Music Matters
Is VI-I a Good Chord Progression? - Music Composition
Harmony text books often advise us to avoid using this particular chord progression. Why is that? This music composition lesson explains how this chord progression can create difficulties in the part writing with consecutive / parallel...
Music Matters
Conjunct and Disjunct Melody Writing - Music Composition
What is meant by the terms conjunct and disjunct in relation to melody writing? We listen to and look at one melody written entirely using conjunct movement and consider its merits & weaknesses. We then do the same in relation to a...
Music Matters
Writing a Melody Using 3 Components - Music Composition
We examine the first melodic idea that appears in the Overture of Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan tutti’ and analyze the three components of the phrase, showing the characteristics of each, how they contrast and how they fit together to provide...
Music Matters
When Should You Use Second Inversion Chords? - Music Composition
Why do second inversion chords demand special treatment? Starting with an explanation of why root position and first inversion chords are stable in themselves we are introduced to 6/4 5/3 progressions and passing 6/4 chords, as the...
Music Matters
Melodic Lines in the Middle of Piano Texture - Music Composition
This music composition lesson features a short piece of music in which the melodic line appears in the middle of the texture. Advice is given to pianists about how to play such pieces, and how to balance the texture. Advice is then given...
Music Matters
Harmonizing a Melody Using the Natural Minor - Music Composition
Join us and learn how to harmonize a melody using the natural minor. We start by constructing the scale and the chords in D natural minor, before going on to observe the harmonization of a melody in D natural minor. We consider the...
Curated Video
How Composers Make Music Sound Scary
Why do so many horror film scores today sound similar to The Exorcist from 1973? A lot of that is thanks to Krzysztof Penderecki, a Polish composer whose music was used by director William Friedkin to score The Exorcist. Penderecki's...
Curated Video
Pitch Shifting in Music: From Chipmunks to Kanye
Have you heard the conspiracy theory that Nicki Minaj songs are just Jay-Z pitched up? Well that may not be true, but changing the pitch of their songs can create a hilarious effect. LA Buckner and Nahre Sol explore the history of how...
Music Matters
What Can You Write Before an Diminished 7th Chord - Music Composition
Which are the most common approach chords? Learn how to form a diminished 7th chord, how to key reference a diminished 7th, and how to locate inversions of diminished 7ths. This music composition lesson then explores the most commonly...
Music Matters
Using Too Many Non-Chord Tones - Music Composition
This music composition lesson explores the embellishment of music with non-chord tones/ inessential notes, including a reminder of what are the most common inessential notes. We then consider the implication of using too many non-chord...
Music Matters
How to Harmonize a Fast Moving Melody - Music Composition
Discover how to harmonise a fast moving melody with chords. The temptation is to harmonise every note, resulting in a harmonic rhythm that moves too quickly. We explore how to determine which notes are harmony notes / chord tones and...
Music Matters
Extended Chords in Four-Part Harmony - Music Composition
How to extend basic triads into chords using added 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths. Having considered how to construct these chords we explore how to use extended chords in four part harmony, discovering which notes we can omit from each...
Music Matters
Canon by Diminution - Writing Canon
Learn how to write a canon by diminution. In a canon by diminution one part begins then the second part follows on several beats or bars behind using the same pitch as the first part but presented in notes of half the value. This lesson...
Music Matters
Writing Two-Part Canon - Writing Canon
Learn how to go about composing a strict canon at the unison or the octave in two parts. This lesson explains the most useful technique for constructing a strict canon bar by bar, in such a way that the melodic line has shape and...
Music Matters
Writing a Canon by Augmentation - Writing Canon
Learn how to write a canon by augmentation. In a canon by augmentation one part begins then the second part follows on several beats or bars behind using the same pitch as the first part but presented in notes of twice the value. This...
Music Matters
Why There's Only One Way to Resolve a Flat II Chord - Music Theory
Resolving Neapolitan flat II chords? It's all about chord progression. This music theory lesson explains why the choice of resolution chords are limited, essentially because the chord functions as a pre dominant. We consider matters of...
Music Matters
What Can You Write After an Augmented 6th Chord? - Music Composition
This music composition lesson begins with a reminder of how to form an augmented 6th chord with its three variants, the Italian French and German 6ths. The video goes on to explain which are the most common resolution chords, considering...
Music Matters
Using Suspensions to Harmonize a Descending Bass - Music Composition
Here's an idea for writing a sequence based on using a chain of suspensions above a descending scale in the bass line. Descending scales in the bass can be awkward to harmonise satisfactorily without generating parallels. This pattern...
Music Matters
Using 7th Chords Back to Back - Music Composition
In this music composition lesson we review how to form 7th chords and remind ourselves of the traditional function of standard 7th chord progressions. The video goes on to consider the effectiveness of using 7th chords back to back...
Music Matters
Two-Part Canon by Inversion - Writing Canon
Learn how to go about composing a strict canon by inversion. This lesson explains the most useful technique for constructing a strict canon by inversion bar by bar, in such a way that the melodic line has shape and direction, while...
Music Matters
Two-Part Canon at the 5th - Writing Canon
Learn how to go about composing a strict canon at the 5th in two parts. This lesson explains the most useful technique for constructing a strict canon bar by bar, in such a way that the melodic line has shape and direction, while...
Music Matters
How to Write a Crab Canon - Writing Canon
Learn the meaning of ‘crab canon’ then proceeds to compose an example so you can see how to do it. In a crab canon, one part works forwards while a second part simultaneously works the same music in reverse. This means that one part has...
Music Matters
How to Harmonize Repeated Notes in Both the Top and Bottom Parts - Music Composition
This music composition lesson presents four bars of repeated notes at the top and bottom of the texture. He then explains how to harmonise all the repeated notes, generating an engaging range of harmonic colour and well structured...
Music Matters
Harmonizing an Ascending Scale with 5-6 Alterations - Music Composition
This music composition lesson demonstrates an idea for alternating inversions and an associated melodic pattern above an ascending scale in the bass line. Ascending scales in the bass can be awkward to harmonise satisfactorily without...