Welcome to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics blog category page. For this category I’ve scoured social media to find the questions that people have been asking the most. It functions as a catch-all covering a wide range of music topics.
It might be a student practice tip one post, while it could be a music instructor teaching tip the next post. Or perhaps it will be a music theory or other general music topic.
Sometimes it’ll apply to typical leaners. Other times, it’ll be geared toward special needs students. However, the posts will usually be helpful for all students. In any case, these are the topics that you, the people, have been asking about.
Everything that doesn’t have a home in another blog category will land here. Thus, the “All-Purpose” part of the title. The “Tips and Topics” part hints at the practice tips, teaching tips, and other topics we’ll cover in this blog category. For example:
Practice and Playing Tips
Do you have a hard time playing with both hands? The All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category has a post that deals with that.
Are you terrified of playing in front of an audience? I’ve got you covered.
Or does your student have small hands and needs to play pieces of music that have fast octaves and other wide stretches. It’ll be in The All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category.
Do you have a student who plays by ear, but wants to learn how to read music? We’ll definitely deal with that.
Have you ever wondered why minor scales sound sad? I’ll discuss the theory and science behind why this happens.
Want to know what’s left to study after you’ve learned to sight read music? The All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category will cover that too.
As you can see, we’ve got a lot of fun posts. I hope you’ll join me for the ride.
The Cornerstone Post:
The Posts:
The previous topic lists will be updated periodically. See the post grid below for the full list and full descriptions with featured images.
– Geoffrey Keith
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
Back to the Successful Music Student blogs page
After hammer-ons and pull-offs, string bending is probably the most frequently employed guitar technique. Along with vibrato, it has the unique ability to imitate the human voice, adding emotion and feeling to you playing. Click to learn the secret of how to bend guitar strings. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Learn the Secret of How to Bend Guitar Strings Read More »
Pull-offs and hammer-ons are two of the most commonly used guitar techniques. They add excitement and drive to your playing, making them critical skills to acquire. Click to learn the secret of how to play guitar pull-offs. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Learn the Secret of How to Play Guitar Pull-Offs Read More »
Do you want to learn the secret of how to play guitar hammer-ons? Hammer-ons and pull-offs add energy and sparkle to your soloing, making them important techniques to master. Click to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Learn the Secret of How to Play Guitar Hammer-Ons Read More »
What are these strange triads? Augmented triads have a wacky, zany sound that’s a good fit for the dissonance found in cartoon film scores. Click to learn how to build wacky augmented chords. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
How to Build Wacky Augmented Chords Read More »
What are these evil sounding chords? Diminished triads have a tense, sinister quality that’s perfect for suspense and horror film scores. Click the “Read More” button to learn how to build evil diminished chords.
How to Build Evil Diminished Chords Read More »
What is a minor triad? Minor chords have a dark, mysterious quality. Click to learn how to build minor chords. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
How to Build Mysterious Minor Chords Read More »
What’s a major chord? It’s a fundamental harmony that’s at the core of Western music theory. Click to learn how to build major chords. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Build Happy Major Chords Read More »
What is figured bass in music? It was a musical shorthand used by harpsichord and organ performers during the Baroque period. However, its influence is still felt today, because it’s at the heart of most college level classical music theory classes. Keep reading to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes
What Is Basic Figured Bass in Music? Read More »
The Alberti bass pattern was a common piano figuration found in classical period music. Because composers tended to be keyboard players, it also has a huge impact on classical composition regardless of the instrumental arrangement. Keep reading to learn what the Alberti bass pattern is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes
What Is the Charming Alberti Bass Pattern? Read More »
Do you love Taylor Swift’s music? Are you looking for gift ideas for a Swifty? Taylor Swift has dominated the pop music scene for the last couple of decades, garnering both accolades and a ridiculous amount of commercial success. Keep reading to learn the 12 best Taylor Swift gift ideas. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
12 Best Taylor Swift Sheet Music Gift Ideas Read More »