Welcome to metal appreciation class! In this video I break down Metallica's Enter Sandman. I'll be covering the song's history, music theory and emotional themes. I also record a song based on Enter Sandman in my DAW. You don't want to miss this deep dive into the compositional process! Programming drums, guitar double tracking, orchestration, atmosphere and much more! So grab a front row seat and let’s take a look at this brilliant work of art muhahaha! By the way, don't miss out on your d...
2024-08-22 14:00:00 +0000 UTC
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I hope you fingered the G-string at least 69 minutes this week muhahaha. I've been on vacation in Michigan, biking, boating and trying to survive my family muhahaha. To stay sane, I have two guitars to shred on. One is a beautiful solar with blue birds eye wood and the other is a Taylor acoustic. I also have a mobile recording setup I bring to record any evil sounds that spring to mind. By the way, I've been loving the evil music you guys are writing on discord. We're also doing theory quizze...
2024-08-16 12:00:06 +0000 UTC
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First off, let me say congratulations on making it to Friday! It's been a crazy week for me. Just wrapped up my family reunion with 150 people. Everyone seems to be getting sick but I'm still standing muhahah. How is your summer going so far? Catch up with me and others on discord with the link below!
🛑 DISCORD (tabs, quizzes, live chat)
https://discord.gg/YTGYRHHY
⚡️Today's metal apprec...
2024-08-10 11:00:09 +0000 UTC
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It's no secret there's an ongoing war raging between Megadeth and Metallica. Ever since Dave was kicked out of Metallica, the two groups have been fighting for thrash metal dominance. In this installment of metal appreciation class, we're going to analyze Mustaine's masterpiece, HANGER 18. Rumor has it this track is such a banger, Metallica stole it for their own!
🛑 Discord 👇
ABOUT THE SONG
Hanger 18 is on the Rust In Peace album, release...
2024-08-02 14:00:15 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to metal appreciation class! In this post I'll be breaking down Metallica's Enter Sandman. What makes this track the most popular metal song ever recorded? I'll be covering the song's history, music theory and emotional themes. So grab a front row seat and let’s take a look at this brilliant work of art muhahaha! By the way, don't miss out on your discord access below. Live chat, theory quizzes, share your own music and more!
🛑Discord 👇
2024-07-26 14:00:23 +0000 UTC
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Have you ever reached that breaking point where you just can't go on anymore? That happens to me when the summer heat in southern California reaches scorching levels. I spend every August in northern Michigan to see family and cool down. That doesn't mean I won't be fingering the g string for 69 minutes per day though muhahaha. Below are new features coming to patreon soon! By the way, hop in the discord chat below to get daily quizzes, theory challenges, practice routines and live chat assis...
2024-07-23 13:00:11 +0000 UTC
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My goal for this video is to teach you music theory in 15 minutes. Is that even possible?....muhahaha. I believe theory is the biggest secret to untapping your creative power. Some say it stifles your ingenuity but I've had the exact opposite experience. Many musicians don't learn theory because they think it's difficult. That's FALSE! I broke things down into 8 simple parts to prove this isn't the case. How did I do? Let me know if this format made sense to you below!
If you're...
2024-07-16 14:00:08 +0000 UTC
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It’s been a crazy year so far….cant believe it’s already summer! Here in Los Angeles it feels like 666 degrees everyday muhahaha
I wanted to ask you something. How do you feel 2024 is going so far? Are you inspired, motivated and seeing gains in your musicianship? Or maybe it’s been a shitty year and you’re about to set your guitar on fire. No judgment either way. I’ve noticed getting used to the emotional roller coaster is part of having an artistic temperament muhahah...
2024-07-09 14:00:13 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to the most comprehensive course on composition I've ever created! The goal of this method is simple....use music theory to write music! Get the full tabs below and let me know if it helps you write something!
🛑 WHY I COULDN'T WRITE MUSIC
What's the real reason you're interested in theory? For me, it's about making the ideas in my head real. I remember getting frustrated AF writing songs in my teen years. I could hear amazing music in my head but I couldn't figur...
2024-07-03 14:00:19 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to part 3 of Composing With Music Theory! In our journey through the circle of 5ths, we've covered 3 big ideas. Modal Interchange, Pivot Chords and now ABRUPT MODULATION. If you ever feel like you run out of ideas, or get stuck when writing...this is the video for you! Writer's block will have nowhere to hide with your new found knowledge muhahaha!
