Brad Johnson

Music theory can be confusing. There are so many rules and exceptions that it’s hard to keep track of them all, especially for beginners and self-taught musicians.

Understanding enharmonic equivalents is a great way to get started with basic music theory because of its simplicity.

Suppose you’re interested in learning more about music theory and how it applies to your instrument. In that case, this article is for you!

Songwriters have a hard time creating melodies that are both memorable and uplifting. But, if you aren’t careful, your song can quickly sound like it belongs in children’s daytime television.

The Lydian mode could be the key (pun intended) to getting those optimistic, hopeful melodies into your songs if you use it correctly.

Modal scales are an essential part of your songwriting. They can have a dramatic impact on the mood and feeling of your song, as well as how listeners interpret it. 

There are many types of modes that can be used to create various moods for songs.

However, most musicians don’t know how to use modes or scales in their songwriting. Even if they do, it can be challenging to remember which one is best for each situation.

The Mixolydian Mode is a great sounding scale, but it’s often misunderstood and underutilized by songwriters. 

It’s not that the Mixolydian Mode is complicated to use. It’s just that most people are unaware of its existence or are turned off by music theory. However, not utilizing the unique sonic color of Mixolydian is doing a disservice to your songs.

As a songwriter, It is hard to create a great melody if you don’t know how to use rhythm.

Rhythm is the foundation of all songs. Understanding the “musical math” will help you choose the right groove to ensure that your music connects with your listener. However, when writing your own songs, you can hit significant roadblocks when you blindly apply rhythm to your music, especially when trying to record.

Understanding rhythm when writing your melodies or groove will elevate and bring life to your music. However, rhythm can be intimidating at first because it can feel like you’re in a math lesson, but the basics are actually quite simple.

Harmony is a beautiful and powerful tool for songwriters, but many musicians struggle with using it effectively.

I get it; I’m one of them. Even years into writing songs, I didn’t realize all the different options there were when it came to harmony. I was guessing when it came to what chords to use, and I would default back into the same chord patterns. My songs began to feel stale. I knew there was something that I was missing.

I’m determined to help you learn from my mistakes and make you confident in building harmony in your music. Knowing how to use harmony in music can help you create better, more beautiful and memorable songs.

One of the most essential ingredients to any song is melody. A melody can make or break a song. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so much great music gets written with the pentatonic scale.

The pentatonic scale lends itself well to improvisation and experimentation. When you use this particular scale, it’s difficult to choose a wrong note or sound bad while playing it.

You must understand the power of the pentatonic scale so you can use it to make better music.