For Song Momentum, Inverted Chords Need a Purpose

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and get HUNDREDS of chord progressions, and TONS of songwriting advice! An inverted chord is one in which the root of the chord is not the lowest-sounding note. Every chord consists of at least 3 notes: a root, a 3rd, and a 5th. Above this basic triad, […]

Chord Progression Dilemma: When Roots Move By Step

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle is available now at a 50% savings! ________________________________ If you’re looking for chord progressions that really work well, you’ll discover that the strongest ones feature a majority […]

3 Great Ways to Make Your Chord Progression Longer

• Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER for songwriting tips and notification of blog updates. • Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. _________________________________ I often think that songwriters obsess about chord progressions to an unhealthy degree. Let’s set one […]

Make a Chord Progression Longer With Passing Chords

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” e-book bundle, and save a bundle! 50% off! ________________ On a music forum recently I noticed a comment that went something like, “I don’t like the word ‘progression’ to describe the way chords move in a […]

When Do I Use Chord Inversions?

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. Follow Gary on Twitter for songwriting tips, news and more. __________________ An inverted chord means that you’ve moved the root of a chord to some upper position, leaving a note other than the root as the lowest sounding note. It’s a really great device […]

A Pedal Point Adds Glue to a Wacky Chord Progression

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. Follow Gary on Twitter There are many ways to add a bit of variety to your chord choices. The problem is, the more you stray from the tried and true, the more confusing it can be to the listener. A pedal point is a great […]