Syncopation, Subdivision & The Four Chords

Strong Songs

The Strong Songs mailbag is overflowing, so it's time to dive in and answer some listener questions. Kirk digs into creative subdivision, syncopated melodies, major 9th chords, famous drum fills, chiptunes, "bad" singing that's actually good, jazz chords, Indian drum languages, and how to be a better music listener.

Update 12/23/2020: Kirk has traveled back in time to correct this episode's erroneous diagnosis of a strange sound on Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You."

REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

"The Four Chords" as performed by The Axis of Awesome on YouTube
A cool breakdown of the "Amen Break" drum fill
"Puttin' on the Ritz" by Irving Berlin, performed by Ella Fitzgerald
"First Tube" by Phish from Farmhouse, 2000
"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by Anne Bredon, recorded by Led Zeppelin on their self-titled debut, 1969
"Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd from their amazingly titled album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), 1974
"Just a Friend" by Biz Markie from The Biz Never Sleeps, 1989
"Liquid Dance" by AR Rahman, Palakkad Sriram and Madhumitha from the Slumdog Millionare soundtrack, 2008
A cool demonstration of Konnakol performed live by Umamahesh, Umashankar, and Selvaganesh
"Prom Night" by Anamanaguchi, 2014
"Spectra" by Chipzel from Spectra, 2013
"Strike the Earth!" by Jake Kaufman from the Shovel Knight soundtrack, 1989
"Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michael's Mount" by Aphex Twin from Drukqs, 2001
"Well You Needn't" by Thelonious Monk from Misterioso (Live), 1965