Tag: modes

  • Does Music Theory Still Matter?

    Does Music Theory Still Matter?

    Last year, Rihanna’s hit single “Work” started an argument here at Soundfly. We come from an array of different musical backgrounds, styles, training, and instruments, and the question that kicked us off was: What key is “Work” actually in? It’s got that super repetitive synth bass line that returns to C# every time, giving the…

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  • What Are Chord Pizzas?

    What Are Chord Pizzas?

    + Welcome to Soundfly! We help curious musicians meet their goals with creative online courses. Whatever you want to learn, whenever you need to learn it. Subscribe now to start learning on the ’Fly. This article originally appeared on Ethan Hein’s blog. The Groove Pizza uses geometry to help visualize rhythms. The NYU MusEDLab (who we partnered with to create our free Theory…

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  • Get Ur Phryg On! Demystifying Timbaland and Missy Elliott’s Famous Beat

    Get Ur Phryg On! Demystifying Timbaland and Missy Elliott’s Famous Beat

    Why is the beat to Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” so infectious? Maybe it has something to do with the mysterious Phrygian scale mode it’s written in…

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  • Quick Tracks Nº 9: Write a Melody Using the Whole Tone Scale

    Quick Tracks Nº 9: Write a Melody Using the Whole Tone Scale

    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. Down here at the Soundfly…

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  • How to Convey These 8 Emotions Using Chords and Harmony

    How to Convey These 8 Emotions Using Chords and Harmony

    We polled members of the Soundfly staff and mentor community to ask about their go-to chords and progressions for certain emotional outcomes. Check it out!

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  • Chartmania!! I Broke Down Every Song That Reached the Billboard Top 5 in 2017

    Chartmania!! I Broke Down Every Song That Reached the Billboard Top 5 in 2017

    Alright songwriters and song-guzzlers alike, strap on your boots for a knowledge voyage with more divergent rectangles than the NYC skyline: that’s right, the top pop charters have now become 2017’s top pop graphed. The Top 40 song charters that is, but why 40? Well, besides this number’s significance in pop music as a result of…

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  • Quick Tracks Nº 4: Write a Groove Using the Lydian Mode

    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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