Have you ever whistled a tune out loud for everybody within earshot to hear? If so, you were whistling a melody, perhaps without even knowing it. But what exactly is a melody in music and why is it so fundamentally important? These are questions that every musician has asked themselves time and again throughout history. …
Music theory tends to be a topic enshrouded in a sort of mystique amongst guitarists. For most self-taught guitarists, trying to learn music theory can seem like a daunting task to undertake. However, music theory is an important body of information that shouldn’t be overlooked. Even learning the basics will allow you to communicate much…
Music and art are hard to classify. Does music have to conform to a set of expectations or criteria? Are whale songs music? What about trees rustling and cars driving by an open window? In many ways, music is in the ear of the beholder. Academics and researchers, however, have spent a lot of time…
Although there are some situations in which you don’t need to know what key a song is in, there are many others in which it’s beneficial and even critical to know. If you’ve been called upon to improvise on stage, for instance, and you don’t know what key the song is in (and no one…
Sharpening your music theory skills will allow you to understand your favorite songs at a deeper level. It can help you write and compose songs at a higher level too. The key to mastering music theory is keeping the process fun and applying what you learn to your playing. Otherwise, it’s just an intellectual exercise,…
If you’ve covered the basics of music theory, then you’ve probably heard about the 12-tone Western music scale. Perhaps you’ve also learned that there is something called intervals, which refers to the difference in pitch between two sounds. If you haven’t, don’t worry – you don’t need to understand intervals to understand octaves. Here are…
You may have heard the term “timbre” being used in musical conversations. It could have popped up in a method book, magazine or even in a YouTube video. It’s possible it left you scratching your head wondering what it is. That’s because there’s a term that commonly gets used in its place these days, which…
The circle of fourths is one of the most valuable music theory tools there is. It explains the basics of music from top to bottom. There is more advanced theory, of course, and you can go much deeper into any area of music theory you want to. But it will equip you with the foundation,…
![Circle Of Fifths: What It Is, How To Use & More [With Free Downloadable PDF]](https://musicindustryhowtoimages.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/09100148/Circle-Of-Fifths-Explained-In-Music-Theory-768x400.jpg)
Ever wondered how the circle of fifths works? Well today I’m going to reveal all! Music theory can sometimes seem confusing, as there’s a lot to learn. But there are certain building blocks that can quickly open a new world to you. The circle of fifths is a great example. Once you understand what it…