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Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Modern Music Theory Course Summary Week 1: Scales Week 2: Rhythmic Melody Week 3: Melodic Design Week 4: Intervals & Harmony Week 5: Triads & Chord Progressions Week 6: Advanced Chords Week 7: Chord Functions Week 8: Musical Tension Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Week 1: Scales Key Concepts Melodic Emotion Use of particular notes in a pattern to produce particular emotion(s) Playing in Key Playing in Key means using the notes within the Scale of the musical piece The Musical Scale Definition of a Scale Defined set of notes which give a Melody a certain character Two Components of a Scale: Tonic and Mode Tonic Note: defines the note name of the Scale Mode: defines the Scale type The Chromatic Scale Characteristics of the Chromatic Scale Formula Contains all 12 semitones/notes in an octave Emotion Neutral because of its pure symmetry Distinguishing Characteristic All notes are equally spaced apart Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Diatonic Scales Characteristics of Diatonic Scales Description Seven distinct Pitch Classes 5 Whole Steps and 2 Half Steps per Octave Each Diatonic Scale has a Key Signature which prescribes the Intervals in the Scale Subset of the Chromatic Scale Diatonic Scale Degrees Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading Tone (Major scale), Subtonic (Natural Minor scale) The Major Scale Characteristics Formula T 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 Emotion Traditionally associated with happiness, celebration and jubilance Distinguishing Characteristics Major 3rd Major 6th Major 7th Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt The Natural Minor Scale Characteristics Formula T 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 Emotion Traditionally associated with sadness and melancholy Distinguishing Characteristics Minor 3rd Minor 6th Minor 7th The Harmonic Minor Scale Characteristics Formula T 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 Emotion Exotic sounding Minor scale Distinguishing Characteristics Minor 3rd Minor 6th Major 7th Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt The Minor Pentatonic Scale Formula Program the Natural Minor Scale and remove the 2nd and 6th Notes Emotion A lack of tension creates an open type of sound. Distinguishing Characteristics This is a 5 note scale Uses the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th notes from the Natural Minor scale Class Exercises Write the Major scale for every possible Tonic note in its own MIDI clip Write the Natural Minor scale for every possible Tonic note in its own MIDI clip Write the Harmonic Minor scale for every possible Tonic note in its own MIDI clip Write the Pentatonic Minor scale for every possible Tonic note in its own MIDI clip Scale selection based on Tonic note Which Scale Keys have a certain character http://www.gradfree.com/kevin/some_theory_on_musical_keys.htm http://biteyourownelbow.com/keychar.htm Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Musical Element: Driving Lead Line Description Melodic driving rhythm Programming Method Program in Midi Clip How to program it Program Main Hook Program like a drum pattern Use the Tonic Note Balance rhythm and note length to keep it driving Program End Of Bar Variation Use variation in notes Direction: up / down Choice of notes: start to end notes Distance from Tonic effects amount of variation Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Week 2: Rhythmic Melody Meter Beat/Pulse Individual Strokes of Measured Time Bar / Measure Segment of time corresponding to a specific number of beats Time Signature General Thought Different Time Signatures create different rhythmic feelings Top Number Number of Beats per Bar Bottom Number Note Value of a Beat Strong / Weak Beats Onbeats Strong Beats of Bar Offbeats Weak Beats of Bar Downbeat Strongest Beat Upbeat Beat immediately preceding the Downbeat Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt 4/4 Description 4 Quarter Notes per Bar Counting One Bar of Quarter Notes Counted as 1 2 3 4 One Bar of Eighth Notes Counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and One Bar of Sixteenth Notes Counted as 1 ee and ah 2 ee and ah 3 ee and ah 4 ee and ah Onbeats 1st and 3rd Beats of Bar Offbeats 2nd and 4th Beats of Bar Downbeat 1st Beat of Bar 2/4 Description 2 Quarter Notes per Bar Downbeat occurs quicker than 4/4 Counting One Bar of Quarter Notes Counted as 1 2 One Bar of Eighth Notes Counted as 1 and 2 and One Bar of Sixteenth Notes Counted as 1 ee and ah 2 ee and ah Onbeat Downbeat, 1st Beat of Bar Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Offbeat 2nd Beat of Bar 3 / 4 Description 3 Quarter Notes per Bar Counting One Bar of Quarter Notes Counted as 1 2 3 One Bar of Eighth Notes Counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and One Bar of Sixteenth Notes Counted as 1 ee and ah 2 ee and ah 3 ee and ah Downbeat 1st Beat of Bar Onbeats 1st & 3rd Beat of Bar Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Compound Time Description Time