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chord progression

mystery chords

Mystery chords in “A Hard Day’s Night” and “London Calling”

March 15, 2019March 30, 2020 Scott McCormick

Ever sit down to learn a song and find that no matter what chord you play, it’s just not the right one? We investigate two mystery chords in two classic songs. Read the post.

alternate guitar tunings

Need songwriting inspiration? Try alternate guitar tunings.

March 1, 2019November 20, 2019 Scott McCormick

This post explores some common — and some of the more obscure — alternate guitar tunings to inspire you to write your next masterpiece. Read the post.

play eleventh and thirteenth chords C13b9

How to play eleventh and thirteenth chords on guitar

February 15, 2019July 2, 2019 Scott McCormick

For some extended guitar chords — like a fully voiced thirteenth — there are more notes in the chord than there are strings. That’s where slash chords come in … with a little help from your bassist. Read the post.

playing at Carnegie Hall

Playing at Carnegie Hall … with five days’ notice

February 14, 2019February 14, 2019 Michael Gallant

When I had the opportunity to be playing at Carnegie Hall with the great Wouter Kellerman, I had to say yes. With the gig five days away, thoughtful, strategic practicing helped get the music where it needed to be in a short amount of time. Read the post.

eleventh chords

The lush world of eleventh chords

January 18, 2019January 18, 2020 Scott McCormick

Eleventh chords can liven up music in any genre, but they can be confusing. Here are some charts and examples to help guide you in your pursuit of extended chords. Read the post.

She Said She Said

From demo to classic: She Said She Said

October 30, 2018October 31, 2018 Scott McCormick

Though labeled a Lennon/McCartney song, “She Said She Said” was more truly a Lennon/Harrison song that was a late addition to one of the pivotal albums in the Beatles’ esteemed catalog. Read the post.

A musician demonstrating some slide guitar techniques.

Slide guitar: A tutorial in six videos

October 11, 2018January 15, 2019 Keith Hatschek

If you haven’t ever tried to play slide guitar, all you need is a metal or glass slide, some patience, and to apply a few basic tips, as presented in these six videos. Read the post.

A pianist employing the use of a pedal point.

One note to rule them all: The pedal point

August 30, 2018October 2, 2018 Scott McCormick

A pedal point is the repetition or sustain of a single note throughout various harmonic changes that can make a standard progression more interesting or ground a complex progression in something familiar. Read the post.

hit single

From demo to hit single: Owner of a Lonely Heart

August 22, 2018August 30, 2018 Scott McCormick

Here’s the story of how an unlikely collaboration met with a massive riff, memorable chorus, groundbreaking samples, and an in-your-face solo to produce a surprise hit single in 1983. Read the post.

constructing a song

Constructing a song from a melody

July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 Izotope

When you’re constructing a song, think of it in relation to the human body. You build the skeleton first, which can be a melody, and develop your song from there. Read the post.

power chords

The awesome power of power chords

July 3, 2018July 3, 2018 Scott McCormick

Power chords might not be chords, but they’re powerful intervals — especially when mixed with distortion. Read the post.

A musician writing in key changes and modulations to spice up a song.

Key change! How to wow ‘em with a chorus modulation

May 29, 2018September 27, 2019 Scott McCormick

A song can take you on a journey, and including a key change — or modulation — can produce various emotional effects, from brightening the mood to creating a sense of unease. Read the post.

learn another instrument

Why you should learn another instrument

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Scott McCormick

The first of a two-part series explores how taking time to learn another instrument will help you become stronger at your first instrument and improve your songwriting chops. Read the post.

song structure

Studying song structure can help you learn new material quickly

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 Michael Gallant

Strategies that involve focused listening and practice are key to learning new material quickly, and looking closely at song structure can lessen the amount of time it takes you to get from first listen to a strong, quality performance. Read the post.

learn new music

8 tips to help you learn new music … fast

April 19, 2018April 27, 2018 Michael Gallant

If you’re in a situation where you have to learn lots of new music in a very short time, these tips can help you develop a strategy so you can tackle the task and perform with confidence. Read the post.

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