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
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 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...
Music Matters
Bass Sequence Using Falling Thirds - Music Composition
This music composition lesson explores one idea for writing a sequence based on a pattern in the bass line. In this case, the bass alternates falling thirds with rising seconds to generate a melodic pattern at the bottom of the texture,...
Music Matters
Alternating Inversion Chords when Harmonizing a Descending Bass - Music Composition
We explore one idea for harmonising a descending scale in the bass line. Many people find it easier to harmonise an ascending scale than a descending scale and most people find it easier to harmonise a scale at the top of the texture...
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
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
Harmonic Sequences - Music Composition
How to write simple harmonic sequences over a bass line that is derived from the pattern of the circle of 5ths. By alternating intervals of the 4th and the 5th in the bass a descending bass line is created above which a systematic chord...
Music Matters
Two-Part Counterpoint Masterclass from Bach - Composer Insights
We explore the first of Bach’s 15 two part Inventions in the key of C. This composer insights lesson unbolts the imitative counterpoint, explaining the various contrapuntal ingredients and how they are used throughout the piece....
Music Matters
What Can You Write Before an Augmented 6th Chord - Music Composition
Which are the most common approach chords? We consider the reasons why these chords work better than other options, examining voice leading, the smooth progression of parts, and the avoidance of parallels & false relations. This music...
Music Matters
Using a Slow Moving Theme with Cantus Firmus - Music Composition
We explore how to write a free moving line over a sustained melody presented in long notes. The example here uses the first two phrases of “Happy Birthday to you” set as a cantus firmus in long notes in the left hand, while the right...