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Art

Express.

Expression. What you make. Art sits at the top of the stack — the surplus a well-run life produces, turned into something only you could make.

1 - Writing​

  • Active voice: Use active voice.
  • Airplane mode: Write on airplane mode.
  • Claude rewrite: Prompt Claude for scaffolding, then rewrite alongside it in your own voice.
  • Types

2 - Film​

2.1 - Photography​

Take great photos.

  • Exposure triangle: Lead with primary parameter (DOF for portraits and motion for action shots), then secondary parameter (DOF or motion), then use ISO to "make up the difference".

    • Aperture (depth of field): Aperture = size of lens's entrance pupil. Smaller f-number (bigger pupil) = closer DOF = more light. Priority mode allows user to select DOF and have motion and brightness be on auto. Use focus ring to control focus distance.

      • f/3.5 → portrait sharp + blurry background (portrait look)
      • f/11 → everything sharp (landscape) + less light

    • Shutter Speed (motion): Higher shutter speed = less motion blur. Speed of 1/30 and less should be tripod shot.

      • 1/1000 → freeze fast action (sports, birds)
      • 1/125 → general handheld
      • 1/30 → tripod or intentional blur (waterfalls)

    • ISO (brightness): Adds grain/noise. Use less <= 800 ISO. See exposure_triangle.png - each step is one "stop" (a relative measure of light that functions in doubles and halves).

      • ISO 100 → bright daylight, cleanest image
      • ISO 400 → overcast / shade
      • ISO 800 → indoors, usable noise ceiling
      • ISO 3200+ → low light, visible grain

  • Focal length: Distance from lens to sensor in mm. Shorter = wider field of view (e.g. 24mm landscape). Longer = narrower/zoomed (e.g. 85mm portrait, 200mm+ wildlife). 50mm approximates human eye perspective. Wider focal lengths exaggerate depth; longer focal lengths compress it.

  • Filters: Attach to lens to modify light.

  • Stabilization: Counters camera shake.

  • Dynamic range: How much highlight + shadow detail your camera can capture.

  • File format: RAW vs JPEG. RAW = uncompressed, more editing flexibility. JPEG = compressed, smaller, processed in-camera.

  • Composition: Rule of thirds and framing.

    • Grounds
      • Foreground
      • Midground
      • Background
    • Angle: Low / Eye / High
    • Framing: Wide / Full / Medium / Close-up
    • Focus
    • Scale / Spatial relationships

  • Camera: Check out Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR. Better than iPhone for natural background blur and photographic experience.

  • Color perception

    • Plants: Green. Most sensitive.
    • Sky: Blue.
    • Skin: Orange.

  • Editing: Use built-in editing software. Don't overengineer.

2.2 - Video​

Shoot movies.

  • Frame rate: 24 fps (default), 60 fps for slow motion at 50%. Shutter speed → double your frame rate (e.g. 24 fps → ~1/50) — known as the "180-degree shutter rule".

  • Resolution: 1080p (2.1 MP photo played 24–60 times per second) and 4K are common.

  • Editing

    • CapCut: Social media.
    • iMovie: Simple edits.

3 - Drawing​

Draw what you see.

  • Supplies

    • 2B: Primary.
    • 4B: Shadow.
    • HB: Detail.
    • Kneaded eraser
    • Compact sharpener
    • Sketchbook

  • Workflow

    • Rough: Less time, dynamic
    • Refine: Darker lines, cleanup

  • Basics

    • Line
    • Shape
      • Types: Circle, Ellipse, Square, Rectangle, Trapezoid
      • Approach: Break down to geometric shapes then refine with organic shapes
      • Pay attention to white space
    • Form
    • Value
      • Highlight
      • Midtone
      • Core shadow
      • Cast shadow
    • Detail
    • Perspective

  • Line

    • Line quality (thickness) = creates contrast
    • Contour lines = shaped "edges"
    • Cross contour lines = shading in the direction of the form

  • Perspective

    • Foreshortening: Distort objects to make parts appear closer, adding depth.
    • Placement: Position objects lower to appear closer.
    • Size: Larger objects seem closer; smaller ones recede.
    • Overlapping: Place objects in front of others to create depth; avoid tangents.
    • Distance: Use lighter tones and less detail for distant objects.
    • Shading: Darken areas opposite the light source for volume.
    • Shadow: Add cast shadows to ground objects and enhance realism.
    • Contour lines: Wrap lines around shapes to suggest 3D form.
    • Horizon line: Establish eye level for perspective.
    • Density: Lighten tones and reduce detail in the background.

  • Anatomy

4 - Music Theory​

Understand music theory.

