In sheet music, music symbols are used to describe the way a particular piece of music should be played. That’s why sheet music is still...

Dynamics is a basic concept in music that affects everything from songwriting to mastering. But the word comes up so often that it can...

The sounds you use in your music each have their own distinct character. Whether they come from VSTs, sample packs or your audio...

So many artists that have found success with a signature style are content to stick with a formula. The enormous effort it takes to break...

Audio normalization is a concept that comes up fairly often for new producers. It’s a music production process that’s been around since...

Mixing hip-hop can be much more difficult than creating it. When inspiration strikes during your music production process, you can have a...

Vocal harmony is a special sound. From soaring harmonized lead lines to classic stacks of backing vocals, vocal harmonies play a major...

Mixing drums is one of the most satisfying parts of music production. Drums propel the rhythmic action of a song and getting them right...

Managing a big session or a busy mix is tough. You have to keep a lot of different factors in mind to make it a success. Even just...

The tools and techniques musicians use have a huge impact on the sonic style of their music. Those technologies play important roles at...

It’s impossible to tell how much live music will change in 2021, but it’s safe to bet things will continue to look much different than...

Every song has a story. Poetic images and gripping lyrics grab listeners’ heartstrings—it’s why music is so powerful. Think of a song you...

Innovation is impossible to generate on command. Even when a new development seems obvious in hindsight, connecting the dots for the...

Free recording software has empowered countless musicians to start their creative journey. It’s possible because tools that would once...

Chord progressions are the skeleton that give your songs their basic outline. Choosing the chords you’ll use and arranging them into...

Major scales are an essential building block of all western music. It’s one of the most commonly used musical scales. While sitting down...

Remember how blown away the industry was by the success of Lorde’s “Royals”? Back in 2012, no one thought such a modestly produced record...

Music is a language, especially if you work with others to create it. The notes, dynamics, chords and rhythmic choices you make in your...

It’s easy to wonder why tape machines are still popular with some producers in 2020. In a recording era with better than ever access to...

Vocals are the focal point of a song. They’re the human element that gives a song its emotional weight. Lead singers get plenty of...