Music Matters
Modulation using a Pivot Note - Music Theory
You may be familiar with modulating to a different key using a pivot chord but can you modulate using a pivot note? Use this modulation technique to modulate to more extreme keys. When Baroque composers first ventured into the realms of...
Music Matters
Modulating to Closely Related Keys (Minor Key Modulation Chart) - Music Composition
Each key has five closely related keys to which we can modulate. This music composition lesson explains how to find those neighbouring keys and the purpose and use of pivot chords, before showing all the options for using pivot chords in...
Music Matters
Understanding Chord Inversions - Music Composition
What are chord inversions? How do we write them? How do we identify chord inversions and why do we need them? Refresh your knowledge of the diatonic chords and 7ths within any key and understand how chords can be presented in their...
Music Matters
Which Chord Comes Next? (Major Chord Progression Chart) - Music Composition
How do you know which chord you could use next? We share our very own major chord progression chart that will help get you started in figuring out which chord comes next. Musicians often wonder which is the best way to progress from one...
Music Matters
How Bach Elaborately Decorates a Simple Chord Scheme - Composer Insights
How Bach elaborately decorates a simple chord scheme to transform the impact of the opening bars of his Sarabande from the English Suite no 2 in A minor. This composer insights lesson unpacks how Bach combines conventional ornaments like...
Music Matters
The Best Chords to Follow Chord V (in Minor Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord V what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...
Music Matters
Modulating to Closely Related Keys (Major Key Modulation Chart) - Music Composition
Each key has five closely related keys to which we can modulate. This music composition lesson explains how to find those neighbouring keys and the purpose and use of pivot chords, before showing all the options for using pivot chords in...
Music Matters
Which Chord Comes Next? (Minor Chord Progression Chart) - Music Composition
How do you know which chord you could use next? We share our very own minor chord progression chart that will help get you started in figuring out which chord comes next. Musicians often wonder which is the best way to progress from one...
Music Matters
Composing from a Chord Progression - Music Composition
Composing music in different styles using the same chord progression. Have you ever experienced the frustration of finding a sequence of chords you really like the sound of but have been unsure about how to compose a melody to fit those...
Music Matters
How Chord Inversions Work - Music Theory
Learn how chord inversions work, what they are, how and when to use them, and how to label them. This music theory lesson includes U.K. and U.S. terminology to describe inversion chords and you will learn how to use all the diatonic...
Music Matters
Horizontal and Vertical Sight Reading
Learning to sight read advanced piano music involves improving your skills in both horizontal and vertical sight reading. Some keyboard players tend to read individual lines from left to right on the score. This is useful for absorbing...
Music Matters
Creating Melodies from Chord Progressions - Music Composition
Learn how to create melodies from chord progressions. We start with a set of chords in four-part harmony and find notes which fit the progression before going on to add melodic variation and input some non-harmonic tones. This music...
Odd Quartet
How Style and Instrumentation Affect Chord Progressions
Today we will look at a chord progression, but we will look at it in two different ways. First, as an 18th century piano composition. Then, as a 1950s American dance music. The trick is that we will use the same chord progression for...
Music Matters
Reading and Understanding Intervals - How to Read Music
How to work out intervals and develop the ability to hear and pitch them. Many people struggle to pitch notes accurately from a score, whether you’re a singer or someone needing to sight sing in an instrumental exam. In this video you'll...
Music Matters
The Best Chords to Follow Chord V (in Major Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord V what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...
Music Matters
Rachmaninoff's Lyrical Use of Motif - Composer Insights
How Sergei Rachmaninoff makes use of motifs when composing music. This composer insights lesson explores the opening of Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise”. The melodic design is explained alongside the rich harmony, which features extended and...
Music Matters
3 Ways to Modulate from the Same Opening - Music Composition
This music composition lesson takes an opening bar and demonstrates how to modulate into three different closely related keys. The opening bar is used as a departure point for modulations to the dominant, the subdominant and the relative...
Two Minute Music Theory
Why Eric Whitacre's Clusterchords Work
Today we're looking at the 14-part clusterchord from Water Night by Eric Whitacre, how it is constructed, and how it all works - thanks to a good preparation of voicing and voice-leading.
Music Matters
George Michaels Skillful Use of Extended Chords Composer Insights
An insight into the introduction of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” to discover the skills employed to create the opening to this iconic song. This video lays out the chord scheme used during the introduction and demonstrates the...
Music Matters
How to Harmonize a Major Scale - Music Theory
Would you like to be able to harmonize a major scale? Improve your keyboard harmony and learn how to easily harmonize a major scale. Being able to harmonize a major scale gives you a good feel for the key - useful for players and...
Music Matters
The Best Chords to Follow Chord VII (in Major Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord VII what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...
Music Matters
The Best Chords to Follow Chord IV (in Major Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord IV what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...
Music Matters
Using 6-4 5-3 Chord Progressions - Music Composition
Teaching you the best ways to deal with second inversion chords. The second inversion chord is explained along with its unstable characteristics and the video goes on to illustrate the most convincing musical contexts for using the chord...
Music Matters
How to Easily Move from One Key to Another Using a Pivot Chord - Music Composition
Learn how to easily modulate from one key to another using a pivot chord. Some people can write a piece of music but experience difficulty when it comes to modulation i.e. moving from one key to another. This music composition lesson...