How to write counterpoint from a chord scheme. If you are working with a progression of chords and want to learn how to write contrapuntally around that harmonic scheme then this is the video for you. If you are analysing contrapuntal...

These rules will get you writing better harmony. Avoiding these common mistakes, although not absolutely necessary, will often help your keyboard harmony flow much better than before. In this video, we work through some of the ‘rules of...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord II what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

What does a lead sheet look like and how do you play from one? This music performance lesson takes you through the first eight bars of a famous Standard, “Lullaby of Birdland”, explaining how a lead sheet works, unpacking how to read...

Journey through the opening of George Shearing’s “Lullaby of Birdland”. What makes his compositional approach so successful? We look at the design of the melody and how one phrase relates to another. We also examine the rhythmic...

How to grasp extended chords and chromatic chords from a Lead Sheet. Using the opening section of the jazz standard “Fly me to the moon” you will learn how to read a rich chord language and how to organise the spacing and texture of...

Always wondered what we mean by the term extended chords? Want to use extended chords but not sure how to? Are you a composer who can use chords but want your chords to be more interesting and more colourful? Want to be able to use...

How Grieg builds musical character in “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”, number 6 of his op.65 Lyric Pieces written in celebration of his own 25th wedding anniversary. The celebratory character is explored through the tonality, the...

Beginner's guide to four-part harmony. This music theory lesson explains the basics of how to write four-part harmony to fit with a given melody. Often people can write a tune they are happy with but they are not sure which chords to use...

Season 3, Episode 21 - Two Minute Music Theory The third installment in our Building Chords Series. Today we look at building all types of Seventh Chords, which are extensions of the basic triad.

As we continue our Chords series, today we look at the chords that can be made using the major and minor keys - which are called Diatonic Chords.

Learn all about the Picardy Third and Picardy Cadence, otherwise known as the Tierce de Picarde. The Tierce da Picardie is a musical device often used by composers to provide an optimistic finish to a piece in a minor key. The Tierce da...

The famous Dido’s Lament from ‘Dido and Aeneas’ by Henry Purcell. Features of Purcell’s style are unpacked and the word painting & emotional life of the music are explored. A Ground Bass is repeated 11 times, while the melodic line and...

What is the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures? Mathematically it appears that 3/4 and 6/8 are two versions of the same thing. On the face of it, there may appear to be little difference between music in 3/4 time or music in...

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

How to find and choose chords to fit a melody. Have you ever written a melody but didn’t really know how to find chords to fit it? If you have a melody and you’re searching for chords to harmonise with it this music composition lesson...

Learn from the master of harmony and find out how Bach uses suspensions to enrich the chords within this chorale. We examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use of inessential notes and suspensions, plus...

How to build augmented and diminished chords

Sometimes keeping things simple works. This Bach chorale is a great example of how Bach keeps things simple and still manages to demonstrate his artistic genius. We examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use...

Music Matters demonstrates Interpreting a Lead Sheet with Style

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

How to read chords on a lead sheet on the piano. Many pieces of music are presented in lead sheet format i.e. where a melodic line is printed with chord symbols above. What do these symbols mean and how does one play from a lead sheet?...

Hey there! