A huge part of writing a hit song is coming up with great lyrics. Here, we give you ten steps to follow to find the perfect words for your song.
Category: Music Theory
8 Songwriting Tools for Recording Your Ideas
Here is a list of eight of the best songwriting tools that will help you record your ideas and store them safely, right on your smart phone.
What’s the Difference Between a Rhythm and a Beat?
Do you know the difference between a rhythm and a beat? Don’t feel bad if you don’t. As simple as it should seem, the truth is that not everyone knows the difference.
How to Write Interesting Chord Progressions: 8-bar or 16-bar Progressions
Not every bar in an 8- or 16-bar progression needs a different chord; it’s about balancing variety (things that are different) with unity (things that repeat).
How to Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Half-diminished Seventh Chords
A great tool for adding a different color in a chord progression is to include one or more half-diminished seventh chords (sometimes just called half-diminished chords).
How to Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Suspended Fourth Chords
Another common way to create more interesting chords by altering the notes of the basic triad is to form what are called suspended fourth chords.
Music Theory Basics for Guitarists
It is entirely possible to have a long, successful guitar career without much musical theory knowledge. But, theory is great to know for a variety of guitar-related tasks and activities, such as songwriting, teaching, and accompanimental playing.
How to Learn Note Names Easily
When first learning piano, or any instrument for that matter, you want to learn the names of the notes on the staff. Knowing the note names will allow you to further your skills with music theory, sight reading, analysis, and so on.
How To Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Chord Extensions
The most common and most useful of these chords is the seventh, which you can use pretty much anywhere just to add a slightly different color to a chord, or in some types of progression to give the sequence of chords some extra thrust, because the added seventh is a mild dissonance, or clash, that makes the chord sound like it wants to move somewhere.
How to Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Chromatic Alterations
Chromatic alterations, such as sharps and flats, can be used to help create a more interesting chord progression in a piece of music. Ed Bell explains how to use these alterations effectively.