Dreams – Fleetwood Mac – Song Breakdown

Sep 26, 2022 | Song Breakdowns

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Melody A nice song about a pending breakup, which is most likely Lindsay Buckingham (guitarist) breaking up with Stevie Nicks (singer and songwriter), while they continue to be in the same band. The vocal range is...

Music Can be Cooking up Something Good

Sep 23, 2022 | General

What did I do this week? #2 Music can be cooking up something good Have you ever cooked a great meal, something from scratch, something that you really poured your heart into? When the cooking is all done, and you’ve enjoyed the meal with friends and family, someone...

Get Yourself Out There

Sep 21, 2022 | General

Getting yourself out there makes the difference. Pro or Amateur? What makes someone a professional musician? Is it being a virtuoso, playing in a dingy bar, or traveling the country on a tour bus and hitting stadiums? The line between amateur and pro can seem fuzzy at...

Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf – Song Breakdown

Sep 19, 2022 | Song Breakdowns

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Believe it or not, this song was originally written as a ballad. It certainly didn’t end up as one. It’s also believed to be the first use of the term “heavy metal”, from verse 2, which is describing a motorcycle....

What Did I Do This Week??

Sep 16, 2022 | General

What did I do this week? As a busy person (wannabe youtuber/musician/cat wrangler) I often ask myself what did I do this week? What piece did I learn? What video did I film? What edit did I get done? And very often I don’t even have an answer to that. What musical...

Burning Love – Elvis Presley – Song Breakdown

Sep 12, 2022 | Song Breakdowns

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Melody Good ole’ Elvis vocals. This song has the vocal range of D3 to D5, though the lower notes are mostly quick pickup notes to some lines. Also, the higher notes are mostly done by the backing vocals at the end,...

Playing for a Cover Band

Sep 7, 2022 | General, Guitar

Playing for a cover band, is it worth it? My Approach I’ve never been one of those musicians who learns every song they’ve ever liked and nailed down all the standard tunes people ask you to play once you say, “yeah, I play guitar!” It’s...

Been Caught Stealing – Jane’s Addiction – Drum Breakdown

Aug 27, 2022 | Drums

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Drums Drummer Stephen Perkins does this beat in a particular way for much of the song – with the right hand doing the main hi-hat and snare beat, and the left hand picking up the offbeat snares. In addition,...

The Difference – The Wallflowers – Drum Breakdown

Aug 27, 2022 | Drums

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Drums Session drummer Matt Chamberlain does the drums on this, though Mario Calire is credited on the album on which it resides. There are a few different drum beats in this one. A snare on all 4s beat, a normal...

Call Me – Blondie – Song Breakdown

Aug 25, 2022 | Song Breakdowns

Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber) Being the main theme song for the 1980 film American Gigolo, Deborah Harry wrote the words from the standpoint of a male prostitute. I was this years old when I learned that. Melody A nice melody with a pretty large...