One of the most important skills for any self-producing songwriter to know is how to record vocals. Here are a few quick tips, with an instructional video.

Chord inversions help to smooth out motion from chord to chord, harmonize melodies, and allow smooth bass motion. On the guitar, use of inversions allows the player to be able to play some form of a given chord virtually anywhere on the neck. Inversions are your friend!

Are you new to the guitar? Get some expert guidance over on our YouTube channel with over three hours of free beginner guitar lesson content with Berklee Online instructor Thaddeus Hogarth!

In order to use chord substitution as a reharmonization technique, you must understand the division of the seven diatonic chords.

In this excerpt from “How to Get a Job in the Music and Recording Industry,” Keith Hatschek explains how to write effective cold letters and cover letters.

In this excerpt from “Introduction in Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure,” Pat Pattison explains the elements of lyrics.

One of the most challenging aspects of playing slap bass is maintaining an even, full, clear sound. Keep on practicing these exercises and you’ll notice significant improvement in your slapping.

Learn the basics of writing melody with the help of Jack Perricone’s book “Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs.”

Understanding the basics of piano voicings and the use of common tensions is a first step in creating effective orchestrations of reharmonized melodies.