Flo Rida - I Cry (Produced by soFLY & Nius and Futuristics)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Flo Rida's "I Cry" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Piano and Saw

What Makes The Beat Hot: Cool counds and composition
What Makes The Song Hot: The sample and the beat

Samples:
Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little) (Original Mix)


which contains interpolations of:
Brenda Russell - Piano In The Dark

Taylor Swift - State of Grace (Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Taylor Swift's "State of Grace" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Great vocal melodies

Christina Aguilera - Your Body (Produced by Max Martin and Shellback)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Christina Aguilera's "Your Body" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good Sounds with good chord progression
What Makes The Song Hot: Good hook

Usher - Numb (Produced by Swedish House Mafia, Alessandro Lindblad, and Klas Ahlund)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Usher's "Numb" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Trance Pluck and Piano

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good basic dance sounds
What Makes The Song Hot: Good melodies

Maroon 5 Spend ‘One More’ Week Atop Hot 100

Maroon 5 Spend ‘One More’ Week Atop Hot 100 | Billboard.com


Hot 100 Top 10 (October 25, 2012)
1. Maroon 5 - One More Night
2. PSY - Gangnam Style
3. fun. - Some Nights
4. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
5. Ke$ha - Die Young
6. Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)
7. Alex Clare - Too Close
8. Rihanna - Diamonds
9. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love)
10. Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)

Train - 50 Ways To Say Goodbye (Produced by Espionage and Butch Walker)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Train's "50 Ways To Say Goodbye" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, and Trumpet

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good composition with cool sounding trumpet.
What Makes The Song Hot: Creative topic with good melodies

Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble (Produced by Max Martin and Shellback)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar, Bass, Piano, and Synths

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good combo of sounds. Different.
What Makes The Song Hot: Good melodies with real-talk

PSY Still Stuck At No. 2 as Maroon 5 Tops Hot 100

PSY Still Stuck At No. 2 as Maroon 5 Tops Hot 100 | Billboard.com


Hot 100 Top 10 (October 18, 2012)
1. Maroon 5 - One More Night
2. PSY - Gangnam Style
3. Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble
4. fun. - Some Nights
5. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
6. Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)
7. Alex Clare - Too Close
8. Ke$ha - Die Young
9. Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
10. Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

[Music Video] Bruno Mars - Locked Out of Heaven

Watch the official music video premiere of Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven", produced by Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, and The Smeezingtons and directed by Cameron Duddy and Bruno Mars.



See the Song Breakdown and Production notes after the jump...

Demi Lovato - Give Your Heat A Break (Produced by Josh Alexander and Billy Steinberg)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart A Break" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Strings and Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Very catchy, melodic hook

Miguel - Adorn (Remix) (feat. Wiz Khalifa) (Produced by Miguel Pimentel)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Miguel's "Adorn (Remix)" featuring Wiz Khalifa at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Rhodes

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good drums
What Makes The Song Hot: Great singing

Miguel - Adorn (Produced by Miguel Pimentel)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Miguel's "Adorn" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Rhodes

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good drums
What Makes The Song Hot: Great singing

Phillip Phillips - Home (Produced by Drew Pearson)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for the American Idol Champ, Phillip Phillip's "Home" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Very vocal good melodies with a catchy crowd singing part

Carrie Underwood - Blown Away (Produced by Mark Bright)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Steel Pedal Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Bass

What Makes The Song Hot: The hook

Adele - Skyfall (Theme from Skyfall) (Produced by Paul Epworth and J. A. C. Redford)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Taylor Swift's "Red" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Brass, Piano, Electric Guitar, Bass, and Strings

What Makes The Beat Hot: The Composition
What Makes The Song Hot: Adele was the perfect singer for this epic track

Taylor Swift - Red (Produced by N/A)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Taylor Swift's "Red" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Mandolin and Electric Guitar

One Direction - Live While We’re Young (Produced by Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for One Direction's "Live While We're Young" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar, Bass, and Saw

What Makes The Song Hot: Good arrangement, great use of chords, and very catchy hook

Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (Produced by Stargate, Mark Hadfield, and Mike Di Scala)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Ne-Yo's Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Strings, Piano, and Supersaw

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good trancey sounds
What Makes The Song Hot: Great hook

Enrique Iglesias - Finally Found You (feat. Sammy Adams) (Produced by soFLY & Nius, R3HAB, and Fabian Lenssen)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Enrique Iglesias' "Finally Found You" featuring Sammy Adams at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Trance Pluck, Super Saw, Square, Electric Guitar

What Makes The Beat Hot: Nice trnacey sounds with good melody at the hook
What Makes The Song Hot: Simple arrangement with great hook.

