The Western term for music comes from the Greeks. The ancient Greeks thought that the arts were inspired by a collection of nine gods called the Muses.
This is understandable, because when a songwriter creates a song, it can feel as if it has come from an outside source. However, it has really come from the intuitive part of the songwriter’s brain.
The idea in mythology was that the Muses channeled creative ideas to singers and instrumental performers, and they in turn created their art.
On the other hand, some cultures lack an equivalent word for music. For instance, in some parts of the world the word for singing remains the same as the word for praying.
For most of the world’s history, songs have been about more than just entertainment. It helped pull people together and bind them as a community. It would be hard to imagine a church service, sporting event, or school rally without songs.
Songs have often had important roles in life cycle events: births, deaths, seasonal songs, coming of age, work songs, and holidays.
Composers and songwriters sculpt sound into compositions. In Western culture, we usually view it as entertainment. This mostly likely results from the structure of free market societies, which always looks for ways to monetize products and services.
The Music Archive includes posts on different ways of learning to sing, play instruments, and compose. However, the list below focuses on songwriting posts.
Songwriting Posts on Melody and Harmony Composition:
See the posts below for full descriptions.
– Geoffrey Keith
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
Do you want to know how to play the Bsus chord on guitar or piano? Bsus has a different construction from your usual triads. Click to learn how to master playing bsus chords on guitar and piano. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Master Playing Bsus Chords (Guitar and Piano) Read More »
Do you want to know what DAW stands for? Do you need to learn how to mix songs using a digital audio workstation? DAWs are high quality sound recording software that will help you unlock your songwriting potential. Click to learn how to mix using a digital audio workstation. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
How to Mix Using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Read More »
Are you looking for songs to lull your children to sleep? The first, and most important lesson parents learn is – don’t wake the baby! However, despite your best efforts, sometimes your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. This means that your child will need to be lulled back to sleep. Enter the lullaby songs. Keep reading to learn 15 fun lullabies (so your children finally fall asleep). Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
15 Fun Lullabies (So Your Children Finally Fall Asleep) Read More »
Do you want to write exciting dance songs? Do you worry that it’ll be tough to create a good dance song groove? There are tricks that you can use to help get your creative juices going and consistently find good grooves. Click to learn how to unlock the secret of writing dance songs. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
How to Unlock the Secret of Writing Dance Songs Read More »
Do you want to know how to play and tune authentic blues guitar chords? If you want an authentic rhythm and blues guitar sound, you’ll need the authentic tuning to enhance the chords you play. Click “How to Play and Tune Authentic Blues Guitar Chords” to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Do you want to start your own podcast? Do you need to know what stuff to get and how to use it? Podcasting is hot right now. I mean, I recently walked into Target, and they had podcasting pro audio gear on display – in Target! That means there are lots of people out there who want to share their views with the world. If you’re one of them, click “How to Record a Professional Quality Podcast” to learn how to get a professional sound. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
How to Record a Professional Quality Podcast Read More »
Do you want to know what distortion is? Do you need to know how it’s used in music. The most obvious use of distortion is as an effect for guitar. However, there’s another, and more subtle, use when you’re recording music. Click “How to Inject the Power of Distortion into Music” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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Do you want to know what your voice type is? Why is it important to know your voice type? When you know what notes you’re most comfortable singing, it helps you pick appropriate songs. Click “How to Figure Out Your Voice Type” to learn what type of singer you are. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Figure Out Your Voice Type Read More »
Do you want to have fun learning how to play rock music’s five best guitar songs? Rock is a sub-genera of pop music where the guitar plays a central role in the creating and arranging of the music. The following post gives you fun classic rock and party/anthem rock songs with videos that explain how to play them (including one bonus track). Click “How to Play Rock Music’s 5 Best Guitar Songs” to learn how to perform them. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Play Rock Music’s 5 Best Guitar Songs Read More »
Are you learning the instrument for the first time? Do you want to know the best chords to learn first? The guitar was introduced to Hawaii by Spanish cowboys, and the ukulele developed from it. This means guitarists have an edge learning these chords. However, they’re still super useful for any beginner, and we’ll start with the easiest ones. Click “Learn Some Super Useful Beginner Ukulele Chords” to learn them. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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