Tag: music theory
-
Modal Notes
The distinction between modes like G major and A Dorian lies in a singular modal note, which defines their sound. Each mode differs from its parent scale by one specific note that gives it identity. To achieve a modal feel in music, prominently using this note in compositions is essential for conveying the mode’s unique…
-
Learn the Difference Between 3/4 and 6/8 Time
The article explains the differences between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures, emphasizing the importance of listening to the accents. While both can be written similarly, the placement of accents distinguishes them. Exercises using a metronome are suggested to internalize their distinct feels. The concept of hemiola is introduced, showcasing its presence in various musical styles.
-
The Blues Scale is a Compromise
The generic guitar lesson on the “blues scale” goes something like this: take the minor pentatonic, add a passing tone between the 4 and 5, and you’ve got the blues scale. This is also referred to as the minor blues scale. A C D (D# / Eb) E G That’s a good starting point, and…
-
Three Minor Scales, One Minor Key
Natural, harmonic, and melodic minor aren’t three separate scales. They’re three solutions to the same problem.
-
The Dominant Seventh Wants to Go Somewhere
Guitarists learn the dominant 7th as a chord shape. It’s actually an engine.
-
CAGED Is a Starting Point
The CAGED system is a useful way to organize the fretboard. The mistake is treating it like music theory.
-
Voice Leading on Guitar
Guitarists learn chord shapes. Pianists learn how notes move between chords. This gap explains more than you’d think.
-
Learn to Hear the Melody
A lead sheet tells you what the melody is. Your ear is what makes it yours.
-
Intervals Are Sounds, Not Fret Distances
Ask a guitarist what a minor third is, and you will most likely hear: three frets. That’s correct in the same way that “turn left at the stop sign” is a correct description of where your house is. It tells you how to get there, but it doesn’t tell you what’s there when you arrive.…
-
G Major vs A Dorian: Same Notes, Different Music
Two scales can be identical in construction yet different in musical behavior. Why modes aren’t just rotations of a major scale.