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write a great melody

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.

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.

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.

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.

She Said She Said

From demo to classic: She Said She Said

October 30, 2018October 31, 2018 Scott McCormick

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.

hit single

From demo to hit single: Owner of a Lonely Heart

August 22, 2018August 30, 2018 Scott McCormick

Here’s the story of how an unlikely collaboration met with a massive riff, memorable chorus, groundbreaking samples, and an in-your-face solo to produce a surprise hit single in 1983. 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.

good vibrations and smile

“Good Vibrations” and Smile: A complex album built on a song

January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 Scott McCormick

Not only does “Good Vibrations” provide a structural template for Smile, it also gives the album its tonal language. Nearly every song or song section is written in one of “Good Vibrations” chords. Read More.

write a great melody

How to write a great melody, Part 2: Putting the rules to work

December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 Scott McCormick

To write a great melody, throw in a dramatic flourish to enhance a moment, but sing the way people speak: It sounds better and makes a melody more memorable. Read More.

how to write a great melody

How to write a great melody, Part 1: What makes a melody great?

December 12, 2017December 12, 2017 Scott McCormick

While I can’t give you an exact recipe for how to write a great melody, I can point out some common traits great melodies have to help improve your melodic skills. Read More.

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