Introduction to Modern Music Key Signatures Key signatures serve as musical roadmaps, guiding us through a piece’s tonal landscape. Traditionally, they’ve been the reliable companions of composers, rooted in major and minor scales. However, as modern music evolves, so do key signatures. Enter an era of experimentation, where composers freely craft pieces in keys that […]

Introduction to Key Ambiguity in Modern Pop Music Key ambiguity in music blurs a composition’s tonal center, making it tough to pinpoint its key. This trend has gained traction in modern pop, as artists break away from traditional structures. If you’re a musician who often finds yourself guessing a song’s key or struggling to identify […]

Introduction to Quasi Cadenza Have you ever been captivated by a piano piece that seems to transcend time, like a bird soaring across the sky? That’s the magic of the quasi cadenza. Rooted in classical music, a quasi cadenza is an expressive, improvisational moment within a composition. It allows pianists to infuse their unique voice […]

Japanese popular music is a realm of unique sounds and vibrant emotions. Each time I immerse myself in a catchy anime soundtrack or the opening theme of a beloved RPG, I’m reminded of the intricate blend of traditional and modern techniques that craft these tunes. One such modern marvel is the use of Riemannian transformations. […]

Introduction to ‘Sus’ Chords ‘Sus’ chords, short for “suspended,” are the jazz world’s equivalent of a captivating mystery novel: intriguing and full of unexpected turns. Derived from the Latin “suspensus,” meaning “hanging,” these chords create tension by replacing the third with a second or fourth. While many associate them primarily with jazz, they permeate genres […]

Introduction to Musical Modes Imagine you’re at a grand feast, each dish offering a distinct flavor profile. Musical modes are akin to these unique flavors in the banquet of music. They are scales with specific arrangements of whole and half steps, tracing their origins back to ancient Greece. In Western music, modes have shaped expressive […]

Introduction to Lo-Fi Hip-Hop Lo-fi hip-hop is like a cozy old sweater you never want to take off. It embraces imperfections, celebrating the raw and unpolished sounds that echo a simpler time. Originating from the underground hip-hop scenes of the 80s and 90s, it drew inspiration from jazz, soul, and the crackle of vinyl records. […]

Introduction to Musical Transposition Transposition is the musical equivalent of Google Translate—shifting a piece of music from one key to another while preserving its essence. Imagine playing “Happy Birthday” in a different key to suit a friend whose vocal range is more rooster than nightingale. Key signatures guide this shift, ensuring each note lands accurately, […]

Introduction to Orchestral Harmony Orchestral harmony, the backbone of musical storytelling, is where individual notes fuse to create an emotionally resonant tapestry. This magic is vividly evident in the musical “Funny Girl,” where harmony isn’t just accompaniment but a character in its own right. The first time I conducted an orchestra felt like painting with […]

Understanding Jazz Orchestration Jazz orchestration is the art of arranging and combining instruments to create the rich, textured sound that defines jazz. It transforms a simple melody into a full-fledged sonic experience. In the early days, jazz orchestration drew heavily from the big bands of the 1920s and ’30s, where the challenge was balancing individuality […]