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write a great chorus

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.

songwriting

Songwriting Dos and Don’ts

May 4, 2020November 10, 2020 Johnny Dwinell and Brent Baxter

A recent “Play For a Publisher” event featured Stacey Willbur, VP of Publishing and A&R for Full Circle Music sharing her feedback about 10 songs that were selected to be showcased. 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.

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.

iconic songs

Breaking down two iconic songs from the Rolling Stones

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018 Keith Hatschek

In part two of our series, we break down two more iconic songs from the Rolling Stones’ library: 1966’s “Under My Thumb” and “Ruby Tuesday.” Read the post.

guitar riffs

Guitar riffs, sonic hooks, and the Rolling Stones’ iconic sound

September 11, 2018September 12, 2018 Keith Hatschek

With guitar riffs like the one in “The Last Time,” the Rolling Stones established their musical signature on the way to becoming songwriting legends. 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.

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.

flat-six chord

Supercharge your music with the flat-six chord

March 13, 2018November 11, 2019 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, 2018July 10, 2018 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.

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