In this edition of Soundfly Basics, we run down the usefulness and potential applications of utilizing tension in your chord progressions.
Tag: music theory
Articles about the theory behind popular songs, history of theory within genres, etc.
The Hidden Grammar of Music
What a music theory book at age 13 taught me about how to look at chords, chord progressions and the emotions they’re capable of manifesting.
What Songs Are Gateways Into Enjoying Jazz?
Ep. 30 of Themes and Variation features Peter Martin, jazz pianist and composer, educator, and founder of the e-learning site, Open Studio.
The Birth of the Unjazz
Modern songwriters, producers and artists are reinventing the way jazz idioms and foundations are applied in modern pop. Let’s break it down!
What Songs Do You Recognize in the First 5 Seconds?
In Ep. 29 of Themes and Variation, we tackle that age-old combination between nostalgia and familiarity. Enjoy our chat with Brian Funk!
What Are Your Favorite Songs That Do Something Incorrectly?
Ep. 28 of Themes and Variation features our conversation with composer and songwriter Lora-Faye Åshuvud (of Arthur Moon) on “incorrect” music.
What Songs Made You Want to Study Music?
We recorded Ep. 27 of “Themes and Variation” in a livestream featuring NYU’s music-technologist, Ethan Hein. Enjoy the conversation!
What Songs Have Taken You on an Emotional Journey?
For this special Episode 26 of “Themes and Variation,” we sit down with songwriter Max Swan about his favorite wildly emotional songs.
What Are Your Favorite Sample Fodder Songs?
For this special Episode 25 of “Themes and Variation,” we chat with RJD2 about sampling, song idea fodder, and his new course on Soundfly!
Did Lorde Rip Off George Michael?
Thoughts on Lorde’s new single, a familiar ’50s rock groove, and the hyper-litigious state of the music industry’s copyright law.