Let’s play this iconic rock song! It’s a great example of musical space – throughout the song there are lots of sparse sections, with not much instrumentation. This leaves lots of room for individual elements to shine through, so you really hear every drum hit, guitar chord, bass note, and…

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Let’s play this 90s classic! It manages to blur the line between angst-ridden grunge and sing-along pop, with big fuzzy guitars and catchy vocal hooks. If you listen to the drums, you’ll hear one of the most popular beats of all time: 1 2 3&4, repeated over and over. It’s…

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Let’s learn this classic rock song. In addition to iconic riffs, a huge beat, and perfectly sing-along vocals, this song features something unexpected: bagpipes! This ancient traditional instrument is quite rare in rock music, but plays a big role in this song, carrying the melody during the interlu…

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Let’s play this beautiful acoustic song! If you listen carefully to the rhythm you’ll notice it has a repeating pattern of 3 beats per bar. This is known as a 3/4 time signature: there are three beats per bar, and each beat is the length of a quarter note (hence…

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Let’s play this iconic 60s love song! As you listen, you’ll notice that alongside the super-catchy vocal hooks, it’s actually quite an unusual song, with lots of highly creative musical ideas. For example, it features some striking key changes, unusual instrumentation (including harp, bells, trumpet…

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Let’s learn this high-energy rock song! You’ll notice it’s got a fast tempo, with lots of syncopation (off-beat rhythms) – this combination can make it difficult to find the beat. One quick tip is that when you hear the three repeated notes on the guitar, the middle one lands on…

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By Rob Cypher You’ve said the words in your head – maybe you even said them out loud. “I want to learn an instrument.” Congratulations! You have taken the first step in one of the most rewarding, positive experiences you can undertake. And yes, just saying it does mean something!…

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By Rob Cypher When we see a musician at the peak of their powers – whether it be at the Grammys, a rocking club show, a sold out stadium tour – they seem to be on another level, able to move a crowd and elicit a range of emotions with…

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By Heather Taylor Creativity isn’t something that you’re born with. Making music, art, or film is not only about generating ideas, but also having a process to acquire and improve the skills you need to make these ideas come to life. By examining the creative process of artists from…

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