Music = Rhythm + (Melody + Harmony)

4.1 - Rhythm​

  • Timing

    • Quarter note: 1 beat.
    • Eighth note: Half a beat. 1 &.
    • Sixteenth note: Quarter beat. 1 e & a.

  • Grid notation: Use "grid notation" (* = beat, - = rest). Inspired by beat_sequencer.png but moves LTR like sheet music.

4.2 - Pitch​

  • Pitch: Perceived frequency of a sound. Determined by the fundamental frequency and reinforced by harmonics (integer multiples of the fundamental; higher harmonics are quieter). In standard tuning A4 = 440 Hz. See harmonics.png.

  • Timbre: Unique "color" or character of a sound. Determined by the relative strength of harmonics. Different instruments playing the same pitch have different harmonic recipes. sound = sum(frequency * amplitude * phase).

  • Octave: Interval between two pitches where one has exactly twice the frequency of the other. If A4 = 440 Hz then A5 = 880 Hz. 1200 cents = 1 octave.

  • 12 Note System: 12-TET. next_step = previous_step * 2^(1/12). Makes all keys usable. Allows good approximations to key harmonic ratios.

IntervalRatioApprox. centsEqual-temp ratio
Octave2:11200exact
Perfect Fifth3:2702 cents700 cents
Perfect Fourth4:3498 cents500 cents
Major Third5:4386 cents400 cents

4.3 - Degrees​

Degrees = interval positions measured from the root note of a scale.

All degrees in C major:

DegreeNoteSolfègePronunciationIntervalHalf StepsEnergy
1CDodohUnison (P1/R)0unity
♭2D♭RarahMinor Second1dissonance
2DRerayMajor Second2tension
♭3E♭MemayMinor Third3sadness
3EMimeeMajor Third4joy
4FFafahPerfect Fourth5suspension
♭5G♭SesayTritone6instability
5GSolsohlPerfect Fifth7power
♭6A♭LelayMinor Sixth8melancholy
6ALalahMajor Sixth9warmth
♭7B♭TetayMinor Seventh10blues
7BTiteeMajor Seventh11yearning
(1)CDodohOctave (P8)12resolution

2 doubles as 9, 6 doubles as 13 in extended chord voicings.

Scale degree notation: Transcribes a melody as scale degrees 1–7 with markers. Pitch markers are prefixes, articulation markers suffix or sit between notes, so nothing collides:

  • ^ / _ — octave up / down (prefix): ^1, _7
  • b / # — flat / sharp (prefix): b3, #4
  • / / \ — slide up / down (between two notes): 5/6, 6\5
  • > — bend off the note (suffix): 5>

See happy birthday melody below:

5 5 6 5 ^1 7
5 5 6 5 ^2 ^1
5 5 ^5 ^3 ^1 7 6
^4 ^4 ^3 ^1 ^2 ^1

Intervals: Distance between two pitches, measured in half steps (semitones).

4.4 - Chords​

Formulas:

  • Major: 1 - 3 - 5
  • Minor (m): 1 - b3 - 5
  • Diminished (d): 1 - b3 - b5
  • Major 7th (maj7): 1 - 3 - 5 - 7
  • 7th (7): 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 (b7 added)
  • 6th (6): 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 (6 added)
  • Add 2: 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 (2 added)
  • Sus2: 1 - 2 - 5 (replace 3 with 2)
  • Sus4: 1 - 4 - 5 (replace 3 with 4)
  • –5: 1 - 3 - b5 (replace 5 with b5)
  • 9: 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - (2)
  • 13: 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - (6)

4.5 - Scales​

Scales = ordered sequence of notes built on a specific pattern of degrees from a root note.

  • Major: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – (1).

    • Major Pentatonic: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6 – (1). Major scale without 4th and 7th degrees ("pentatonic" literally means "five tones"). See Piano Pentatonic Scale - edit URL directly to switch keys.

  • Minor: 1 – 2 – b3 – 4 – 5 – b6 – b7 – (1)

    • Minor Pentatonic: 1 – b3 – 4 – 5 – b7 – (1). Minor scale without 2nd and the 6th degrees.

      • Blues: 1 – b3 – 4 – b5 – 5 – b7 – (1). Minor pentatonic with blues b5 degree.

    • Dorian mode: 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7 - (1)

See scales.png.

See piano_roll_major_scale.png.

4.6 - Keys​

  • Scale degrees Use scale degress to visualize keys spatially on instrument.

