Introduction: A Sonority by Many Names Few four- or five-note pitch collections have accumulated as much mythology as the dominant seventh sharp ninth chord — the so-called “Hendrix chord.” Voiced E–G♯–D–G in the verse of Purple Haze (Track 1, Side…
Most beginning songwriters fail to accept the following truth that the chord progressions inside professional records are almost never complicated. They are simple chord progressions, played with conviction, voiced with care, and dressed in production choices that make four ordinary…
Every January, the industry rolls into Anaheim and unveils enough new gear to bury a working musician at NAMM. Flagship amps, six-figure mixing consoles, modular eurorack systems with seventeen voices and three patches that anyone could ever need were on…
Damon Albarn’s songwriting process follows a structured routine, treating songwriting like a daily job with set hours, which helps maintain consistency even on unproductive days. Mentors like Tony Allen shifted Albarn’s rhythm understanding: “Tony Allen’s influence: Invented Afrobeat rhythms with…
The I-V-vi-V progression, known as the Axis of Awesome, is sometimes critiqued for contributing to homogenization in music, as highlighted in comedic sketches like Axis of Awesome’s “Four Chord Song,” which mashes up dozens of hits using this exact progression.…
Swift’s chord progressions, melodies, structures, harmony, rhythm, and production are rooted in pop conventions. The songstress’ songwriting success largely stems from her use of familiar chord progressions like I-V-vi-IV, which provide emotional resonance while allowing room for lyrical storytelling. Swift’s…
“The name Kurt Cobain has gone through my mind 3–400 times a day for 20 years…It gets a little old after awhile thinking Kurt Cobain, Kurt Cobain, Kurt Cobain.” — Tom Grant, private eye hired by Courtney Love to find…
Rob Crow (Pinback/Thingy/Heavy Vegetable/Optiganally Yours) is one of the most admired and influential creative forces to have spent considerable time in Encinitas. A songwriter, guitar player, and leader of many San Diego based bands, he has long excelled as one…
Blur has a love-hate relationship with America. Throughout the nineties, no matter how hard they tried, they could not “break” America. With Blur reuniting this year to release a new album, they find themselves in a different pop culture environment…