Music Matters
Turning Chords into Arpeggios - Music Composition
This music composition lesson demonstrates how to take a succession of block chords and turn them into melodic lines with arpeggiated accompaniment. The chord sequence is analysed then organised as a melodic line at the top of the...
Music Matters
How to Vary the Harmony for Repeated Notes - Music Theory
Many composers and students of harmony worry about harmonising repeated notes in a melody. Repeated notes can make for melodic stagnation and the remedy is often to create harmonic interest but how is this achieved? This music theory...
Music Matters
Bach Goes Wacky - Inside the Mind Bach
The key movement is fast and chords do not always resolve as expected. In particular, we discover how Bach uses a number of unresolved dominant 7ths back to back, making this a radical approach for Baroque times. Discover what Bach is...
Curated Video
Playing the Recorder
A video describing how to play the notes B, A and G on the recorder.
Music Matters
Understanding The Circle of Fifths
Find out how to draw the Circle of Fifths and why it's so incredibly useful! Learn how to use the circle of fifths to work out all the major keys, all the minor keys and all their key signatures. Useful for understanding keys and key...
Odd Quartet
Music Theory - The Circle Of Fifths - Your Ultimate Guide
In this music theory lesson we look at the circle of fifths. It can seem complicated at first, but the circle of fifths can be a really useful tool when learning music theory. It organizes key signatures, and it can tell you what kinds...
Music Matters
Modulation Using the Circle of Fifths - Music Theory
How to use the circle of fifths to modulate and change keys. If we are writing or improvising a piece of music and we want to modulate to other keys, how do we decide which keys to move to? The Circle of 5ths not only explains the whole...
KnowMo
Circle Theorems Extension: Intersecting Chords and Beyond
This video is a comprehensive lesson on circle theorems, including an extension on the topic. The presenter covers the key four circle theorems that students should know, including the arrow shape, bow shape, quadrilateral, and...
Music Matters
Extreme Modulation Using Chromatic Harmony - Music Theory
Harmonizing a melody using chromatic chords and advanced harmonic techniques to effect modulation to extreme keys. The melody to be harmonized includes an extreme modulation from Eb to B major before travelling back to Eb major. This...
Music Matters
Minor Key Harmony - Music Theory
Minor key harmony can be very complicated. Many people are reasonably happy about choosing chords to harmonize a melody in a major key but minor keys present particular challenges, especially when trying to figure out your way around the...
Music Matters
How to Recognize Written Chords in Sheet Music - Music Theory
How to recognize written chords in sheet music. This music theory lesson will help you understand how to look at a chord and know what chord is written. By the end of this lesson, you will have a good understanding of how to identify...
Two Minute Music Theory
How To Use The Circle of Fifths - TWO MINUTE MUSIC THEORY #19
Now that we've built the circle, how do we use it? What all can we do with the Circle of Fifths?
Music Matters
The Best Chords to Follow Chord III (in Minor Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord III 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
How to Harmonize a Minor Scale - Music Theory
Improve your keyboard harmony and learn how to easily harmonize a minor scale. If you want to get really happy about playing, sight reading, improvising, or writing in minor keys then learning to harmonize a minor scale can prove very...
Music Matters
Choosing the Right Chords in Minor Keys - Music Composition
How do we go about choosing chords and how can you be sure if you've got the right for a given situation? A lot of people are happier doing this in major keys than they are in minor keys so in this music composition lesson we're going to...
Music Matters
Chromatic Chord Alterations - Music Composition
Improve your music writing and harmony with these three chromatic chord alteration tricks. Many composers, arrangers, and improvisers get fed up with being stuck using the same basic chords all the time. This music composition lesson...
Music Matters
Roman Numeral Chord Notation - Music Theory
Learn about the two systems for labelling chords in the Roman Numeral system, namely Basic Roman and Extended Roman. In this music theory lesson the construction of diatonic chords is explained, followed by the labelling of those chords....
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...