Songwriting tips from the Beatles’ “Help!”
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.
The Beatles
From demo to classic: She Said She Said
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.
How The Beatles changed music and the world (or at least got credit for it)
We all know The Beatles were a massively influential band who contributed to changes in music and culture in countless ways. Here are four concrete examples of how The Beatles changed music and the world. Read the post.
Songwriting lessons from John Lennon
We settled on three compositions that provide virtual songwriting lessons from John Lennon: “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” “Julia,” and “Watching The Wheels.” Read More.
George Harrison’s songwriting brilliance
From his earliest work to his successful career as a solo artist and collaborator, the simplicity of George Harrison’s songwriting belies the brilliance of one of popular music’s great artists. Read More.
After The Beatles: Paul McCartney’s bass playing, Part II
Paul McCartney’s bass playing genius never wavered, but his choices as a bass player post-Beatles show his focus is more on the song and serving the melody. Read More.
The creative genius of Paul McCartney’s bass lines
Paul McCartney’s bass lines became an integral part of the Beatles’ evolution from world beating pop band to musical pioneers. We identify just what Paul did to make his parts stand out from what other bassists were doing at the time. Read more.
A look at Ringo Starr’s enduring musical influence
Few would argue that the drumming of Ringo Starr was one of the most singular aspects to the band’s music. We’re here to make that argument. Ringo’s playing added shape and texture to the band’s iconic recordings while carefully creating patterns and dynamics to create and resolve tension within each song. Read more.
Desktop Wallpaper April 2013 Edition – Inspired by The Beatle’s “Octopus’s Garden”
The talented designers in our Design Studio created twelve original works of art (one for each month) that feature some of our favorite songs. Each month we will post a new design, in six common desktop sizes, so you can use them as your desktop wallpaper. April’s wallpaper features “Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles. Click here to get yours!
Music publishing and how Michael Jackson came to own The Beatles’ songs
Music publishing has its lore and legends. The story of Michael Jackson coming to own the rights to The Beatles’ catalog is high on the list. It started when Jackson contributed to McCartney’s Pipes Of Pan album, when McCartney opened Jackson’s eyes to the notion of song copyrights as an investment. Read more.
Analog Recording in Digital Times
While the revolution in recording technology centers on affordable digital audio workstations, the affection for the old analog traditions and sounds is more than just nostalgia.
To that end, Britain’s six-piece Band of Bees is working hard to reclaim and recapture some of the vintage sounds of legendary artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s like The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, and the Young Rascals in their recordings. Read more…