Could rock music one day replace your insulin injections? Scientists are pioneering music-controlled cells that could provide the perfect dose of insulin for type 1 or type 2 diabetes with just a bit of music. Specifically, Queen's "We...

How one of the introductory ideas in a field called "measure theory" can be thought of in terms of musical harnomy and dissonance.

In Deep by Andy Aledort

SOMETHING IN THE AIR, P

ART 2

“SAVE SOMETHING FOR ME,” the second track off Andy Aledort's new album, Light of Love, is a slow ballad, in a style not unlike two of his favorite Jimi Hendrix...

TALES FROM NERDVILLE by Joe Bonamassa<br/>
TOOLS OF THE TRADE, PART 2

In Deep by Andy Aledort<br/>
THEORIES OF RELATIVITY, PART 2

In Deep by Andy Aledort

CATFISH
BLUES
Muddy Waters is widely revered as being one of the most important musical figures of all time and the “father of modern Chicago blues.” In this lesson, Andy Aledort explores Muddy’s...

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...

Discover what polychords are and learn how polychords differ from extended chords. We consider how extended chords are given a functional context whereas polychords add colour to music without needing a functional context. The use of...

Many people are comfortable working in the harmonic and melodic keys when harmonising a melodic line but feel less assured doing the same in the natural minor. In this music theory lesson we explore which chords are major, which are...

Join us and discover the harmonic series, or overtone series. This music theory lesson begins with a fundamental note and explains how to derive the overtones from that note that comprise the harmonic series. The video uses the...

We begin with a reminder of what is a pentatonic scale and how a pentatonic scale can be transposed. We go on to hear and look at a short melody written in C major pentatonic before comparing that with another melody written in A minor...

Here you will learn the two ways to write the Alto clef, which instruments use it and where Middle C belongs on the stave. This music theory lesson then explains a short-cut method for reading and writing notes in the Alto clef and...

Music theory is often confused as being mostly about identification, but really - it's more about interpretation. Music Theory is an art. And it's an artform that is both valuable and practical for all musicians throughout their...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...