When musicians write a song, they have to ask themselves a few questions. For example, does our song have a main melody? And if so, where do we repeat it? How many times? Do we need to add a second, contrasting melody, like a chorus? What about some buffer or break between the two melodies?

I have to admit, I’m jazzed about Color Music. And why not? It shows us exactly how to play any instrument. When we combine color and music, they paint a very clear picture. (In fact, it’s almost spooky.) With Color Music, we cut to the chase. No headaches—just fun. Finally, learning to make music is pure

By dividing a melody into sections, we can rearrange and repeat certain parts to create something new and exciting. Of course, not all songs include every type of section. But the following outlines the most popular ones you’ll often hear: Like the rooms in a building or the acts in a play, each section is a small,

We all know musicians like tattoos. (Although, I’m not really included.) For example, Lenny Kravitz, Slash, Dave Navarro—and pretty much every other rock guitarist on earth—all seem to sport a bit of ink. Apparently, tattoos just go with the territory these days. But, hey, what about people who have tattoos of musicians on them? You

So far, we’ve been building our songs using simple layers. Starting with a melody and a few chords, we’ve played some pretty awesome tunes. And by repeating certain parts, we’ve expanded our music into larger and more interesting compositions. But before you start repeating any old random notes, remember this: the melody is still the most important

In the United States, people go crazy for Christmas. Or, better said, retail chains and grocery stores go crazy. Totally out of their heads. I mean, they start selling Christmas merchandise months in advance. Like BEFORE Halloween! Seriously—what is up with that? I like the holidays as much as the next guy, I suppose. But,

Good news … the world is still full of really good (new) music. Yep, I found out this week as I was driving in my car. Flipping through the radio stations, I didn’t have high hopes. After all, the airwaves are often a musical wasteland. But, just for kicks, I turned to a new station

Without a doubt, repetition is important. It’s a natural way to take a short musical idea and turn it into something bigger and bolder. Which is why musicians use repeat symbols a lot. In fact, beyond the simple repeat sign, you’ll also sometimes see other markers that have their own special meanings. The three most popular

Whenever I drive down the road, there are all sorts of signs reminding people to be safe and courteous. Some signs caution you to stay alert … others warn of drunk driving … and others tell you to stay “buckled up.” But there’s one sign I’ve never seen when I’m behind the wheel. And I