Many musicians are aware of Secondary Dominant chords but are unsure how to use them in a piece of music. This music composition lesson presents a passage of music in which there are no Secondary Dominants then demonstrates how to...

How to use diminished 7th chords. This music composition lesson explains how to construct a diminished 7th chord and how to key reference it, clearing up various common misunderstandings on the way. We explore the diminished 7th chord in...

Musicians often need to transpose music from one key to another, in order to accommodate transposing instruments or to realign music in a key to suit singers, for example. Some people need to understand the theory behind writing out a...

How do you use Neapolitan chords? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan chords...

How do you know when to use the harmonic or the melodic minor scale? Let's take a look at how Bach combines them in one of his chorale harmonization. We examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use of accented...

Today I want to talk about harmonizing a melody for a keyboard instrument. Harmonizing is just a fancy way of saying finding chords that go along with a melody (or bass line). First we will look at keyboard specific issues to keep in...

How to use sequence as a compositional tool to expand a musical idea. This music composition begins with a simple four note idea. It then shows you how to build these four notes into a 16 bar piece using melodic and harmonic sequence....

How do you use Neapolitan chords in? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan...

The nugget introduces and defines a circle and identifying its parts.

The I 6/4 chord as a part of an authentic cadence. Is it real? Will we ever find out? Does it actually exist? Okay, so obviously the chord exists. But, it plays a very particular function...and it's current label is a bit misleading. So,...

How to realize and read diatonic chords in figured bass and how to play a short passage from a figured bass. This music theory lesson explains the figured bass system in relation to all the diatonic chords in root position, first...

Learn how to solve problems with chords. A chord is a line that has its two endpoints on the circle. A chord passing through the center of the circle is refered to as the diameter of the circle. A chord divides the circle into two...

This music theory lesson demonstrates a method for delivering an extreme modulation a tritone away within a four bar phrase. Starting in C major the video shows how to move to F# major using an enharmonic equivalent of a German 6th...

Last time we talked about finding chords that would go along with a melody. This time I want to switch things up and write a melody that goes with a set of chords.

This music composition lesson unpacks Bach’s Sinfonia in B minor, drawing attention to the three motifs used to compose this piece. The three motifs are unpacked and we explore both the differences and the common ground between them. We...

The Dominant Chord (V) is the second most important chord in a key. Today we look at two chords (V, vii) that have the specific function of being Dominant Chords

This music theory lesson explains escape notes, what they are and how to use them. When it comes to inessential notes many musicians understand passing notes, understand auxiliary notes, and are happy about anticipatory notes. But what...

How to recognise a modulation in music. This music theory lesson explains what constitutes modulation and works through a piece of music that contains several modulations. An analysis of chords, accidentals and cadences reveals the...

I get a lot of questions about how to use music theory to write music. So, today I'm taking a look at a melody I wrote a long time ago to see how I can improve it using concept we learn in Theory I and II.

It explains and states rules to find the algebraic solutions of linear inequalities in one variable and represent the solution set graphically.

Learn how do to construct and use augmented 6th chords in major keys. This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Augmented 6th chords and the best ways to resolve them. After explaining how to form...

Find out how Bach makes use of seventh chords inside his music. Join us as we examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use of accented and unaccented passing notes, plus other features of the Bach Chorale...

Today we're going to look at voice leading. Voice leading is a way to get from chord to chord in music that makes it sound connected (and can make it easier for musicians to play). First, we will take a chord progression, add a bass line...

Learn how to solve problems with chords. A chord is a line that has its two endpoints on the circle. A chord passing through the center of the circle is refered to as the diameter of the circle. A chord divides the circle into two...