Metric Dissonance and Expression in “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls
“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls: what makes this song so good? In this post, I explore how the band uses metric dissonance techniques to create an expressive sense of yearning
Essays
This category includes any kind of essay written on this site, including philosophy, psychology, musicology, music theory, and anything else related to being a musician. Some are more formal than others, but if I did any kind of research for the post, it probably ended up in this category!
Chromatic Harmony in The Legend of Zelda Main Theme (Overworld)
What is going on in the harmony for the Legend of Zelda main theme otherwise known as “Overworld” by Koji Kondo? There are so many chromatic chords going on, so let’s dig in! First thing’s first, to know which chords are chromatic, we have to know what key we’re in. That means identifying the tonal …
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Write Better Chord Progressions 4 Different Ways
Write better chord progressions: if you feel like your chord progressions are boring or aren’t expressing exactly what you want them to, try approaching harmonies from different perspectives. Often, the most helpful creative tool is just coming at a problem from a different angle. Here are 4 different ways to help you write better chord …
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Common-Tone Modulation in “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams
Common-tone modulation is the name of a specific way of changing keys in music, and if you want to change keys in a super dramatic and abrupt way, you can use this type of common-tone modulation. What this means is that the last chord in the old key that you’re coming from and the first …
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Secondary Dominant Chords: Don’t Know Why by Jesse Harris
How secondary dominant chords are used in “Don’t Know Why” by Jesse Harris to add color and forward momentum
Be Your Own Chord Progression Generator
Chord progressions describe the way the order of harmonies can influence the overall sound of a piece of music, and most people don’t know that there are different ways of looking at them. If you’re reading this, you might be aware of traditions founded in functional harmony (if you know anything about Roman numeral analysis, …
Chopin Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1: Analysis and Interpretation
The Chopin Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1, is one of his most remembered works. The piece contains both a compelling backstory and haunting musical content. This post provides a brief history of how this waltz came to be a marker of a depressing moment in Chopin’s life and then interpretive performance suggestions …
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Beethoven: Bagatelle, Op. 119 No. 1
Beethoven’s Opus 119 is a collection of shorter works for piano. The Bagatelle is the first of these and displays his knack for placing entire worlds into mere measures. I could probably write a substantial, scholarly paper on just the last ten measures or so, but this post is meant to give you a broader …
Anatomy of a Christmas Carol: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is a traditional English Christmas carol whose origins are unknown. Regardless of where it came from, it is a short and familiar tune that contains an interesting use of sequences and non-diatonic harmony. Exploring form, melody, and harmony in short, familiar tunes like this one provides an excellent entrance …
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Reality Check Your Goals: Mindset and New Experiences
Last time, I focused on why being specific and relevant in your piano journey is helpful and how to implement that practice in your own goal-setting. In this post, I’m focusing in on the “MART” of smart goals and what it means to “reality check expectations,” as this is where new pianists especially struggle with …
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