How to Transcribe Music Like a Pro: Lead Instrument and Melody
Many new transcribers go for the melody first, but when you start with drums, key, and rhythm section, your lead melody transcription is a whole lot easier.
Sampling Your Way to New Musical Sounds
Inexpensive digital sampling technology and the never-ending quest for new sounds has opened up the world of music to any and all sounds in our environment.
Intro to Rock Music
Rock and roll got its start at an important time in America’s history. Read more about its major influencers and how it brought a nation together.
How to Transcribe Music like a Pro: Finding the Key
Knowing the key can save you a lot of head-scratching when transcribing music. Here are some tricks to quickly find the key of a song by ear.
Identifying Major and Minor Keys: Two Shortcuts
Learn to identify major and minor keys by ear and it will be much easier for you to play by ear and improvise. Here are two shortcuts to help you learn.
Open Your Ears to Villa-Lobos
Discover 5 astonishingly beautiful tracks by Heitor Villa-Lobos, who infuses classical forms with Brazilian spirit to create a musical language all his own.
Perfect Pitch: Can It Be Learned?
Contrary to what you’ve heard, perfect pitch can be learned if you work at it. However, learning relative pitch might be more helpful. Learn more here.
Four Ways to Write Better Melodies
If you want to write songs that are powerful and memorable, you must be able to write a good melody. Learn four commonly-used techniques that will help you.
4 Ways to Spice Up Your Scales
Scales can be a real sore spot for musicians but they don’t have to be. Here are 4 ways to make scales more fun and interesting to practice.
Discovering Minor Chord Progressions: Part Two
Minor keys present us with rich harmonic possibilities. Check out these ear training exercises to jump-start your discovery of minor chord progressions.
Hear the Difference: Timbre, Texture, and Tone
Understanding the differences and relationships between timbre, texture, and tone in music is a big part of playing an instrument. Read on to learn more.
Latin tradition meets modern production, with Makina (Interview)
Makina fuses Latin music traditions with modern production techniques for a unique sound. Discover his advice and production process in this interview.