Signatures with Different Bottom Number Beat in a Bar is not a Quarter Note 6/8 Description 6 Eighth Notes per Bar Counting One Bar of Eighth Notes Counted as 1 2 3 4 5 6 One Bar of Sixteenth Notes Counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 Downbeat 1st Beat of Bar Onbeat 4th Beat of Bar Offbeats 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th Beats of Bar Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Tempo Definition Speed of the Pulse Measured in BPM (Beats per Minute) Note Length SubDivision Division of Pulse into Shorter Pulses 1 Whole Note = One Bar in 4/4 = 2 Half Notes = 4 Quarter Notes 1 Quarter Note = 1 Beat/Pulse in 4/4 = 2 Eighth Notes = 4 Sixteenth Notes = 8 32nd Notes = 16 64th Notes Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Accents Description Refer to the loudest vs softest notes Can emphasize certain notes/beats within a rhythmic pattern Emphasis of beats Indicates which beats are important by stressing them Sets up a hierarchy where certain notes/beats are pushed to the foreground and the less accented notes/beats are simultaneously pushed to the background Dynamics Changes in Loudness between the notes/beats in the pattern Pattern Dynamics Can make a rhythmic pattern sound more/less Dynamic Syncopation Description When a Musical Element places rhythmic Accents between the Main Beats (Onbeats) Beats within the Bar which are usually unstressed are accented Loosening of the Pulse Example: Back-Beat Beat where 2nd & 4th beats are stressed in 4/4 Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Musical Element: Rhythmic Bassline Description Rhythmic and melodic element (primarily rhythmic element) In low register, ie up to Middle C Syncopates with the drums, like another element of the Drum Track It is not the primary rhythmic driver like the Driving Lead Line Programming Method Program in midi editor Copy midi clip of scales Generally tonal drum or percussive synth sound How to program it Program Main Hook Program the rhythm first Use the Tonic note Add variation to keep it rolling / bouncing using rhythm, note length , note variation Use note variation sparsely with small note spacing Program End Of Bar Variation Use other notes in scale Variation: direction: up / down Variation: choice of notes: start to end notes Variation: distance from Tonic effects amount of variation Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Musical Element: Arpeggiated Melodies Description Melodies that work the rhythm and melodic structure at the same time Benefits: Add dynamics to static chord Distinguish two parts playing the same chords How to program it Note Choice Use Tonic Triad for strong driving sequences Use advanced chords for more melodic emotional sequences Direction Note Velocity Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Week 3: Melodic Design The Melodic Lead Line Description Melody which is primary lead part Primary focus is on its melodic content Programming Method Playing on keyboard allows you to concentrate on the melody With the correct hand position, the rhythm will naturally happen Programming Principles Range of pitch Melodic shape Start and end notes Note spacing Repetition vs variation Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Writing a Melodic line Components of a Single Melodic Line Pitch Rhythm Pitch Notes in Melody can be categorised based on Distance Direction Distance Step: Pitch movement between two consecutive scale degrees, smallest movement in pitch Leap / Skip: Pitch movement using non-consecutive scale degrees, larger movement in pitch Direction Rising: Pitch movement where the first note is lower than the second Falling: Pitch movement where the first note is higher than the second Class Ex 1 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat End Note: Tonic on Downbeat Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Class Ex 2 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat End Note: Octave above Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 3 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat End Note: Perfect 5th above Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 4 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat Middle Note: Octave above Tonic on Onbeat End Note: Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 5 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat Middle Note: Perfect 5th above Tonic on Onbeat End Note: Tonic on Downbeat Modern Music Theory Shaun Keyt Class Ex 6 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat Middle Note: Perfect 5th above Tonic on Onbeat End Note: Octave above Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 7 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat Middle Note: Minor 3rd above Tonic on Onbeat End Note: Perfect 5th above Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 8 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars Start Note: Tonic on Downbeat Middle Note: Perfect 5th above Tonic on Onbeat End Note: Minor 6th above Tonic on Downbeat Class Ex 9 Write a melody in A Natural Minor for 2 Bars
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