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music theory

teacher telling student about borrowed chords

Use borrowed chords to add drama, depth, and variety to your music

January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 Scott McCormick

Looking to spice up your chord progressions? Why not borrow a chord or two from a different mode or scale? Borrowed chords are a tried-and-true way to add an unexpected touch to songs. Read the post.

guitarist playing diminished chords

Add zest with diminished chords

December 6, 2022January 13, 2023 Scott McCormick

While major and minor chords get all the attention, don’t neglect music’s lovely diminished chords. They can spice up your boring chord progressions and add drama to your songs. Read the post.

a new songwriter trying her hand to start writing songs

How to start writing songs

November 14, 2022January 13, 2023 Scott McCormick

Have you got the music in you and want to start writing songs? Here’s a no-nonsense primer to getting your songwriting career started. Read the post.

three musicians playing to find best key for their song

What’s the best key for your song?

October 25, 2022October 26, 2022 Michael Gallant

There are a lot of factors that play into choosing the right arrangement for a song — but choosing the best key for you and the musicians might be the most important. Read the post.

sailboat sailing the Southern Cross

“Southern Cross” — From unreleased leftover to enduring classic

September 21, 2022September 22, 2022 Scott McCormick

Here’s a fascinating look at how Stephen Stills took an unreleased leftover and turned it into the enduring classic, “Southern Cross.” Read the post.

songwriting tips and advice

Songwriting tips: Insights and advice on the craft of writing a song

September 15, 2022October 14, 2022 Disc Makers

We’ve posted songwriting tips that cover music theory, the use of interesting chords, lyric writing advice, and ways to channel creativity. Read and enjoy.

A Hard Day's Night and London Calling covers

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

August 26, 2022August 26, 2022 Scott McCormick

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

colorful illustration of saxophonist in the midst of musical improvisation

Musical improvisation: how to make music in the moment

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022 Michael Gallant

Becoming fluent with musical improvisation is an attainable goal. Here are some tips to help you grow in that direction and to make your own music improv shine. Read the post.

man playing a power chord

What makes power chords so powerful?

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022 Scott McCormick

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

pianist playing the lydian mode

The Lydian Mode can give your song a lift

June 22, 2022June 22, 2022 Scott McCormick

In music, a mode is a formula for creating a musical scale. The Lydian Mode’s formula (W–W–W–H–W–W–H) can give your melody or progression an uplifting and yearning feeling. Read the post.

Paul McCartney onstage

After the Beatles: Paul McCartney’s basslines

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 Keith Hatschek and Robert Bassett

The genius of Paul McCartney’s basslines never wavered, but his choices as a bass player post-Beatles show his focus was ever more on the song and serving the vocal melody. Read the post.

a look at Paul McCartney’s basslines

The genius of Paul McCartney’s basslines

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 Keith Hatschek and Robert Bassett

Paul McCartney’s basslines are an integral part of the Beatles’ evolution from world-beating pop band to musical pioneers. We identify just what McCartney did to make his parts stand out from what other bassists were doing at the time. Read the post.

guitarist playing a major mediant chord

The major mediant chord can add an unexpected surprise

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 Scott McCormick

While the mediant (iii chord) isn’t as structurally integral as the tonic, dominant, or subdominant, employing its major variation can provide an unexpected surprise that will make listeners’ ears perk up every time. Read the post.

guitarist playing a song with one chord

Can you write a song with just one chord?

March 9, 2022March 10, 2022 Scott McCormick

While it might be difficult to keep a song interesting if you limit it to one chord, it can help create tension, highlight your lyrics, or drive a hypnotic groove. Read the post.

Acoustic guitarist playing a pedal point

The pedal point: A quick study

February 3, 2022February 4, 2022 Scott McCormick

A pedal point can make a standard progression more interesting or ground a complex progression in something familiar. Read the post.

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