We're excited to share some more free educational materials to help you and your students learn all about scales and arpeggios! Now, you can download a variety of learning print-outs, including the Major Scales, Diminished Triad Arpeggios and more. Simply click on the ones you want to download, add them to your cart, and start learning! The Major Scales The Natural Minor Scales The Harmonic Minor Scales The Melodic Minor Scales Major Triad Arpeggios Minor Triad Arpeggios Diminished Triad Arpeggios Augmented Triad Arpeggios Bonus: You can find even more printable guides by checking out "Esse ..read more

For 100 years, jazz has been a pillar of American music. The genre was groundbreaking when it emerged in the first part of the 20th century, blending different styles and embracing a unique style of playing and musical expression. Musicians, vocalists and composers learned how to be a part of this new style of music, which was bold and vibrant. As with many things that have a long history, jazz has evolved over the years. That includes the split between traditional jazz and contemporary jazz. Either could be a valid answer if you ask, "What is jazz" but there are some key differences. Let's e ..read more

When it comes to recorded music, few genres are as influential, as enduring, and as cool as R&B. The genre is beloved for characteristics such as soulful vocals, catchy melodies, polished production, relatable lyrics, and more. Many of the world’s best-selling artists, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé are either R&B artists or have major hits that feature R&B sounds. It’s worth asking the question, “What is R&B?” and exploring it as the ultimate genre of music. Exploring the Genre In order to define R&B, it’s important to take a look at the name. “R ..read more

By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Power chords are a staple of modern rock, pop, metal, and many other genres where guitar is prominent. There are specific musical reasons for this, but they also shine because they are so simple to play. Once you understand the basics of these guitar chords, you will have a better chance of knowing when to use them. Let’s take a look at some ins and outs of the magical power chord. What Is The Power Chord? Music is all about intervals and how notes sound relative to one another; the emotions and vibes that occur are the same for similar n ..read more

This article comes from Hayley Bauer, a musician and writer! Some music makes the key obvious by putting it in the title.  Take, for example, classical music.  Classical music often has the key identified clearly in the title of the selection.  Or, if you purchase a song from Musicnotes, you will often have a transposition option, and therefore you’ll know exactly what key you are playing or singing in.  But how do you determine for yourself what key a song is based on? Well, it turns out there are several aspects to look at that can help you identify the key, even when it ..read more

This article was written by Shawn Leonhardt (Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer)! The pentatonic is the most commonly used music scale across the entire world; almost everyone knows and uses it. Some guitar lessons jump straight to learning this scale over the maj/min scales. Most melodies from many genres and styles follow either a major or minor 5-note scale, and since so many people love it, it’s hard to go wrong when using it! Here are some examples of how to use the pentatonic scale in riffs, licks, and solos in real-world situations. How the Pentatonic Differs from the Major and Minor Scal ..read more

This article comes from musician & writer Hayley Bauer! Simpler sheet music has so many options. While it’s easy to fall in love with an advanced arrangement, try not to overlook more basic sheet music, even if you’re an advanced musician. Simpler sheet music gives the option of “filling in the blanks” with your own embellishments and creativity. The following techniques are excellent for many skill levels. If you’re a relatively new musician, they will spark ideas to nurture your artistry while sticking to sheet music that you’re comfortable with. For the advanced musician ..read more

You may already have that perfect album or playlist for when you’re studying for a math test, but did you know that playing an instrument actually improves your math skills? There are many similarities between learning an instrument and learning math, believe it or not. Here are just a few: Share this Image On Your Site Please include attribution to Musicnotes with this graphic. The Mozart Effect Listening to certain music, like classical, activates a part of the brain that aligns with learning. So if listening to certain music activates that part of the brain, learning music also has tr ..read more

Bruce Springsteen is a New Jersey native who became an iconic rock artist in between the 1970s and 1980s. Throughout his career, he created 20 albums and amassed numerous Grammy awards. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of heartland rock. He was often referred to as "The Boss" because of his songwriting and guitar playing prowess. Music artists continue to emulate his style today. To master Bruce Springsteen on guitar, here are some tips and tricks to master. Basic Music Theory to Grasp the Bruce Springsteen Guitar Technique Before trying to conquer Bruce Springsteen on guitar, you s ..read more

This article comes from composer & music producer Tero Potila! Music throughout human history has always been a powerful form of expression, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. At the heart of this universal language lies musical notation, a communication system as complex and nuanced as any written language. I learned to read music at 3 years old; my father, now retired, was a clarinet, saxophone, and music theory teacher at the local music institute. Because of his teachings, reading music has always felt natural to me. In my professional music career, I've worked a few times ..read more