Tag: Songwriting

An exploration of Paul McCartney's technique of using a static vocal melody in his songwriting....

So what is an appoggiatura? It is an expressive device where a melodic note, which lies outside the harmony, is played on the beat. The creates a temporary clash or “dissonance” which is then resolved up or down. It can also be called an accented passing note. Mozart was...

Talk More Talk is the third track on McCartney’s 1986 Press to Play album. Even before tackling this work on a theoretical level, it is worth noting that it is one of McCartney’s more unusual tracks. It begins with a spoken-word introduction that features McCartney’s (then) young son, James...

The opening track on Wings’ 1979 album, Back to the Egg, is a curious number entitled Reception. It might be superfically regarded as a throwaway introduction to Wings’ most rock-based album. However, as I will explore here, there is perhaps a little more to the track than meets the...

In my recent blog post Lydian Beatles we covered the characteristic sound of the Lydian mode and its use in countless Sci-Fi films, to the extent that it is also called “the Hollywood mode”. The main point to bear in mind about the Lydian mode is the use of...

In the art of songwriting, it’s often advisable to not show all your cards too early in the game. This involves concealing the home, or tonic key, until the end of the first verse. When the tonic finally arrives, the listener feels a real sense of arrival, after a...