How to Write Captivating Bass
Using Displacements for Variations

Download Tutorial as PDF
includes MIDI + WAV file examples

Do you ever write a bass line (or synth/guitar riff) that you love, but after a few loops it gets boring?…

How to Write an Octatonic Riff

Using the Half-Whole Diminished Scale

Almost all popular music (in every genre and subgenre) is made using the major scale or the natural minor scale. That’s a vast ocean of music from only two…

How to Write in 2 Modes Simultaneously

Humans are walking paradoxes! You know those times when you’re feeling two contradicting emotions at the same time? Like when you’re in a difficult situation but you feel hopeful about the future, while…

How to Write a Layered Guitar RIFF

Step 1. Bass

The first thing you notice in the opening riff of “Ego Death” by Polyphia is that there are two layers. There’s a bass line and a lead melody all in…

Steven Wilson: Change Your Workflow

"I’m not thinking like a bass player would. It gives you all of these possibilities as a bass player to play melodies, riffs, chords." –Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree songwriter-producer)

WELCOME

Hello revolutionary music makers, we…

Steven Wilson: Biggest Metal Guitar Mistake

"It's all played on telecaster with an almost clean tone, and to me, it sounds heavier than if I'd played it with a whole bunch of overdrive." –Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)

WELCOME

Hello revolutionary…

Steven Wilson on SHRED GUITAR

"I'm not a fan of the whole 'guitar shredder' phenomenon. I love that people can play like that, but the fact is they feel the need to remind everyone they can play like that constantly.…

Meshuggah Hack for Better Djent Riffs

In this lesson you'll learn how to improve your Djent riffs using a hack from Meshuggah "I Am That Thirst", which is off their new album "Immutable". But first… Tea!

Hello revolutionary music makers…

Ray Harmony and the Hack Music Theory revolution are put to the ultimate test in this Halloween Special. Is it possible to make great music that's not in any scale or mode? Spoiler alert: Yes! By the way, please note…

Learn how to use a music theory hack from Bob Marley “Could You Be Loved” to write a legendary song intro that won’t get skipped!

WELCOME
Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA Revolution Harmony)…

Can you believe it? After 13 years, there’s finally new music from Tool. So in this lesson you’ll learn a music theory hack from TOOL “Fear Inoculum”, and how to use it to write your own odd time signature riffs…

What does Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber’s song “I Don’t Care” have in common with the metal subgenre Djent? The answer is shocking and eye-opening, so click play to find out now! Subtitles/CC available.

Just before we jump in though…

Learn how to write a melody (or guitar riff) using modal mixture, as heard in Opeth “Heart in Hand” off upcoming album “In Cauda Venenum”. Subtitles/CC available.

Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA…

Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA Revolution Harmony), and welcome to Hack Music Theory. We help you make great music that stands out, so you can move and grow your audience! If that…

What makes a great djent riff? Two things: the right notes, with the right polymeter. So in this video you’ll learn all that, plus you’ll learn how to make your riffs stand out by adding a second melody…

4/4 is the most overused time signature, ever! So if you want your music to stand out, the easiest way to do that is to use odd time signatures. Wait, but don’t odd time signatures sound odd? Not if…

Happy Halloween!

Are you brave enough to watch the Scariest Music Theory Video on YouTube?

You've been warned, so click at your own risk, and good luck ;)

Ray & Kate

Does your music get bodies movin’, and the party started? If not, don’t worry, you just need to add some bounce. So in this video, you’ll learn a super easy yet super effective hack to bring da bounce to your…

You want people moving to your music, right? But, are you bored of using the same old four-on-the-floor drum beat to achieve that. Well, then you need to add an African flava to your rhythm (and your chords!), as…

Learn what "melodic rhythms" are, and how you can use them to inject primal energy into your music, like Architects does in their new single “Hereafter” (from upcoming album "Holy Hell").

Hello revolutionaries, and welcome to the Hack…

Happy New Music Friday, and welcome to the Hack Music Theory show! So, Alice in Chains, new album out today, woohoo!!! I’ve been a fan since their debut album dropped way back in 1990, so I’m super stoked to reveal…

Happy New Music Friday, and welcome to the Hack Music Theory show! So, today Tom Morello dropped his new single “Rabbit’s Revenge” (from upcoming album "The Atlas Underground"), which I’m super stoked about, as I’ve been a massive Tom Morello…

In this Hack Music Theory lesson, you’ll learn how to write a BIG guitar riff (even if you don’t play guitar) like San Holo in “worthy”. But first... Tea!

Hello! I’m Kate Harmony, this is Ray Harmony, and welcome to…

TesseracT has a liberating approach to time signatures, so in this music theory lesson, you’ll learn their hack to magically change your song's tempo without changing its BPM. But first... Tea!

Hello, we are Kate Harmony &amp…

TesseracT has a refreshing approach to time signatures, so in this music theory lesson, you’ll learn their hacks to liberate your chord progressions from 4/4. But first... Tea!

Hello, we are Kate Harmony & Ray Harmony (AKA…