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 be a good music teacher? It’s more than just being patient or being a good role model. There are five skills that make a good music teacher. Click “How to Become a Good Music Teacher” to learn what the skills are. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Do you want to know how to transform your poem into a song? Do you need help learning how to write a melody? Setting a poem to music is an incredibly cool way to take your poem to the next level. Keep reading “How to Transform a Poem into a Powerful Song” to learn how to set your text to music. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Do you want to have a blast singing karaoke songs? Karaoke can be a fun and relaxing night out with your friends, but how do you get the most out of it? Keep reading “How to Have Fun Singing Karaoke Songs” to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Do you want to know what consonance and dissonance are? Do you need to know how they work in music? If you want to write incredibly cool music, you need to understand how consonance and dissonance function in melodies and harmonies. Keep reading “How to Write Music Using Consonance and Dissonance” to learn what they are and how they work. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Are you a guitarist who wants to try playing the lute? Do you want to know how difficult it is compared to guitar? The Renaissance lute is a pear-shaped instrument with a swept back headstock that harkens back to another age. Keep reading “How Easy Is It to Play Renaissance Lute?” to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Do you need to know what reverb is? Want to know how to use it in a mix? Understanding what reverb is and how to use it effectively is critical for creating a good mix. Keep reading “How to Master Reverb (3 Tips to Tweak Your Mix)” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
How to Master Reverb (3 Tips to Tweak Your Mix) Read More »
Want to learn how to play bass? In today’s post we’ll talk about some basic skills. Also, we’ll break down more advanced skills (including additional resources) by musical style. Keep reading “A Quick Guide to How to Play the Bass” to learn more about this fun instrument. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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Do you need to know what dynamic range compression is? Do you want your song demo to sound professional? Dynamic range compression is a sound effect that is closely associated with a pro sound. So, you need to know how to use it if you want to have your music or voiceovers sound good. Keep reading “What’s Dynamic Range Compression and How to Use It” to learn more? Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Do you want to know how to read the notes in your piano music? Are you confused about why the right hand and left hand play different musical notes? Reading sheet music for piano is more difficult than for other instruments. Why? Because piano music uses two different clefs. Keep reading “Learn How to Read Piano Notes (Free Resource)” to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Do you need to know what the word decibel (dB) means? Do you want a decibel chart so that you can know what noise levels are safe? Decibels are used in sound recording, radio, and live concert reinforcement. Keep reading “What Does Decibel Mean? (In Less than 3 Minutes)” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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