Using a Minor-IV Chord In a Major Progression

Even just a bit of chord theory can prevent your songs from sounding like MUDDLE. “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” eBook Bundle packages will show you how to harmonize melodies, and will explain in clear terms why some chords work well together while others don’t. Learn the basics of chords, melodies, lyrics, and much more. __________ For any […]

How to Identify Chord Progressions in a Song

Getting the melody and bass notes right will give you 2 out of 3 notes when trying to identify chords. ____________ “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle comes with this FREE eBOOK: “From Amateur to Ace: Writing Songs Like a Pro”. 7 Songwriting eBooks for $37 _____________ If you visit chord progression sites – the ones […]

Working Diminished Chords Into Your Progressions

If you like the sound of diminished chords but don’t know how to use them, read on. Get “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 10 e-book bundle. (with a free copy of “Creative Chord Progressions”): “Gary, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for helping the untrained musician learn to understand the fundamentals of music…” Naturally-occuring diminished chords […]

How Do I Know What Key My Song Is In?

Identifying the key makes the task of choosing chords a lot easier, and a lot faster. Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 10-eBook Bundle, and find out why good songs become hits, and what you can do to improve the quality of your own songwriting. How do you know what the key of a song is, and how […]

How Chord Progressions, Roman Numerals and Songwriting Intersect

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ Through the history of music, particularly in the so-called western world, not much has changed with regard to how chord progressions work. In most popular music genres, the kinds of progressions used are very similar to, or at least related […]

Controlling the Mood of Your Song With Altered Chords

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Build Your Audience Base with“The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle – available now at a 50% savings! ________________________________ Every major key has seven chords that occur naturally in that key. Of those ones, three […]