Hunter Hayes (Produced by Dann Huff and Hunter Hayes)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Hunter Hayes' "Wanted" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Very good arrangement with very good writing.

Kanye West - Clique (feat. Jay-Z and Big Sean) (Produced by Hit-Boy, Kanye West, Anthony Kilhoffer, and Noah Goldstein)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression from G.O.O.D. Music's second hit "Clique" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths, Strings, and Choirs

What Makes The Song Hot: Simple

Maroon 5 - Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa) (Produced by Shellback and Benny Blanco)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Maroon 5's "Payphone" featuring Wiz Khalifa at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Piano and Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Good vocal melodies

Kanye West - Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha-T, and 2 Chainz)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression from G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Old Piano and Sample

What Makes The Song Hot: Catchy hook

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) (Produced by Wally de Backer)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Gotye's international hit, "Somebody That I Used To Know", featuring Kimbra at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Guitar

What Makes The Beat Hot: Different than what's normally on the radio
What Makes The Song Hot: Very catchy vocal melodies

Nicki Minaj - Pound The Alarm (Produced by RedOne, Carl Falk, and Rami Yacoub)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Nicki Minaj's second RedOne produced hit, "Pound The Alarm" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar, Supersaw, Saw, Synths

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good combination of songs with high energy
What Makes The Song Hot: Good verse and hook melodies

Maroon 5 Keeps PSY Out Of Hot 100's Summit Again

Maroon 5 Keeps PSY Out Of Hot 100's Summit Again | Billboard.com


Hot 100 Top 10 (October 11, 2012)
1. Maroon 5 - One More Night
2. PSY - Gangnam Style
3. One Direction - Live While We're Young
4. fun. - Some Nights
5. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
6. Taylor Swift - Red
7. Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)
8. Adele - Skyfall
9. Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
10. Alex Clare - Too Close

Katy Perry - Wide Awake (Produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Trance Pluck

What Makes The Beat Hot: Simple with a good chord progression
What Makes The Song Hot: Very good vocal melodies

Rihanna - Diamonds (Produced by Benny Blanco and Stargate)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Rihanna's "Diamonds" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Keys

What Makes The Song Hot: Simple with catchy vocal melodies

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (Produced by Josh Ramsay)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Carly Rae Jepsen's massive summer hit, "Call Me Maybe" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Strings and Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: Great hook with great vocal melodies

Chris Brown - Don't Wake Me Up (Produced by Benny Benassi, Alle Benassi, Free School, William Orbit, and Brian "BK" Kennedy)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Chris Brown's "Don't Wake Me Up" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Piano, and Supersaw

What Makes The Beat Hot: Sounds mesh well together
What Makes The Song Hot: Good vocal melodies with good energy

Ke$ha - Die Young (Produced by Dr. Luke, Cirkut, and Benny Blanco)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Ke$ha's Die Young www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar and Synths
Arrangement: Use of High Pass Filters

What Makes The Beat Hot: Sound Choice
What Makes The Song Hot: Great Melodies

Ellie Goulding - Lights (Single Version) (Produced by Richard "Biff" Stannard and Ash Howes)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression to Ellie Goulding's breakout hit, "Lights" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths and Bass Guitar

What Makes The Beat Hot: Good synth melody
What Makes The Song Hot: Great vocal melodies

Neon Trees - Everybody Talks (Produced by Justin Meldal Johnson)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression to Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar and Electric Guitar

What Makes The Song Hot: The chord progression gives the song a cool 1950's feel

Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time (Produced by Adam Young)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression to Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Good Time" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths

What Makes The Song Hot: Fun, easy to remember hook with good melodies

Alex Clare - To Close (Produced by Diplo, Switch, and Mike Spencer)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression to Alex Clare's Internet Explorer 9 Commercial song, "Too Close" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar and Dub-step Synths

