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 tracki...
2024-08-22 14:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
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 recordin...
2024-08-16 12:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
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!
🛑 DISCOR...
2024-08-10 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ba...
2024-08-02 14:00:15 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2024-07-26 14:00:23 +0000 UTC View Post
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 muhahah...
2024-07-23 13:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostMy 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. Tha...
2024-07-16 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
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’...
2024-07-09 14:00:13 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome 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...
2024-07-03 14:00:19 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome 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 you...
2024-06-28 14:00:23 +0000 UTC View PostCan 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...
2024-06-26 15:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post
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 wr...
2024-06-20 15:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostGet 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 ...
2024-06-17 14:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2024-06-13 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostI'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 us...
2024-06-10 14:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostI'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 ...
2024-06-07 14:00:16 +0000 UTC View Post
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 prac...
2024-06-03 19:57:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2024-05-30 19:32:58 +0000 UTC View Post
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 star...
2024-05-27 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2024-05-24 17:00:14 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2024-05-22 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
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 RITUA...
2024-05-17 15:00:14 +0000 UTC View Post
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....C...
2024-05-13 15:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2024-05-08 14:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
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 yo...
2024-05-06 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
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 me...
2024-05-02 15:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
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 sp...
2024-04-29 15:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
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 ...
2024-04-26 15:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post
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 diffe...
2024-04-22 14:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post
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...
2024-04-17 15:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
