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music theory

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.

substitution chords

Use substitution chords to spice up your songs

December 3, 2020December 3, 2020 Scott McCormick

Jazz musicians know and integrate substitution chords on a regular basis, but musicians who play other genres of music can also employ this concept to great effect. Read the post.

math and music

The functional relationship between math and music

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Reema Krishnan

The relationship between math and music extends to many elements of both, and studying one can lead to success in the other. If nothing else, the connection is an interesting one to explore. Read the post.

mixolydian

Get bluesy with Mixolydian and the Mixo-Dorian Blues

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020 Scott McCormick

Study up on the Mixolydian Mode, queue up a nice Mixo chord progression, and you’ll see why guitar masters like Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, and Duane Allman all love Mixo-Dorian Blues. Read the post.

Lydian mode

Lift ‘em up with the Lydian Mode

February 10, 2020February 9, 2021 Scott McCormick

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

mediant chord

Surprise ‘em with the major mediant chord

December 4, 2019December 11, 2019 Scott McCormick

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

Neapolitan chord

Use the zesty Neapolitan chord in your songs

October 22, 2019March 24, 2020 Scott McCormick

A touch of exoticism could be all you need to lift your song up from the mundane. The flat-second, a.k.a. Neapolitan chord, can be just the ticket. Read the post.

songwriting tips from the beatles

Songwriting tips from the Beatles’ “Help!”

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 Scott McCormick

Few popular songs meld music, lyrics, and theme as potently as the Beatles’ 1965 hit single, “Help!” Here’s how they did it. Read the post.

right key

Choose the right key for your songs

September 19, 2019June 23, 2020 Michael Gallant

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

suspended chords

Using suspended chords in your songwriting

August 29, 2019August 6, 2020 Scott McCormick

Suspended chords offer more than just a frilly little something to add to your music. They work as substitution chords, they can smooth out chord progressions, and they can add tension to your music. Read the post.

two chords

Two chords can make a song

May 31, 2019October 1, 2019 Scott McCormick

These songs from decades past show us that, really, more is less. Let’s explore the magic of the bVII-I progression and how two chords can make a song. Read the post.

one chord

Sometimes, one chord is all you need

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019 Scott McCormick

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

augmented chords

Using augmented chords in your songs

May 8, 2019August 3, 2020 Scott McCormick

Augmented chords can add drama and tension, as shown in these examples from popular songs from the ’60s through the ’80s. Read the post.

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