Songwriting basics: how to create smoother chord progressions using voice leading
Try applying this music theory technique to your synth pad parts
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Advice for music careers, and lessons for music gear and techniques
Latest advice articles
9 tips to help you get more out of the Korg opsix
This ‘altered FM’ instrument has a lot of complex processes going on under-the-hood. Discover its most useful features with our crash course
How The Weeknd created an authentic '80s sound in Blinding Lights
We unveil some of the influences behind the mega-hit and explore how you might recreate its '80s-inspired sound
Songwriting basics: chord, melody and music theory tricks for DAW users
Take your songwriting skills to the next level
Major and minor triad chord charts: root positions and inversions on a piano or MIDI keyboard
Your handy visual guide
How to play chord inversions on a piano or MIDI keyboard
The same chord can be played in different ways...
Learn to play major and minor piano chords
Once you've got a grip on scales, it's time to start stacking notes on top of each other
6 ways to create '80s-style tape recording effects
Noise, wow, flutter and vintage warmth - it's all part of that '80s sound
12 things you need to know about MIDI
We dig deep into MIDI, the technology that enables your synths, drum machines and software to communicate
Songwriting basics: how to use chromatic mediants to add flavour to your chord progressions
Discover the secret music theory weapon used by soul/gospel artists and film composers
Build an '80s drum kit in your DAW using samples from this massive free library
We show you how to turn these free samples of classic kits into your own personal '80s Drum Rack in Live
DAW basics: How to make a beat in GarageBand
In the next edition of our beginner's guide to GarageBand, we put together a basic drum pattern to accompany the chords from our previous tutorial
DAW basics: How to program a chord progression and synth melody in GarageBand
Getting to grips with GarageBand? Here's how to program a melody and chord sequence using the software's built-in synths
Sonic destruction: the science of distortion and how to use it
From hard clipping to reduced bitrates, there's plenty of creativity to be found by doing things just a little bit wrong
Add reverb to vocals without losing their punch and presence
Do your vocals sound washed out after reverb? Here are some tips for using reverb to add power to vox, rather than take it away
6 ways to recreate the sound of classic '80s live bass
Choosing the right approach to bass, real or programmed, and nailing the style, will send your song straight back to the '80s
Use arpeggiators to create 80s-style synth melodies
We show you how to use Apple’s Logic Pro X Arpeggiator and Drum Machine Designer presets to get into some serious arp action
How to create a lo-fi electric piano sound with Cable Guys ShaperBox2
Inject some character into your electric piano sound with Cable Guys' versatile FX plugin
Feed Me: "When I’m producing I’m always trying to hide the process so you just hear the result"
EDM producer Jon Gooch has revived his cartoonish Feed Me moniker. He showed Danny Turner around his studio and talked through how live instrumentation changed his production approach
