Hack Music Theory

Jennifer from Vancouver emailed us with this question: “I’m new to producing, and I’m trying to learn more about bass and how it works, cuz the way I’m doing it now is sounding really boring. You know when you…

What makes a great vocal? Well, it used to be two elements: Melody & Performance. However, as I’m sure you already know, nowadays most vocal recordings are edited using Auto-Tune or Melodyne, which corrects the pitch and rhythm…

Alex from Montreal asked the following question in the comments of our Hack-A-Hit video on The Chainsmokers: “In your other videos you emphasized always starting your modes on their root chords, because that gives the listener a…

How to Write a Chord Progression
in the Dorian Mode

The video above is from our Songwriting & Producing Course. If you wanna make Dorian music, this course is for you. In 12 step-by-step videos, you'll learn our essential…

Jared from the States emailed us with this question: “I used the blues scale to make a bass synth line. I really love it, but I can’t seem to add chords to it. I’m getting REALLY frustrated!!!! Can you…

Do you get frustrated while making music? Do you battle to finish songs you start? Do they all sound the same, anyway? Do your chord progressions and melodies never turn out as good as you’d hoped? Do you listen…

Alan from Portland, Oregon emailed us and asked: “I understand the major and minor scales, and I use them in my tracks all the time, but I don’t understand the modes. I know they’re like scales, but I don’t…

Discover the go-to chord progression that The Chainsmokers use in their hit-making formula!

When The Chainsmokers' brand new Coldplay collaboration "Something Just Like This" came out two weeks ago, did you notice that it sounds just…

How do write an epic riff that’s so tasty it sounds just as good on a guitar as it does on a synth? Easy, just follow these three music theory hacks:

Step 1: Start with the root note of…

Roland from Germany emailed us and asked: “I really love the blues scale, it's so juicy and funky for writing bass lines. But if I've got it right, you can only make a blues scale out of a minor…