Circle progressions are useful because they show us the general flow of chords in a song. From one chord to the next, we can see where things are going. And while each pattern may be unique, one rule always holds true—every song has a definite sense of movement and direction. In other words, good music
Okay … pop quiz: What are the two (2) coolest states in America? Are they: a) Hawaii and Rhode Island b) Texas and Massachusetts c) Tennessee and Lousiana Well, if you ask me, the answer is “option C,” without a doubt. And I’ll tell you why. Because these states have their priorities straight. (On music,
So I heard there’s a new Muppet movie coming out. Apparently, Jason Segel—best known for his work in (the astonishingly overrated) “Knocked Up”—is a huge Muppet fanatic. Which is why he signed on to star with Kermit and friends on the big screen. And it has got me thinking … which Muppet would you want
You know, nothing says “summer” like the song “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. It’s a great melody, but the video might be even better. I can’t explain the sudden mood lighting … or the reason Lewis keeps looking at the ceiling. But, hey, that doesn’t matter:
In our last song, “Pachelbel’s Canon,” we added even more chords to a progression to create some very cool sounds. By rearranging the major scale pattern, we ended up with something beautiful. And it’s a simple trick, really. All we did was take a few major and minor chords, switch them around a bit, and
Relaxation CDs are interesting … because they make me so relaxed. Maybe it’s just that I need to get more sleep. But if one of those tracks starts to play on my iPod, I zone out almost immediately. In fact, the calming music is so soothing that it’s kind of got me confused. I mean, how do
Have you ever had a friend who always borrows stuff from you? Sometimes, they ask for five bucks … and at other times, they might see if you’ll lend them a cup of sugar. But when it comes to borrowing music gear, I definitely have to draw the line. I mean, c’mon! Who does that?
When we say the primary chords (I, IV, V) are popular, we ain’t kidding. They show up all the time in music. And while a lot of simple folk and pop songs use these triads, the most common example of a primary chord progression is what musicians call the “12-bar blues.” Without a doubt, you’ve
As musicians, we’re always trying to come up with new stuff. Every day, we look for ways to use a cool little melody here … or some great chord progression there. Music is definitely an art—and it takes equal parts practice and inspiration. But like everyone else, we probably fall into a rut every once
The moon is fairly well-known. You’ve probably seen it most nights—it’s hard to miss. Why is the moon so interesting? Is it because it’s so big? Maybe people like it because it’s really bright. Or maybe it’s just because it is a GIANT stone floating in the sky. Anyway, in my opinion, the moon is