If you’ve ever struggled to create a strong vocal melody, you’re not alone. Many musicians rely purely on instinct, but without a clear process, it’s easy to feel lost or uninspired. Today, I’m breaking down my simple approach to writing vocal melodies—no advanced music theory required. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for new …
Music has so much power over human emotions. Yet, frequently, songwriters are unsure how to pick notes and chords that effectively represent the sentiments in their lyrics.
The key to understanding how to do this well is through learning scales. If you are looking to invoke feelings of sadness and melancholy, then it’s vital to understand minor scales and modes.
As songwriters, we strive to make our music memorable and unique. However, often we can get stuck writing the same chord progressions and singing the same melodies.
This is where expanding your tonal palette with modes like the Phrygian Mode can open up new ideas and inspiration for your next song.
The Phrygian mode is one of the most exotic sounding modes in all of western music. It’s not common in modern pop songwriting, but it can be effective if you use it correctly in your writing.
This guide will teach you how you can start incorporating the Phrygian Mode into your songwriting to build tension, intrigue, and mystery.
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.
Are you a songwriter struggling to match the mood of your lyrics with the sound of your melody?
Are you specifically looking for a way to incorporate a “hopeful longing” into your music?
If you’re nodding your head, “Yes,” then the Dorian Scale is something you need to learn about today!
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.
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.
The Locrian mode is an interesting and unique sounding mode. However, it’s not used often in popular music because of its dissonant sound.
Many daring songwriters might wonder if the Locrian scale has any relevance in modern pop music. Of course, you’re most likely not going to hear it used in the top 40, but that doesn’t mean you should completely ignore its unique sound.
Learning music theory can be difficult and tedious. But, as musicians and songwriters, it can also feel like theory puts your creativity in a box.
However, most great music is created with at least a simple understanding of theory. Therefore, learning how to understand and leverage theory can help you write better songs faster.
The foundation of all western music theory is the Major Scale.