Music Matters
Beethoven's Last Piano Sonata - Inside the Mind of Beethoven
We examine the introductory section of Beethoven’s final Piano Sonata, op.111. Having given some background context, this video takes us through the fascinating harmony and key movement, and references this to other aspects of this...
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
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
Harmonizing a Chromatic Scale is Not Impossible - Music Theory
Learn how to harmonise a chromatic scale. Starting with harmonising diatonic scales, the video moves on to using secondary dominants then to using chromatic chords and to using chords in a less functional way. This music theory lesson...
Music Matters
Harmonic Surprises in All I Want for Christmas is You - Composer Insights
Discover three harmonic surprises that occur in Mariah Carey’s famous Christmas hit, “All I want for Christmas is you”. Many song composers find themselves using familiar and predictable chord patterns, and they would love to discover...
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
Elaborating an Upper Voice When Using an Ascending Bass Scale - Music Composition
An idea for elaborating an upper melodic line over an ascending scale in the bass line. Ascending scales in the bass can be awkward to harmonise satisfactorily without generating parallels. This pattern illustrates one way of handling...
Music Matters
Can You Hear Two Parts and Write Them Down? - Ear Training
Have you ever had the frustrating experience of hearing a musical idea you want to work with as a player or as a composer but have struggled with being able to write it down? This lesson is an exercise in hearing a two part passage and...
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...
Odd Quartet
How To Build Seventh Chords
Today I want to talk about seventh chords. Seventh chords are a type of four note chord used in western music. The two types we will talk about today are the Major Seventh and the Dominant Seventh. We will go over how to build them note...
Odd Quartet
How to Add Different Voices - MuseScore tutorial
Sometimes you need to have two different music parts to be playing at the same time in the same staff. Or, you might want to save space by having two voices share a staff. One of the best ways to achieve this is to use the voices feature...
Odd Quartet
Building Seventh Chords - Part 2
In this lesson we will go over three more complex versions of the seventh chord - minor, augmented, and diminished. We will go over the different scale degrees used in the chords and how to build them. We will look at examples of each...
Curated Video
Hearing Differently
Award-winning violinmaker and acoustician Joseph Curtin describes how many musicians would benefit from learning to listen like recording engineers.
Music Matters
What is Colour in Music - Music Appreciation
Colour in music can mean a number of different things. Some musicians experience Synesthesia in which particular notes, keys or chords are experienced directly in relation to particular colours. We talk about the Blues or about white...
Music Matters
Why Learn Figured Bass? - Music Theory
See why every musician should become familiar with figured bass. For harpsichordists and organists needing to realise figured bass in performance realising figured bass fluently with style is essential. For others it’s a useful way of...
Music Matters
Why is White Christmas So Popular? - Composer Insights
We explore what makes the harmony of this iconic Christmas song so iconic and durable. Irving Berlin’s song from 1940 includes a rich blend of diatonic, extended and chromatic chords, which skilfully add distinctive character to the song...
Music Matters
Who Needs the Rule of the Octave? - Music Theory
This music theory lesson summarises the rule of the octave and explains how it offers insight into harmonic thinking and into Baroque harmony in particular. The rule of the octave begins with the notion of harmonising an octave of the...
Music Matters
Which Chords Can You Borrow? - Music Composition
Learn about the most commonly used borrowed chords and chromatically altered chords. Many composers and arrangers find themselves limited to diatonic chords and lack the confidence to use borrowed and chromatically altered chords. Yet...