Latest articles by Jimmy Brown
How using the augmented chord in a minor drop progression can change your songs
Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, George Harrison, Tom Petty and many more have done this in their music, so why shouldn't you?
This compositional trick has been used to great effect by Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, The Eagles, Queen and many more
Learn how to walk down scales with contrary motion
Add tension to your compositions by using augmented chords in major keys
Learn how to use this crucial chord beloved by The Beatles
Master some useful melodic tactics for a minor jazz-blues progression
In this lesson, learn some cool, musically effective things to play over a rather dark, intriguing set of chord changes
What do Stone Temple Pilots, Phish, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles have in common? This progression
Diving into the "major chromatic drop"
Inject some drama into your compositions with the sweetly painful augmented chord
Learn how to use this somewhat painful- yet sweet-sounding chord to dramatic effect
The Ultimate Transition Chord, Part 3: Old-School, Jazzy Dim7 Resolutions
Learn how to employ this restless yet alluring chord as a musical attention grabber.
How to Play the Dreamy Arpeggios in Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”
Learn this neat, May and Gilmour-influenced guitar arrangement of “Moonlight Sonata.”
The Ultimate Transition Chord, Part 2: Major and Bluesy dim7 Resolutions
Learn some interesting applications of this harmonic enigma, and a few ways to get more musical mileage out of it.
Colorful Jazz-Blues Chord Substitutions
Some commonly used variations that adventurous musicians will often interject into their playing.
What to Remember When Learning Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues"
This historic 1936 recording by Robert Johnson of one of his classic songs showcases the pioneering Delta bluesman’s trademark funky, aggressive fingerstyle attack and rhythmically free and quirky phrasing style.
Adding Tension to the Minor Jazz-Blues Progression
Learn some cool variations of this progression that feature added chord changes and spicier harmony and voice-leading.
Shredding with the Minor-Drop Progression
Using movable and transposable four-note arpeggios to create fun and exciting runs.
Meet the Major Diatonic Drop, a Progression Used by Ozzy Osbourne, Glen Campbell and John Lennon
Learn about the major diatonic drop, and how you can use it to great effect in your own songwriting.
The Ultimate Transition Chord: Four Minor Resolutions for dim7
Learn a few interesting applications of this harmonically unstable yet appealing chord.
Guitar intervals: everything you need to know about the building blocks of music theory
A comprehensive primer on the topic of intervals, designed to give guitarists from any stylistic background a solid grasp on one of the foundational cornerstones of music.
More Tasteful Examples of How Dim7 Chords Are Used
A few examples from the rock and pop catalog of how famous composers have successfully harnessed this enigmatic chord to great effect.
The Attractively Balanced and Highly Musical E Minor Hexatonic Scale
Some cool things you can do with the minor hexatonic scale.
Eerie Arpeggios: Using Movable Addb2 Shapes to Create Haunting Lead Lines
Learn how to create eerie, twisted-sounding melodies with this lesson.
How to Use the "Spooky" Dimished Seven Chord
Look at a few examples of fairly well-known songs from the modern era that utilize the dim7 chord in interesting, effective ways.
A David Gilmour-Style Approach to Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata”
The melody of Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata”, re-imagined in the style of David Gilmour.
Restless Harmony: Meet the Anxious m7b5 Chord
Look at a few examples of ways in which world-renowned songwriters have harnessed this harmonic beast and put it to good use.
A Guide to Basic Jazz-Blues Changes
Presenting a more musically sophisticated variation on the standard 12-bar blues.