⚡️WHAT YOU GET
Check out the tabs, guitar pro file and backing track below to make the most of this course. Hop in the dis...
2024-06-28 14:00:23 +0000 UTC
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Can music theory actually help you write better songs, or does it limit your creative potential? My issue was, I could never figure out how to play the sounds in my head on guitar. It was like there was some kind of barrier in the way. I’d just string random riffs together that didn’t really sound like a song. This was so frustrating, I eventually signed up for music school. Overtime I realized the problem I had was just lack of knowledge
⚡️#1 COMPOSING CHEAT CODE
I...
2024-06-26 15:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Is classical music just heavy metal before electricity? In this video I cover two things metal and classical have in common. If you want to capture the power of both styles in your songs, this is going to be a game changer. Get the full tabs below!
The reason I went to music school was to write better songs. I tried writing music using my intuition but it didn't usually sound very good. I had a vision in my head that sounded amazing but when I tried to play it, things didn't turn out h...
2024-06-20 15:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Get ready, because your life is about to change forever! Part 2 of Composing With Music Theory is finally here! In this segment you'll learn two big ideas. The first is how to solo over key changes with my circle of death workout. And 2nd, how to use pivot chords to end writer's block for good. I promise this is an absolute game changer if you feel STUCK when writing music. Full tabs, guitar pro file and backing track are below! If you missed part one of the course, scroll to the bottom of t...
2024-06-17 14:00:10 +0000 UTC
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On Monday I posted a brand NEW course. I have to warn you, this is an absolute game changer for songwriters and composers. If you've ever felt stuck, or unsure where to go next, this will change your life muhaha👇
If you missed part 1 of Composing With Music Theory, check it out before part 2 is released Monday!
⚡️NEW! Composing With Music Theory | Part 1
2024-06-13 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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I'm excited to finally announce the release of Composing With Music Theory, part 1!! In this course you'll learn to use the Circle Of 5ths to express your emotions. Every wondered what makes something sound evil, bittersweet, triumphant or full of sorrow? In part one, you'll learn the #1 most powerful tool every artist can use to make people FEEL something NOW!
When I first started playing guitar, I avoided learning music theory. Eventually, the frustration of being stuck in m...
2024-06-10 14:00:14 +0000 UTC
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I'm excited to announce my new course is being released next Monday June 10th! It's about how to use the circle of 5ths to compose your own music. If you're feeling stuck, or don't know where to go next in your song, check this out 👇
⚡️I SUCK AT THIS
I remember getting frustrated AF writing songs in my teen years. I could hear amazing music in my head but I couldn't figure out how to play it. This tormented me for the longest time. Eventually I ...
2024-06-07 14:00:16 +0000 UTC
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This year I went to the NAMM conference in Anaheim California. It's where musicians from around the world get together and hang out. While I was there, my friend Roy Ziv showed me an exercise that's an absolute game changer. Perfect for those who want huge results with minimal effort. This just may be the ultimate way to practice music theory!
⚡️SOMETHING BIG IS COMING
The other day Discord member Slambodian Jones asked me to make a video on the circle ...
2024-06-03 19:57:45 +0000 UTC
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What do you want from me on patreon? I'm curious to hear your answer below 👇
The most common answer I hear is, "I want to use music theory to express my emotions." People tell me they hear great music in their head... but they don't know how to play it on their instrument
⭐️NEW COURSE!!
I've got good NEWS!! Coming in June I'm going to release a course to address this problem. Patron Slambodian Jones requested I make a video about how to actually use the circle of 5ths...
2024-05-30 19:32:58 +0000 UTC
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Today we're gonna talk about snake scales, that bathroom scale you've been avoiding and even the scales of justice muhahaha. Just kidding, of course we're talking about guitar scales! Scales are the fundamental building blocks of music. Each sacred tone helps articulate your creative visions to the world. So where do you start and what are the most important ones to learn? In this video I cover the top 3 scales every guitarist can't live without
1. Blues Scale
The very first ...
2024-05-27 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Recently a patron on discord asked me how I would use the circle of 5ths to write a simple jam. It's funny because I recently wrote a song called "Virgin's Blood." Listen to it below with the attached mp3! This track uses the circle of 5ths but it's not really something I consciously think about when writing. It's kinda like learning a language. At first you have to figure out how words and grammar function, then it just kinda comes out!
🛑 NEW COURSE ALERT!
I've decided ...
