A Compendium of History’s Most Famous Hip-Hop Rhythms
Don’t miss this historical breakdown of hip-hop’s most famous breaks and drum rhythms, including the artists who created and sampled them.
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Groove vs Chops: What’s the Difference in Drumming?
Are you a groove drummer or a chops drummer? What are the differences, and what are the advantages of each style of playing? Find out here.
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What Songs Redefined Your Sense of Time?
In Ep. 42, Jlin stops by the podcast (alongside Carter and Martin) to talk about songs that have redefined our sense of time.
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What Are Your Favorite Songs That Groove?
Ep. 32 of Themes and Variation covers songs that groove with drummer and producer, Efa Etoroma, Jr.
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Our 10 Favorite Essential Instrumental Hip-Hop Tracks
Instrumental hip-hop is now omnipresent in film, TV, and dorm room study halls. Here are 10 essential tracks that helped the genre evolve.
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How D’Angelo Uses Funky Dominant Sevenths in “Sugah Daddy”
In this short analysis, we break down the source of D’Angelo’s funky sound, his impeccable use of dominant sevenths in spread voicings.
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One Chord to Rule Them All
When Bob Marley toured New Zealand for the first and only time in 1979 (he died in 1981), I’d never heard music like it. His visit was so significant that he was a lead item on the nation’s main TV channel’s prime time news. He left a significant impression on our own musical culture, from […]
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Quick Tracks Nº 4: Write a Groove Using the Lydian Mode
Welcome back to the dance floor, Quick Trackers! Once a month, we hook you up with a short production or songwriting challenge, aimed at helping to up your musicianship. To respond to the challenge, just email us, leave a comment, or post to social media with the hashtag #quicktracks and tag us @learntosoundfly. …And we’re back! This week, we challenge you […]
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The Musical and Sociopolitical Evolution of Kanye’s Use of Soul Music Samples
+ Learn the nuances of producing beats, arranging tracks, and creative sampling, drawing on the rich history and influence of hip-hop in Soundfly’s acclaimed online course, The Art of Hip-Hop Production. Between the old-school sound of his debut album, College Dropout, in 2004 and the ultra-synthesized feel of his most recent album, 2016’s The Life Of Pablo, there […]
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Afrobeat Songs are Long and Repetitive, So How are They So Irresistibly Compelling?
Afrobeat is as eclectic as it is mesmerizing. Its roots stem from a few different areas geographically, socially, and musically. Genres such as jazz and funk, which were defined and carved out by black Americans who came of age during the Civil Rights Movement, helped contribute to its improvised foundation and its generally elastic nature. […]