What Makes The Beat Hot: Just enough Dub-step elements for Mainstream radio

Flo Rida - Whistle (Produced by DJ Frank E and Glass)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression to Flo Rida's #1 single, "Whistle" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Whistle

What Makes The Song Hot: Catchy hook with a catchy whistling melody that anyone can do

Taylor Swift - Begin Again (Produced by Dann Huff and Nathan Chapman)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Taylor Swift's "Begin Again" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Steel Pedal Guitar, Violin

What Makes The Song Hot: Good Melodies with Great Storytelling from one of the Best Writers in the Biz

Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean) (Produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Andre Lindal)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for Justin Bieber's, "As Long As You Love Me" featuring Big Sean at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths

What Makes The Beat Hot: Cool Synths
What Makes The Song Hot: Simple Dubstep type beat with Good Vocal Melodies

Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss) (Produced by Greg Kurstin)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression from Pink's sixth album's lead single, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitars

What Makes The Beat Hot: Great Live Instrumentation with Good Use of Basic Chords
What Makes The Song Hot: Catchy Melodies with Edgy Lyrics

Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Produced by Max Martin, Shellback, and Dann Huff)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression from Taylor Swift's first #1 single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Acoustic Guitar

What Makes The Beat Hot: Great Sound Choice and Simple
What Makes The Song Hot: Catchy Melodies and Great Writing

fun. - Some Nights (Produced by Jeff Bhasker)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for fun.'s second hit single, "Some Nights" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Vocals
Arrangement: Tempo changes with an unusual arrangement

PSY - Gangnam Style (Produced by Yang Hyun-suk)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression for PSY's viral hit, "Gangnam Style" at: www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Synths
Arrangement: Verse Melody changes to longer Chord Progression

What Makes The Beat Hot: Verse Melody and Sounds
What Makes The Song Hot: (The Video)

Maroon 5 - One More Night (Produced by Max Martin and Shellback)

Learn the Chords and Chord Progression from www.ChordsandCovers.com

Production Notes:

Main Instruments: Electric Guitar
What Makes The Song Hot: Vocal Great Melodies

What the Famous Pros Use [Constantly Updated List with Source]

What program does [insert artist/musician/producer] use?
What music sofware does [insert artist/musician/producer] use?
What DAW does [insert artist/musician/producer] use?

List Last Updated: October 4, 2012
(Please credit this site if using this list. Thanks!)

Ableton Live
Armin Van Buuren
Daft Punk
Diplo
Dirty Vegas
DJ Frank-E
Kaskade
Skrillex

Apple Logic Pro
Calvin Harris
Tha Bizness

Cakewalk Sonar

Digidesign Pro Tools
Benny Blanco
DJ Frank-E
Dr. Luke
JR Rotem
Stargate

Image-Line FL Studio (Fruity Loops)
9th Wonder
Afrojack
Avicii
Basshunter
Boi-1da
deadmau5
Drumma Boy
Jahlil Beats
Hit-Boy
Kane Beatz
Kevin Mccall
Lex Luger
MdL
T-Minus

Propellerheads Reason
Beat Billionaire
DJ Khalil

Steinberg Cubase
The Big Shots
Wolfgang Gartner

Steinberg Nuendo
Sandy Vee

PSY Can't Beat Maroon 5 in Close Race For Hot 100's Top Spot

PSY Can't Beat Maroon 5 in Close Race For Hot 100's Top Spot | Billboard.com


Hot 100 Top 10 (October 4, 2012)
1. Maroon 5 - One More Night
2. PSY - Gangnam Style
3. fun. - Some Nights
4. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
5. Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
6. Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)
7. Taylor Swift - Begin Again
8. Flo Rida - Whistle
9. Alex Clare - Too Close
10. Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

13 and 16 after the jump...

The Big Shots Site [Update]

Dear Visitors,

For the past few months, we've been busy with new and exciting projects such as redoing our studio, working with writers (shout out to PF!), partnering with a new website, and of course, continuing to make tracks!

This site will no longer be doing song breakdowns like we've done in the past. Why? We were fortunate to be contacted by a website that will be using our services in breaking down songs. Instead, we will find a new and different approach to breakdown songs on our site.

For now, thank you to all of those who have emailed us and who continue to visit our site! Btw, the Big Shots name is now TRADEMARKED!

Hasta la vista,
The Big Shots