In this article, I analyze the vocal melody for 4 different two chord songs: Fire on the Mountain by the Grateful Dead, Something in the Way by Nirvana, Break on Through by The Doors, and Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters. The two chords used in each song varies so you can see 4 examples of how to write your own two-chord song.
I cover over 70 music symbols, their meanings and how to use what they represent in your improvisation and songwriting. For example, if you are not aware of time signatures, then all your originals are probably in common time. In this article, I explain the symbols associated with guitar technique, time & rhythm, dynamics, ornamentation, percussive embellishments, chords, directions and general symbols used in music notation.
I cover the guitar fretboard visualization tool known as the CAGED system. It is the basis for moveable chord forms such as barre chords. Using the CAGED system, you can play any type of chord or scale anywhere along the fretboard. I cover how to use the system and how not to fall prey to the pitfall of the CAGED system.
I transcribed the vocal melodies of three classic one chord songs: Get Up Stand Up, Spanish Moon and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone. There are commonalities in all three songs. First, they all use either a minor triad or minor 7th chord. Also, they base the vocal melodies around the tones in the chord. I have the sheet music for the vocals for all 3 songs with some quality notes.
Dominant 7b5 chords are common in jazz music and are most often used as tritone substitution or as leading tone chords from the melodic minor scale. There are 9 dominant 7b5 chords and they can be built from either the whole tone and diminished scales, as well as the 4th and 7th modes of the melodic minor scale. I cover all the chords and scales and how to use them in your music.
This article covers all things that are considered augmented in music. There are 3 kinds of augmented intervals that you will see in a handful of augmented chords or chords with augmented intervals. I also cover the 2 augmented scales and 6 augmented modes from the harmonic and melodic minor scales.