Musical modes constitute a form of scale complete with their own distinctive melodic traits. The seven modes have their roots in some of western music’s oldest forms.
Category: Music Theory
How to Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Pedal Notes
Another great way to create more interesting chord progressions is to use a pedal note or pedal point. A pedal note is a static bass note that sticks around for a few measures while the chords change over the top.
How to Make Music Theory Stick
For a majority of younger students, however, music theory is less familiar, though it is still important. Why is it so important, and how can you help your students remember what they have learned?
How To Write Interesting Chord Progressions: Inversions
One of the simplest and most effective ways to enrich your chord progressions is through the use of inversions. Depending which note you put in the bass, you end up with chords in first inversion or second inversion:
Molding Melodies
Musical inspiration can strike at any time: driving home from work, in the shower, or even when you wake up in the morning. You could hum a melody one day, and find it sticks around for days, weeks, or longer. Focus your inspiration while exploring the possibilities and you’ll soon be molding melodies of your own!
Texture in Music
Just as physical materials have texture, so does music—though, of course, texture in music is characterized by sound, not feel. You might describe the texture of a song or piece in terms of range, dynamics, articulation, or rhythmic complexity….
A Simple Guide to Transposing
In reality, transposition isn’t all that hard to grasp. Put simply, a transposing instrument is one whose musical notes are written at a pitch different from actual concert pitch.
History of the Staff
Seventh century music scholar Isidore of Seville said it was impossible to notate music. Boy, was he ever wrong: there is evidence that notation was practiced by the Egyptians in 3,000 BC. Ancient Greece also had a system, and other forms arose in China and Japan. Now you too can know the proper history of the staff.
How to Build a Chord in Three Easy (Half) Steps.
You can learn how to build a chord very easily. Believe it or not, you don’t even need to know how to read music, just follow this chart…
What Exactly is Rhythm?
Rhythm is how we perceive and measure time. Humanity awoke to the awareness of passing of time in the passing of days and seasons. Logically, then, days and years became the basis of the language of time.