Music Theory for Songwriters: Harmony

Learn music theory through the lens of songwriting. These tutorials cover the basics of harmony: minor scales, modes, 7th chords, modulations, and more.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Why music theory?

1. Minor Keys and Modes

• The natural minor scale
• The harmonic and melodic minor scales
• Basic minor scale chord progressions
• A song in a minor key
• What are modes?
• Dorian and Phrygian modes
• Lydian and Mixolydian modes
• Locrian mode and the whole tone scale

2. Four-Note Chords and Beyond

• Major 7th chords
• Minor 7th chords
• Dominant 7th chords
• Half-diminished 7th chords
• Chord extensions
• The color tones
• Triads with an added note
• Diminished 7th chords
• Using 7th chords in a song

3. Key Centers, Modulations, and Alternate Bass Notes

• Transposing a song for feel change or different voice ranges
• Modulation
• Modulation within a progression
• The pedal point
• Slash chords or upper structures
• Building different harmonies from a single melody
• Exploring modulation and pedal point in a song

Conclusion

• Next steps