I complain a lot on this blog about traditional approaches to teaching music theory. Fortunately, there are some alternatives out there. One such is Everyday Tonality by Philip Tagg. Don’t be put off by the DIY look of the web site. The book is the single best resource I know of for how harmony works across …
Tag Archives: rock
Groove challenges with the Groove Pizza
One of our key design principles at the NYU MusEDLab is not to confront beginners with a blank canvas. We want to introduce people to our tools by giving them specific, real-world music to play around with. That was the motivation behind creating presets for the aQWERTYon, and a similar impulse informs Ableton’s approach to their online music tutorials. …
It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Blogging)
My favorite Bob Dylan song is “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding.)” It’s not the one I listen to the most, and it’s not the one I’ve given the most effort to singing or playing. But it’s the one that sounds the most “Bob Dylan-y,” the one that combines all of his many influences into the …
An open letter to GQ about “We Built This City”
Dear Gentleman’s Quarterly, You recently published a story, An Oral History of “We Built This City,” the Worst Song of All Time.
Musical simples: This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
The song’s subtitle refers in part to its childlike simplicity. Still, there’s more going on here than immediately meets the ear.
Musical simples: With Or Without You
I’m not a particular fan of U2, but I’ll make an exception for “With Or Without You,” their lushly beautiful ambient rock masterpiece.
Musical simples: Hey Jude
The end section of “Hey Jude” is longer than most entire pop songs, a long gradual build on a single simple loop.
Musical simples: Day Tripper
Many of the Beatles’ most memorable ideas are variations on boilerplate riffs from rock, country, blues or R&B. The riff from “Day Tripper” derives from boogie-woogie. John Lennon cited Bobby Parker’s 1961 song “Watch Your Step” as the inspiration for both “Day Tripper” and “I Feel Fine.”
Musical simples: Come Together
Presumably you’re familiar with this song? If not, run out and get Abbey Road and don’t deprive yourself for another minute. As far as I’m concerned, you can have Revolver and Sergeant Pepper and whatever else; Abbey Road is the best Beatles album. It opens with the funkiest, baddest bass and drum riff in their …
Musical simples: Smells Like Teen Spirit
The opening riff to this Nirvana classic is a concise explanation of the concept of relative major and minor, and an object lesson in musical parallelism.