Blues is individualistic and expressive as a musical style, heavily emphasizing improvisation, much like jazz. Despite that, you’ll notice some recurring elements in countless blues tunes, such as the 12-bar form, extended chords, and the ubiquitous I – IV – V sequence. In this guide, I’ll walk you through not only the ultra-popular I – …
If playing the piano always felt intimidating because of the difficulty of classical music, this article is for you! Along with being fun to play, thanks to their catchy tunes and easy forms, these songs make the learning process a lot easier. The songs on this list are great for beginners because of their repetitive …
An acoustic guitar, in the right hands, is a tool of expression that no synthesizer or electronic instrument can quite replicate. It gives a voice to emotion and sets the scene for words to come to life in melody. From Johnny Cash protesting and explaining his alias to Nick Drake’s wanderlust in Pink Moon, there’s …
Fingerpicking is a style of playing the guitar that requires playing the individual notes of a chord rather than strumming the chords as a group. This produces tonal qualities that are both polyphonic and harmonic, giving color to the song. Unfortunately, fingerstyle is not that easy. This technique requires deft fingers, but you shouldn’t be …
If you’ve never played in Open G tuning before, this article has everything you need to get started! We’ve also put together an awesome list of songs in open G tuning with video lessons and tabs included. We’ll start by getting our guitars into tune using the visual guide above. Start with your guitar tuned …
One thing common in the most iconic pop songs is that they are super catchy and easy to remember. However, if you get down to analyzing the chord structure, you’ll find the use of repetitive pop chord progressions to be a common ingredient. Pop songs are also spiced up with hooks designed to grab the …
Although metal music has traditionally been male-dominated, over the past couple of decades, we have seen a significant rise in all-female and female fronted metal bands. These powerful female figures have made their definitive mark on the music industry, playing a critical role in the continuous innovation of the metal genre into an increasingly inclusive …
Have you ever wondered why some songs sound so heartbreaking and sad? There are many factors that affect a song’s vibe, like the lyrics, song structure, and chord progressions. Using chord progressions in minor keys is a surefire recipe for crafting a powerful, emotional experience for the listeners. Depending on how you use them, these …
Music festivals have made their way into the 21st-century culture in a spirit of celebration that has become quintessential for just about any music enthusiast. From the pulsating rhythms of Coachella’s desert expanse to the eclectic magnetism that you can find in the streets of Montreal during its annual Jazz festival, these monumental congregations go …
When you’re first learning to play the guitar, it’s tough to know where to begin. As a guitar teacher, I recommend beginners start with super easy guitar songs that only have a few chords. These types of songs are perfect for building confidence and fundamental guitar-playing skills. I would be lying if I told you …