Songcraft
The Bass Line Beneath a Song’s Sense of Ground
Learn how a bass line can anchor a song without pinning it down, using a clear invented arrangement to balance low…
All the listening
All pieces
Browse explorations of songcraft, instruments, recording, traditions and attentive listening. Each piece takes one musical question at a time.
Instruments
Keys or Valves: Two Ways to Change an Instrument’s Pitch
Keys or valves change an instrument’s pitch in different ways. Learn how each mechanism shapes available notes and…
Recording
Before the Studio: How Musicians Captured Sound
Before the studio, sound capture depended on a horn, a vibrating diaphragm, and a performer’s position. See how…
Traditions
The Myth That Every Folk Tune Has One True Version
The idea that every folk tune has one true version obscures how melodies, lyrics, and local habits change as musicians…
Listening
A Walk Tuned to One Sound
A one-sound listening walk turns an ordinary route into focused music time, with a simple way to choose a sound and…