What is harmony? How do chords relate to one another? How can a chord progression build a framework for a song? In this tutorial we'll answer those questions...

Ever wondered what the best key for your song might be? From a practical point of view, the vocal range of your singer will obviously need bearing in mind....

Have you ever wondered how good you are at playing rhythm guitar, and then go to record a demo with your band and realize you can’t actually play in time? It...

In a previous tutorial I introduced the Rule of Three, a concept used widely in the visual arts, and discussed how it could be applied to music for composing...

Sibelius is a great program for notating your music. But the results can look stiff or formal. In this tutorial we learn how to make sheet music that looks...

Joel Falconer wrote a great article on how to use your ear to detect intervals with song associations. In this article we'll look at how you come up with...

The cadence is a critical element in any harmonic progression. Cadences will often come to you naturally without you being aware of them, but understanding...

Are you tired of using either major or minor scales in your compositions? Have you ever heard of modes or modal scales? For those who want to bring something...

The pedal point is a common compositional device with a range of useful purposes. In this tutorial we'll learn what a pedal point is and how it can be used...

This is the seventh and final article in a seven part series on altered chords. In the first part I explained that by lowering or raising a tone of a chord...

In the previous harmony tutorial, The Basic Functions of Harmony, we introduced the idea that harmony is about a balance between tension and release. If you...

Are you getting tired of using the same old chord progressions in your compositions? An excellent way to spice up your creations would be to familiarize...