Beat Kitchen Articles

Everything here is free — no paywall, no login, no catch. Music theory, production techniques, audio engineering, creative process — it’s all yours. What we teach at Beat Kitchen isn’t in the videos. It’s in the conversations, the feedback, the people who actually listen to your work and help you get better. Browse as long as you like. And when you’re ready to work with people who care about your music, come join us.

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Video thumbnail: Today in office hours I helped one of our students conform some of their free playing onto a tempo...

Finding the sculpture inside the stone

Today in office hours I helped one of our students conform some of their free playing onto a tempo grid.

Video thumbnail: Here’s a follow-up to the phase inversion trick I shared with you the other day to get you...

Recording Phase Inversion: part 2

Here’s a follow-up to the phase inversion trick I shared with you the other day to get you untethered from your headphones It works on a similar principle, but it’s a little different in this scenario.

Video thumbnail: If you’re starting to make your own music, there will come a time when you find yourself scratching...

naming chords a three step series

If you’re starting to make your own music, there will come a time when you find yourself scratching your head looking at a bunch of notes and asking what chord is this?

Mixing Levels

A really common misconception about mixing is that your job is to make everything even.

How Many Musical Keys Are There

How many musical keys are there?

Circle of Fifths: overrated?

Is the circle of fifths overrated?

Video thumbnail: If you ever notice that six steps up the scale this is a major sixth but if we invert it this...

Interval Inversions

If you ever notice that six steps up the scale this is a major sixth but if we invert it this becomes part of a minor chord.

Spooky: Major Minor Halloween

John Carpenter's Halloween theme — 70% of you identified it as minor. But there's no third in the structure. Music theory isn't about a right or wrong answer.

Basic Beep Boop

Here’s a little tip to help you find your way around a synthesizer.

Video thumbnail: Real piano. Sample piano. Oh boy. Gone are the days when piano in a can sounded like this. There...

Real Piano: Sampled Piano

Real piano. Sample piano. Oh boy. Gone are the days when piano in a can sounded like this. There are lots of great options these days and if you’re expecting…

Giveaway: residency

Were you considering following us on our other social media accounts?

Midi hack

(beep) - What’s happening here might not be exactly what you think.

Boom Inversion

Let me show you something.

Video thumbnail: Your instruments and really anything organic, in other words wood, cloth, leather, they like the...

Humidity

Your instruments and really anything organic, in other words wood, cloth, leather, they like the same conditions you do.

Mid-Side Recording

There’s a reason we teach mid-side recording, and it isn’t because it sounds good, although that’s one of the reasons we like to use it.

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Showing 12 of 569 articles (Page 46 of 48)

Video thumbnail: In the time it takes for you to watch this post, most people will decide whether or not they like...

the first tme someone hears your song

In the time it takes for you to watch this post, most people will decide whether or not they like your song.

Video thumbnail: Once you start to hear the impact of unison and there are implications for things like layering,...

More Unisons

Once you start to hear the impact of unison and there are implications for things like layering, you’re gonna start hearing them everywhere.

Video thumbnail: People tend to want to put their best foot forward when they come to class, but showing me how...

Put Your Best Foot Forward

People tend to want to put their best foot forward when they come to class, but showing me how talented you are isn’t the same as taking a shower and …

Video thumbnail: New students come in to me with their eyes all in glitter thinking about gear and gear is great But...

Level Set

New students come in to me with their eyes all in glitter thinking about gear and gear is great But let’s level set for a second because aside from …

Presets Are Like Shoes

Hey, there’s nothing inherently wrong with presets.

Video thumbnail: If you’re writing lyrics and melodies and having trouble setting them to chords, this video is for...

Melody: strong tones and strong beats

If you’re writing lyrics and melodies and having trouble setting them to chords, this video is for you.

Video thumbnail: Whoever told you you can sample five seconds of a song and not have to get clearance is conflating...

How Many Seconds Can You Sample

Whoever told you you can sample five seconds of a song and not have to get clearance is conflating that with one of two legal concepts the first being …

Video thumbnail: It’s easy to take air for granted because it’s invisible, but from an audio perspective, that’s a...

Air

It’s easy to take air for granted because it’s invisible, but from an audio perspective, that’s a mistake.

What's Your Jam

We’ve been here a few months now and I’m delighted with all the new follows.

Video thumbnail: Hey, Producers! You need to know a little music theory. I’m going to be hosting a free Zoom...

Hey Producers! You need to learn some music theory

Hey, Producers! You need to know a little music theory. I’m going to be hosting a free Zoom workshop on the intersection of harmony and acoustics. …

Take yourself to work day

Good morning. Let’s make today take yourself to work day. At least let’s strive to make every day a day where you do what you love and where you love…

Tools

There is no best microphone.