chord progression
5 tracksThe order in which chords follow each other. A few progressions recur across thousands of songs; the choice shapes whether music feels resolved, yearning or restless.
Genre history
blues
1 track.
What it is
The African-American music born in the Deep South around the start of the 20th century, built on call and response, bent "blue" notes and short repeating forms such as the twelve-bar blues. Almost every later popular style, from rock and soul to house, carries some of its scales and phrasing.
Read more on WikipediaRelated concepts
call and response
11 tracksOne phrase is answered by another: a lead voice and a choir, a vocal and an instrument. It comes from African and African-American traditions and runs through gospel, soul, funk and house.
riff
14 tracksA short, repeated melodic or rhythmic figure, usually played by an instrument, that anchors a song. Rock riffs are often guitar figures; in electronic music the same role falls to a synth or bass line.
Hear it in these tracks
Whilk & Misky
Get What We Want
Whilk & Misky blend acoustic warmth with electronic pulse on this track from My Round, Charlie Dickens' soulful voice and Nima Khaste's production chasing a simple wish: to get what we want.