Break Songwriter’s Block Using Reference Tracks
All song writers experience writer’s block at some stage. Learn about the powerful technique of using “reference tracks” to break through your blocks.
Hearing Harmonies with Active Listening
Music is rich with harmonies. Learning to hear harmonies deepens your appreciation of music and helps you as a singer, composer, or any kind of musician.
Arranging for Songwriters, with Nashville Guitar Guru Dave Isaacs
Arranging for song writers can be intimidating but is a vital component to a song’s success. Discover the three elements to a musically effective arrangement.
Songwriter’s Secrets: Killer Arrangements
The final tutorial in Songwriter’s Secrets guides you through how to arrange your song for maximum impact using re-mixes of Disney’s Let it Go as examples.
How to find your musical creativity
Every musicians struggles for inspiration now and then. Here are six time-tested ways to re-ignite your own musical creativity and get back on track in music.
The Music Arranging Secret: Put your instrument down!
There’s a big trap that most newbie music arrangers fall into. Discover what that is, and the secret solution to great musical arrangements in this article.
How to Arrange a Jazz Standard (Hans Hansen)
Hans Hansen of “The Music Arrangers Page” explains the listening skills and sound judgements that went into this arrangement of the jazz standard “Jordu”.
Fix The Mix: Don’t let a muddy sound ruin your tracks
A muddy sound can absolutely ruin a mix. But with the right kind of audio ear training and some tips and tricks, you can take your mix from average to awesome.
The Sexy Secret of "One, Four, Five" (Lisa McCormick)
Being able to play by ear is one of the most desirable skills among musicians. But many people assume it’s a gift: you’ve either got it or you don’t. In this series so far I hope we’ve convinced you otherwise. You can learn to play by ear!...
What can you already play by ear? Harmony & Rhythm?
This article follows on from part one, on melody. If you haven’t read it yet, please start there for the explanation and background. If you’ve already started your self-assessment – let’s continue on! Today it’s harmony and rhythm to...
Listen Close: "Pagan Poetry" by Björk
Find out what makes “Pagan Poetry” by Björk such a special track, and how you can use it to improve your musical listening skills through ear training.
Open Your Ears to the Music of Björk
Few artists are as creatively experimental as Björk, which makes her music the ideal exploration ground when stretching and improving your musical ears.