2024-05-24 17:00:14 +0000 UTC
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At age 12, my piano teacher used to make me feel stupid when I didn't learn her assignments. The truth is, dumb songs like the Old Gray Mare didn't inspire me.
⭐️ Dave Mustaine's Haunting Words
2 years later I heard Metallica and decided it was time to learn guitar. This is when theory started to make more sense. Something Dave Mustaine said in "A Tout Le Monde" has been haunting me recently. In the first verse he says, "the more seriously I took things, the harder the...
2024-05-22 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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I hate the feeling of having something to say...but you can't say it. I used to dream about songs I was going to write. I could hear the music in my mind....but I didn't know how to make the souns in my head real. In this post I'll give you 3 tips to banish writer's block forever muhahaha!
1. SACRED RITUAL
The first step to writing your best music is setting aside time to hone your craft. Yesterday I went for a long walk in the hills to get my mind right. ...
2024-05-17 15:00:14 +0000 UTC
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Music theory was always confusing to me as a beginner guitarist. Can you relate, or does theory make sense to you? I remember reading this theory book I had over and over. Hoping it would just click at some point. I must have read that damn thing 69 times from age 15 to 16. I figured out later the problem was the C WORD....CONTEXT. The truth is, information is useless without practical application. I finally learned the ultimate cheat code when I signed for music school at age 17. In this l...
2024-05-13 15:00:13 +0000 UTC
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I need to come clean with you guys. When I first started playing guitar, I resisted learning theory because I didn't think it applied to METAL. At my first guitar lesson, my teacher handed me the 7 modes of the major scale. "Learn these by next week", he said. I threw it away and quit instead!
Years later at music school, I realized that was a huge mistake! After attending a few semesters of ear training class, I started to hear modes in all my favorite songs. The ma...
2024-05-08 14:00:12 +0000 UTC
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I thought I was the king of improvising...until I started recording myself. The horrifying reality was I sounded like sh!t! Everyone in my band could hear it, which is why I got kicked out muhahaha. In this post, I'm going to cover one of the most important aspects to becoming a better improviser....MINDSET
If you missed my full improvising course released last week. Check it out below! I cover the 3 levels of improvising to get you shredding on the spot fast!
🛑 3...
2024-05-06 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Do you every practice improvising? Since I first started playing guitar at age 14, I've been fascinated with how musicians make music on the spot. The ability to jam with others you've never met, or compose in the moment is the final frontier of musicianship. Bach used to entertain kings by improvising fugues around a melody he'd never seen before. Can you imagine having the skill to play music as easily as you can carry on a conversation with your friend? When I tried improvising myself...
2024-05-02 15:00:10 +0000 UTC
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Why did you start playing guitar? When I first decided I was going to learn guitar, I had a vision in my mind. I pictured someone who could pick up the instrument anytime, anywhere and just play. It's kinda like having a conversation with your best friend. You don't think about what to say, it just flows. The equivalent to speaking a language fluently is improvising freely on guitar. Any song, any key, any tempo. Pro improvisers could literally jump onstage with a band they've never played wi...
2024-04-29 15:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Do you think guitar gods like James Hetfield or Dave Mustaine know music theory? Their music uses keys, scales and chords, whether they know it or not. Below are some interesting music theory facts behind the top 5 metal guitar riffs muhahaha! (full tabs below)
⭐️ Learn more about theory and songwriting with my new MUSIC THEORY COLLECTIONS feature below. It's a compilation of my best music theory content on patreon, including Music Theory For Guitarists, Composing Using Music...
2024-04-26 15:00:11 +0000 UTC
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So what is a chord.... and what is a triad? Is there even a difference between the two? Chords are my absolute favorite topic because they affect how we FEEL. There's a chord for every emotion. Sadness, joy, suspense, mystery and more. In this lesson we'll uncover the magical world of harmony, how triads and chords differ, and even play around with 7th chords!
🛑 The 4 Types Of Triads
Now let's get down to business. A triad fits under the category of chords.......
2024-04-22 14:00:13 +0000 UTC
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Based on my recent post about what you guys want to see on patreon, I've chosen to go with your #1 request....COMPOSING WITH MUSIC THEORY. This is where I need your help. How did I do in this course? Did I address the problems you struggle with, or did I miss the mark? I need your feedback to make these lessons better, so hit me up in the comments below!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
1. How to get started writing music
2. How to develop your idea
3. Using melody, harmony a...
2024-04-17 15:00:08 +0000 UTC
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