If you’ve ever learned a scale, tried to figure out why certain riffs sound great, or wondered what actually makes chords sound the way they do…
You’re dealing with intervals — whether you realise it or not.

And here’s the thing:
Once you understand how intervals work, you’ll start hearing music completely differently. You’ll write tighter riffs, create more emotional chord progressions, and improvise with actual purpose.

So let’s break down what intervals are, why they matter, and how to use them on guitar — with no fluff.

🎸 What Is an Interval?

An interval is simply the distance between two notes.

That’s it.

On guitar, that “distance” can be measured in frets, but in music theory, we give those distances names — like minor third, perfect fourth, or major sixth.

Each interval has a specific sound and emotional quality, and once you know how to recognise them, your playing opens up in a big way.

🎧 Why You Should Learn Intervals (Even Before Modes)

Here’s why intervals are a b...

Music theory can feel like a giant mountain of rules.

Scales. Modes. Circle of Fifths. Modal interchange. Secondary dominants… 😵‍💫
You start learning and suddenly feel like you need a degree just to write a decent chord progression.

But here’s the truth:
Most great songwriters only use a handful of theory concepts — they just use them really well.

So in this post, I’m going to break down the only theory you actually need to start writing better songs — stuff you can hear, see on your fretboard, and use today.

🎸 1. Major and Minor Keys

This is the foundation. Every key has 7 chords — and learning how to find those chords is one of the fastest ways to start writing music that actually sounds good.

In the key of C major, your chords are:
C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim
(Or using Roman numerals: I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – vii°)

💡 Most songs are built by mixing and matching a few of these — like I–IV–V or vi–IV–I–V.

If you're in G major? Same shapes — just shifted up.

🧱 2. Chord Pr...

 Let’s be honest:
The Circle of Fifths looks like something from a GCSE physics textbook. You’re told it’s “essential music theory,” but if you’re anything like most guitarists, you’ve probably seen it once and thought:

"Cool. No idea what to do with that."

Totally fair.

But when it’s broken down simply — and shown in a way that’s relevant to your playing — the Circle of Fifths becomes seriously useful.
Let’s clear up the mystery and show how you can actually start using it today.

🌀 What Is the Circle of Fifths?

The Circle of Fifths is a visual tool that shows you:

✅ All 12 keys in music
✅ The relationship between those keys
✅ How many sharps/flats each key has
✅ The order of key signatures
✅ Closely related keys for chord progressions, songwriting, or modulating

It’s called the “circle of fifths” because each key moves in intervals of a perfect fifth clockwise around the circle (e.g., C → G → D → A, etc.).

If that still feels abstract, don’t worry — it gets clearer when you start ...

If you’ve ever stared at a chord chart, tried to make sense of modes, or wondered “Why does music theory feel like learning algebra?” — you’re not alone.

Most guitarists struggle with theory.

But the truth is: it’s not your fault — it’s the way it’s usually taught.

💡 So Why Is Music Theory So Confusing?

Let’s break it down.

❌ It’s often taught backwards
Most players are shown rules before they’ve seen the musical results. You’re given terms like “major third” or “diminished triad” without knowing how they sound, where they live on the neck, or why they matter.

❌ Too much info at once
You get dumped with a mountain of concepts — scales, intervals, chord formulas — but no idea what to actually do with them.

❌ It’s disconnected from your playing
Many guitarists learn theory in a way that’s separate from how they actually play. If you can’t see it on your fretboard, hear it in your music, or use it in real time — it won’t stick.

🎯 What Guitarists Actually Need From Music Theory

✅ ...

Dorian vs. Mixolydian: Which Mode Should You Use in a Blues Solo?

When it comes to soloing over blues, most guitarists start with the pentatonic scale — and rightly so. It’s powerful, expressive, and easy to play. But what if you’re ready to go deeper? What if you want your solos to sound more colorful, more intentional, and more musical?

That’s where Dorian and Mixolydian come in.

In this post, I’ll break down what these two modes actually are, how they sound, and when you should use them in a blues solo. I’ll also show you how I personally approach this in real-world playing — no theory gatekeeping, just practical tools for making music.

What Are Dorian and Mixolydian Modes?

Let’s strip away the jargon and keep it simple.

• Dorian mode is like a minor scale with a raised 6th.

• Mixolydian mode is like a major scale with a lowered 7th.

Here’s how they look in A (since we all love A blues):

A Dorian:

A – B – C – D – E – F# – G
➡️ Minor sound with a slightly brighter...

Ever hear a chord in a song that makes you go, “Whoa — where did that come from?” Chances are, you’ve just heard modal interchange in action.

In this post, I’m going to break down what modal interchange is, why it sounds so cool, and how you can start using it to spice up your own playing — whether you're writing, improvising, or arranging. No jargon, no gatekeeping. Just real-world musical tools.

What Is Modal Interchange (a.k.a. Borrowed Chords)?

Modal interchange is when you temporarily “borrow” chords from a parallel mode — that is, a mode with the same root note, but a different quality.

So if you’re in C major, you might borrow a chord from C minor, C Dorian, or C Phrygian — just for a moment — to add color and contrast.

These borrowed chords create unexpected emotional twists. They sound dramatic, rich, or mysterious — because they don’t belong in your key, yet they resolve beautifully when used well.

A Quick Example (With Your Guitar in Hand)

Let’s say you’re playi...