We break down the devices that help Leon Bridges and Terrace Martin’s song, “Sweeter,” function on every level, musically, poetically, and emotionally.
Tag: theory for producers
Articles about our Theory for Producers courses and on music theory for electronic musicians, generally.
Beat Makers, Try Thinking About Chords and Melody First
You might be an expert at programming drum beats, but if you think back on your favorite songs, they all probably have much stronger melodies and chords.
3 Scale Modes That Will Deepen the Emotions of Your Pop Song
If you’re looking to impart a sinister, mysterious, bittersweet, or jazzy quality into your songwriting, do it using scale modes! Here’s how.
5 Free Online Resources for Learning Music Theory (Plus a Bonus)
We’ve scowered the web to find these five great websites where you can improve your knowledge and grasp of music theory concepts entirely for free!
Scale Mode Cheat Sheet: How to Remember Each and Every Mode
Modes and Key Signatures have a variety of different characteristics and are great for outside-the-box songwriting. Here’s a cheat sheet to remember them!
Why Producers Need to Learn to Analyze Common Pop Song Structures
As a producer, it’s essential to have a knack for songwriting structures and forms so your music doesn’t feel aimless.
The Importance of Theme and Variation in Hip-Hop Beat Making
With a minimalist music style such as hip-hop, the slightest change or variation on an established musical theme can have a deep impact. Here’s how.
Exploring Tonal Hierarchies in Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”
In his ongoing attempts to seek out the answers to why we like the music we like, Hunter Farris has uncovered a melodic hierarchy via Whitney Houston.
How I Combined Sample Pack Sounds and Live Instruments for My Latest Challenge
Some thoughts on producing tracks with sample pack sounds as well as letting collaborators steer the production ship and open up new possibilities.
Practical Approaches to Writing Lyrics (for Producers, Mainly)
For electronic home producers, writing lyrics doesn’t always come easy. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies culled from our newest online course.