Major Keys:

12m3m456m7dim
CDmEmFGAmBdim
DbEbmFmGbAbBbmCdim
DEmF#mGABmC#dim
EbFmGmAbBbCmDdim
EF#mG#mABC#mD#dim
FGmAmBbCDmEdim
GbAbmBbmCbDbEbmFdim
GAmBmCDEmF#dim
AbBbmCmDbEbFmGdim
ABmC#mDEF#mG#dim
BbCmDmEbFGmAdim
BC#mD#mEF#G#mA#dim

Minor keys:

1m2dimb34m5mb6b7
AmBdimCDmEmFG
BbmCdimDbEbmFmGbAb
BmC#dimDEmF#mGA
CmDdimEbFmGmAbBb
C#mD#dimEF#mG#mAB
DmEdimFGmAmBbC
EbmFdimGbAbmBbmCbDb
EmF#dimGAmBmCD
FmGdimAbBbmCmDbEb
F#mG#dimABmC#mDE
GmAdimBbCmDmEbF
G#mA#dimBC#mD#mEF#
  • Nashville Number System (NNS): Chords built on scale degrees. Use m for minor chords.

See chord_frequency.png.

Use the Nashville Numbers Chrome extension to read Ultimate Guitar chord charts in NNS.

4.7 - Songwriting​

Flowcharts:

Melodic themes

  • Repetition
  • Modified repetition: Repetition with small changes to the offending scale degrees so that they fit with the underlying harmony.

Chord charts: Use to write chord progressions.

Lilypond: Use to write melody. Use C major and A minor templates to understand and create melodies.

Soul: Be willing to sing from the soul.

Improvisation: Play over the key by ear, leaning on scale and chord tones.

5 - Singing​

Sing.

  • Basics:

    1. Breathe quickly "down" into "your stomach" with loose abs. Think about breathing into your knees. You should feel ZERO movement in your chest when you inhale. Breathe with intent! (As if you're about to say something important!) Keep mouth loose and open.

    2. Immediately after inhale, tighten/brace lower abs. The rest of the body should be loose (no tension).

    3. Exhale with abs relaxed with "h sound" loose throat. Keep your jaw relaxed and dropped. Keep even sound. Think of a balloon for air flow. Avoid tension.

    4. Exhale remaining air and repeat. Feeling like "bouncing" off the final exhale.

  • Warmups: See singing_drills.pdf.

    • The snake: Even "ssss" sound with defined intervals (e.g. 5 s).
    • Lip roll: Make a resonant lip roll sound in your chest and falsetto voice.

6 - Drums​

Drum with your hands.

  • Basic Tones: See drum_tones.png.

    • Bass = heel of hand
    • Slap = fingertips
    • Hi hat = finger nails

  • Advanced Tones

    • Accented slap = spread hands
    • Roll = finger roll

  • Patterns: See drum_drills.pdf.

7 - Piano​

Play piano.

7.1 - Basics​

Posture

  • Shoulders: Keep them relaxed.
  • Elbows: Position them slightly above the keys.
  • Sitting posture: Sit on the front half of the chair.
  • Feet: Keep them flat on the floor.
  • Wrists: Keep them straight and level with the keyboard.

7.2 - Basic Rhythms​

7.3 - Advanced Rhythms​

8 - Guitar​

Play guitar.

8.1 - Basics​

  • Amp

    • Gain = Distortion
    • Tone = Brightness

  • Strings: Going "up" means higher pitched strings.

    • E
    • A
    • D
    • G
    • B
    • e

8.2 - Strumming​

Types

  • Standard: Finger.
  • Brush: Side of thumb.
  • Pick: Pick coming out of side of thumb. See holding_a_pick.png. Tilt at a 20 degree angle relative to strings. Downstrokes go "in" and upstrokes come "out".

Patterns: D = Downstroke, U = Upstroke, B = Bass Note

  • 4
    • Single: D---
    • Boom-chick: DDDD
    • Bass Note: B-DU (alternate bass as needed)
  • 8
    • Boom-chicka: D-DUD-DU
    • D-DUDU

8.3 - Open Chords​

  • A
  • Am
  • D
  • Dm
  • E
  • Em
  • G

See guitar_open_chords.png.

Use "anchor fingers".

Placing capo on 1st fret = song transposed +1.

8.4 - Barre Chords​

  • String roots

    • 6th
    • 5th
    • 4th

  • Types

    • Major (e.g. A)
    • Dom7 (e.g. A7)
    • Maj7 (e.g. Amaj7)
    • Minor (e.g. Am)
    • Min7 (e.g. Am7)

See barre_chords.png.

8.5 - Special Chords​

8.6 - Fretboard​

Memorize scales.

  • G Major Scale

  • Root Positions

    • Memorize 3-6-2-5-1-4 stack.
    • Memorize root positions.
    • Memorize 3rds (-1,1) of root position, except between string 2 and 3 where it's (0,1) because string 2 is shifted right 1 position.
    • Memorize 5ths (0,-1) of root position.

  • Pentatonic Scale