The altered scale, a term that resonates with intrigue and sophistication in the world of music theory, stands as a cornerstone for jazz and contemporary musicians. At its core, the altered scale is a variation of the traditional major scale, but with a twist – it’s modified to include certain altered notes, which gives it …
What is the altered scale: a comprehensive guide Read More »
Music is a language that speaks to the soul, and just like any language, it has its own set of vocabulary and grammar rules. One such term that often intrigues both seasoned musicians and beginners alike is “passing notes.” But what exactly are passing notes, and why are they so essential in the world of …
What are passing notes? Read More »
Dominant chords play a pivotal role in the realm of music, acting as the cornerstone of many compositions. At its core, a dominant chord is the fifth chord in a diatonic scale, often symbolized as the V chord. It possesses a unique tension, yearning to be resolved, which is why it’s frequently followed by the …
Secondary dominant chords in music Read More »
Music, in its essence, is a language. Just like words form sentences and paragraphs, musical notes come together to create structures and patterns. One such foundational pattern is the binary form. At its core, binary form is a simple yet profound structure, comprising two contrasting sections that dance together in harmony. But why should someone, …
What is binary form in music? Read More »
A scale in music theory is a sequence of notes played in ascending or descending order with a specific interval structure. There are many scales in music. Some are extremely common and fundamental, like the major scale or minor scale. Others are more obscure and only called upon in certain settings, like the whole tone …
Beginner’s guide to the world of scale degrees Read More »
Music theory can be an intimidating subject for many musicians. However, it is an essential aspect of music that provides a foundation for understanding the mechanics and structure of music. One of the most important concepts in music theory is the circle of fifths, which is a useful tool for understanding the relationships between musical …
The beginner’s guide to exploring the circle of fifths Read More »
If you’ve been studying music for even a short while you’ll have noticed that all the musical notes are written in five lines. This is called the staff or stave. You will also have come across a symbol at the very start of the musical notation, which is called a clef. By far the most …
Tenor clef: the essential of music theory Read More »
Classical music is all around us. We hear it in supermarkets, restaurants, films, television adverts, and in so many more places. From the monastic monks’ chants of medieval Europe to Chopin’s strikingly beautiful piano melodies; from the elegance of Mozart to the film music of Star Wars, classical music has influenced life for centuries and …
Classical music eras: what are the seven periods of music history? Read More »
“Do re mi fa so la ti da” is an instantly recognizable refrain. This is especially true if you have ever watched “The Sound of Music”. This is an example of solfege patterns being used to help teach a musical scale. For most musicians who take up an instrument, one of the first things you …
Solfege in music – What is solfege and how can you use it? Read More »
Piano chords can be an intimidating concept to beginning musicians. We so often only associate music with one note at a time, but chords are when we play multiple notes at the same time, often across many different octaves, and often with two hands! Chords with only three notes in them are called triads. This …
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The chromatic scale is simultaneously one of the most important and most overlooked scales in music. It is a scale well worth studying for its technical and creative applications. Because the scale does not follow an interval pattern like any of the major or minor scales, the chromatic scale does not contain any of the …
The chromatic scale: the ultimate beginner’s guide Read More »
A scale in music theory is a sequence of notes played in ascending or descending order with a specific interval structure. There are many scales in music. Some are extremely common and fundamental, like the major scale or minor scale. Others are more obscure and only called upon in certain settings, like the whole tone …
Beginner’s guide to the world of scale degrees Read More »
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