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cover songs

flat-six chord

Add drama with a flat-six chord

February 9, 2021February 23, 2021 Scott McCormick

The flat-six chord can add drama to your music, and with some exceptions, is best used sparingly in your songwriting. Read the post.

sixth chords

Sixth chords add moody complexity to your music

January 19, 2021January 19, 2021 Scott McCormick

Sixth chords have an inherent lack of identity and purpose that can be riveting — a sixth chord can provide ambiguity, set curiously dark moods, and add a layer of complexity to your music. Read the post.

ninth chords

Ninth chords add ambiance to your compositions

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 Scott McCormick

There are many kinds of ninth chords, and they can be used in different ways. This post explores different kinds of ninth chords and how you can use them, with plenty of examples of their use in popular music. Read the post.

solo performance

Re-arranging big songs for solo performance

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019 Michael Gallant

Whether you’re dancing on piano keys or dreaming on acoustic guitar, reimagining your favorite songs for solo performance with just you, your voice, and a single instrument can be as fun as it is challenging. Read the post.

Close to You

Fifth time’s the charm: The Carpenter’s smash hit, “Close to You”

September 4, 2019July 28, 2020 Scott McCormick

Before and after the Carpenters scored a massive hit with “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” others tried, but they all seemed to miss what Richard Carpenter figured out: When you have a great melody, great lyrics, and a great singer — less is more. Read the post.

through the grapevine

Cover to cover: “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

August 6, 2019August 6, 2019 Scott McCormick

Not only does “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” hold the distinction of the being the first and last number one R&B song in 1968, it is the only song to have been a number one R&B hit for three artists. Read the post.

multiple listens

What multiple listens can reveal about a song

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 Michael Gallant

When learning a song or diving into ideas for music production, multiple listens to an inspiring track can help you discover arrangement and recording tricks that you can apply to your own music. Read the post.

smash hit Southern Cross CSN

How Stephen Stills turned an unreleased leftover into the smash hit “Southern Cross”

July 9, 2019March 17, 2020 Scott McCormick

This is the second in a series that examines cover songs that went on to be huge hits, even though the original versions were mostly unknown. This post covers Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Southern Cross.” Read the post.

hit song tainted love

Unlocking a hit song — Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”

June 27, 2019August 10, 2020 Scott McCormick

How did a forgotten 1965 B-side become a 1981 smash? “Tainted Love” had hidden elements that Soft Cell unlocked to turn it into an enduring (and often covered) hit song. Read the post.

Nashville tuning

The magic of Nashville tuning

April 5, 2019December 3, 2019 Scott McCormick

While Nashville tuning uses the same notes as a standard guitar tuning, used by itself and in layers with other guitars, this tuning can bring an articulate presence to a recording. Read the post.

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.

quote lyrics in books

Can authors quote your lyrics in their books?

November 21, 2018November 28, 2018 Andre Calilhanna

For someone to quote lyrics in a book, or liner notes, it requires special permission and is not covered by the set fees or processes of music licensing. Read the post.

flat-six chord

Supercharge your music with the flat-six chord

March 13, 2018February 10, 2021 Scott McCormick

Borrowed chords (chords “borrowed” from a key’s parallel minor) are commonly used in music influenced by the blues, including rock, jazz, R&B, even country and folk. Today we’ll focus on the flat-six chord. Read the post.

Sixth Chords

Sixth chords can add subtle complexity to your songs

February 19, 2018January 19, 2021 Scott McCormick

Sixth chords have an inherent lack of identity and purpose that can be riveting — a sixth chord can provide ambiguity, set curiously dark moods, and add a layer of complexity to your music. Read More.

ninth chords

Ninth chords add space, dissonance, and ambiance to your arrangements

July 5, 2017December 22, 2020 Scott McCormick

There are many diverse kinds of ninth chords, and they are used in different ways. In this post, we’ll explore different kinds of ninth chords, how to use them, and provide examples of their use in popular music. Read More.

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