All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics

Introduction

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.

Music Teacher Tips

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.

Music Theory and Other Music Topics

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:

D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?

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

Back to the Successful Music Student blogs page

What Does Dissonance Mean for Basic Seventh Chords?

Are you confused about how dissonant seventh chords work? Do you want to know how to make them sound incredibly good? Have you ever looked in a chord dictionary, seen a diagram of a crazy seventh chord, played it, and then wondered: “How am I going to use that thing?” That’s because dissonant harmony sounds tense and unstable. Keep reading “What Does Dissonance Mean for Basic Seventh Chords?” to learn how to make them sound smooth and satisfying. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

What Does Dissonance Mean for Basic Seventh Chords? Read More »

What’re the Basics of an Accompaniment in a Song?

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, The Craft of Songwriting / Geoff / Music

Do you want to know what a song accompaniment is? Do you want to know the basics for writing them? An accompaniment is an arrangement for the backing instruments that support your song’s principal melody. Keep reading “What’re the Basics of an Accompaniment in a Song?” to learn more about what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

What’re the Basics of an Accompaniment in a Song? Read More »

How to Read Basic Guitar Tab for Beginners

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, Color Coding / Geoff / Chord, Guitar, Music, Open Tuning, Score, Tab

Are you passionate about playing guitar? Do you want to turbo charge your learning using guitar tab? Guitar tab is a popular music notation that can help you master guitar songs quickly and easily. Keep reading “How to Read Basic Guitar Tab for Beginners” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

How to Read Basic Guitar Tab for Beginners Read More »

How to Employ Effective Equalization on Your Song

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, The Craft of Songwriting / Geoff / Music

Do you want to know what the word equalization means? Do you want to know how to EQ your song mix? Equalization (EQ) is a potent means for creatively sculpting the sound of your song’s mix. However, if you want to be really good at applying EQ to a mix, you need to train your ears to hear what the mix needs. Keep reading “How to Employ Effective Equalization on Your Song” to improve your listening skills. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How to Employ Effective Equalization on Your Song Read More »

How to Read Piano Sheet Music for Beginners

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, Color Coding / Geoff / ADD, ASD, Autism, Color, LD, Multisensory, Special Needs

Are you a beginner pianist and want to know how to read piano sheet music? Or are you a parent and want to figure out if your child is ready to play piano? This post covers the basics of how to read piano sheet music. In addition, it has links to practical examples so you can get an idea of what it’s like to play and read piano music. Keep reading “How to Read Piano Sheet Music for Beginners” to embark on your musical voyage. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.

How to Read Piano Sheet Music for Beginners Read More »

Learn the Secret of How to Play Guitar Trills

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / Geoff / Music

Do you want to learn the secret of how to play guitar trills? Trills add excitement and flash to your playing. However, if you want to know how to master guitar trills, you must first become proficient at two other guitar techniques. Keep reading to learn what these techniques are and how to best perform them. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

Learn the Secret of How to Play Guitar Trills Read More »

How to Play the Sad Sounding D Minor Chord

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / Geoff / Music

Do you want to know how to play the open D minor guitar chord? Do you want to know why it sounds sad? Minor chords have a sweet, haunting sound. Open D minor has medium difficulty, but with the right fingering strategies, it’s not that hard to play. Keep reading “How to Play the Sad Sounding D Minor Chord” to find out how to best play open D minor. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How to Play the Sad Sounding D Minor Chord Read More »

Powerful Popular MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, The Craft of Songwriting / Geoff / Music

Have you heard about MIDI and need to know what it is? Do you want to know how it can help you create music? MIDI is short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It’s an industry-wide open-source keyboard design protocol proposed by Sequential Circuits in the 1980s, and it’s still relevant today. Keep reading “Powerful Popular MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)” to find out what it is, and what it can do for you. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

How to Unlock Music Key Changes with Modulation

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics, The Craft of Songwriting / Geoff / Music

Do you want to know what the word modulation means in music? Do you want to know how to make key changes in your songwriting? Modulation is when you use chromatic harmony to switch the tonal center of the music you’re writing. Doing this can make for dramatic, ear catching changes to the sound of your composition. Keep reading “How to Unlock Music Key Changes with Modulation” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How to Unlock Music Key Changes with Modulation Read More »

How to Play the Beautiful E Minor Guitar Chord

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics / Geoff / Music

Are you a new guitar player? Do you want to know how to play the E minor chord on guitar? E minor is one of the simpler guitar chords to play, especially if you use the easy version. Keep reading “How to Play the Beautiful E Minor Guitar Chord” to learn the “easy” and “full” versions of the open chord. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

How to Play the Beautiful E Minor Guitar Chord Read More »

Guitar • Bass • Banjo • Ukulele • Mandolin • Autoharp • Keyboard • Piano | Voice #: 978-440-9966 | Text #: 508-561-9724

geoff@successmusicstudio.com

All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics