.mamimusic.com/get_MAMI.html for free samples and ordering information.

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Why don't M.A.M.I. Scale Atlases "feed me lines", or tell me exactly what to play... ?

We believe that improvisation should be personal and reflect the performers 

own style and taste. The idea and beauty behind M.A.M.I. is that we do not tell you, 

or show you what...or how to play like anyone else...

 

Of course much can be learned by studying any accomplished player, and this 

approach is also recommended. However our M.A.M.I. Scale Atlas was created for 

the purpose of providing musicians with a tool for creating fresh, new ideas. 

 

Go to our website http://www.mamimusic.com/using_MAMI.htm for more information.

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Who is "Spock"... ?

Richard "Spock" Armstrong is the creator the Matrix Approach to Music Improvisation concept,

and of course depending on who you ask this may mean either idiot or genius... :-)

 

 

Although they are not musical "method" books and do not tell you how to play stylistically

the majority of musicians accept M.A.M.I. as a "dream come true" and a "reference that can 

be used for life" to support any musical method that they currently use (or plan) to study. 

 

 

M.A.M.I.'s popularity is soaring! 

We are getting thousands of visitors to are website and positive feedback and testimonials abound. 

Is is always great to hear nice things said about my books like: "dude, we're not worthy", 

"prolific", and "I take it everywhere I go"! Occasionally the uniqueness of the Matrix Approach 

does confuse others, and I've had one person say "it gives me a headache"... :-) 

 

 

Alas, the beauty of M.A.M.I. is the beauty of music, and is the beauty of life: 

there are many ways, viewpoints, and perspectives. All are relative and relevant. 

This is the reason why I make 135 page free downloadable PDF formatted samples available for 

each version for sale. You can download the version for your instrument and learn to use M.A.M.I. free. 

 

 

Once you do come to understand the concept and find it useful then you will probably 

want to purchase the complete 580 page hardcopy reference version for your library because 

you will be able to use it "for life". It will help you find new ideas and play better!   

 

 

Opinions are divided on my book because of its unique format and approach, but most musicians 

appreciate that it was designed exactly for the purpose of being a fresh approach to solving 

an ages-old musicians problem: how to create unique ideas using musical elements.

 

I say this: it is much easier to improvise and compose if you know what elements are 

related to one another and where they are located on your instrument.  

 

Visualizing what notes, arpeggios, chords, inversions, scales and modes can be grouped together 

to create musical ideas is key. Developed in 1995, M.A.M.I. are the first and only truly integrated 

visual scale reference texts optimized for specific instruments on the market. 

 

 

The idea behind the Matrix Approach is to actually simplify the creative process of musical improvisation 

and composition by relating all elements generated by given scales and modes simultaneously and visually. 

 

M.A.M.I. allows you to see a scale's notes throughout the instrument range and then use these notes 

to create music with the melodies, arpeggios, chords, inversions, scales and modes that are 

derived from, as well as related to the subject scale. 

 

So for example: when you see a "C-Major 7th" chord (sound), with M.A.M.I. it is possible 

to easily find all of melody notes, arpeggios, inversions, and even extended chords and modes 

that can make music using this sound because it is visually diagrammed on your instrument. 

 

 

What more can I say, try the free sample download...then you decide...      

 

Oh...about the nickname "Spock"...you'll have to visit my "bio" page to find out this story! 

bio.htm

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What is M.A.M.I. Scale Atlas versions are available, and in what formats ... ?

There are currently nine sample and complete versions available.

 

One version for Piano / Keyboards and General Studies

 

Five versions for Right-Hand Guitar:

1. Six-string E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

2. Seven-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

3. Six-string D-A-D-G-A-D tuned

4. Seven-string A-E-A-D-G-B-E tuning

5. Six-string A-D-G-C-E-A "Alto" tuning

 

Three versions for Left-Hand Guitar:

1. Six-string E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

2. Seven-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuned

3. Six-string D-A-D-G-A-D tuned

 

All versions are available as complete 580 page Hardcopy format and as Adobe Acrobat PDF formatted 

135 page samples. We are working with some Digital-Rights Content Management solutions to provide all 

versions as Secured PDF formatted downloadable files to be available for purchase over our website as well.   

 

Go to our website page get MAMI for free samples and ordering information.

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When and how do I use the Matrix Approach Cubes ... ?

Basically, you use the cubes to "look inside the scale" from each scale degree to determine information 

about the musical qualities inherent in that degree. There are three different cubes. 

Each cube organizes scale notes in a different way so that analysis can be performed.

 

One can use the Matrix Modal Cube (cube #1) to determine the modal note sequences from each degree 

of a scale quickly and easily. The Matrix Chordal Cube (cube #2) is used to determine the chords and their extensions 

that can be generated from each degree of a scale. Cube #3, the Matrix Harmonic Cube acts as an optimized 

"cycle of fourths" indicator that can assist in identifying logical chord motion using a given scale. 

All of this sounds pretty complex, but if you look at it for a few minutes it begins to make great sense!

 

Go to our website page explained for an overview

 and be sure to download a free 135 page sample as well!

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(click here for the MAMI Index page)

Richard S. Armstrong.
Copyright © 1997-2002  MAMI-Matrix Publishing L.L.C.. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 01, 2008.