Tentative steps towards atonality
Atonal music has no key and does not conform to Western musical traditions. For most composers, to create atonal music is like starting again. This post shares my first baby steps.
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Showing my romantic side
Call me a Philistine, but I find the music of the baroque and classical periods a little too formulaic and, frankly, boring. For a rationalist, I'm a romantic when it comes to music, so I'm hoping my second piece for string quartet reflects that.
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Is there a baroque musician hidden inside you?
Describes my journey from rock to baroque as I put aside the guitars and drums to try my hand at composing for a string quartet.
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From little acorns
Sometimes all it takes to trigger a new composition is a single chord, something I experienced myself this week.
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Playing with time
In the 2020s you hardly ever hear a piece of music that does not have four beats in the bar. But varying the time signature can put all sorts of ideas into play.
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Sometimes you just need a riff
If you come up with a great riff, you're well on the way to creating a great song. Riffs had their heyday in the 60s and 70s but they're certainly relevant today.
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In search of the lost chord
The search for that lost perfect chord which will melt us on the spot has been going on some time. So, what have people come up with?
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Suspended delights
One of the great sources of beauty in melody is when a note is held over to the following chord, creating a brief dissonance until the harmony resolves. We're talking suspensions.
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Amazing descents – the enduring beauty of the lament bass
From Bach to the Beatles, some of the most beautiful music of all time has employed a descending bass line. Here's how it works.
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Why might a guitarist use a virtual guitar?
Virtual instruments are usually for people who don't have access to the real thing. But virtual guitar software could just be the real guitarist's best friend.
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