“What exactly is a ballad and how do you write one?” Ballads have been around for a long time but remain a popular song form to this day. Keep reading to get the definition and some expert advice for writing your song. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Do you have a child or a student who struggles to read alto clef? Are you confused about how it works? Why is the alto staff so elusive for most musicians? Because instruments rarely use it. In fact, only one instrument reads from it regularly. Even the closely related tenor clef is used by more instruments (sort of). Keep reading to learn how to color code the elusive alto clef. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you want to know how to play the easy beginner guitar F chord without a barre? Learning F on the guitar has long been a rite of passage for guitarists. Why? The barre makes it difficult to play, keeping many beginner guitarists from being able to play many otherwise simple songs. Keep reading to learn how to play the easy F chord on guitar. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Are you looking for the popular “Old Lang Syne” song? In this post, you’ll get the essentials: 1) a video of the song, 2) the lyrics, and 3) sheet music with easy-to-read shape notes and a sing along soundtrack. In addition, if you’re asking, “What in the world does the title ‘Old Land Syne’ mean?” I’ll answer that question as well. Keep reading “Hail the New Year with the Popular Old Lang Syne Song” to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“I’m confused about what precisely D.S. al Coda means.” This marking is part of a class of music notation called “signs of repetition.” Some of the more advanced signs of repetition can be confusing, including this one. Keep reading to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“I’m confused about these stupid vocal ranges.” It’s critical for singers and composers alike to be familiar with singer classifications. I can help. Keep reading to learn more – including vocal range charts. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Would you like to know more about Handel’s music, but are too busy to devote a lot of time to it? Handel is a major composer from the baroque period. Best known for the iconic Messiah oratorio, he influenced composers as diverse as Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin. Keep reading to explore Handel’s captivating music in less than four minutes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever wondered what the word intonation means? In music, it’s an important part of performance for many instruments, and it impacts all instruments to one degree of another. Keep reading “What Does Intonation Mean and Why Is It Essential in Music?” to learn more. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
“What’s the secret of practicing arpeggios?” Arpeggios are both an important playing technique and a useful compositional device. They can add a flowing grace to your playing. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“What does adjective mean, and can I have a cheat sheet I can use?” Adjectives are one of the secrets to creating good descriptions. Songwriters, poets, and writers all need to master them to realize their full potential as wordsmiths. Keep reading to learn this and more (including how to use the adjective cheat sheet).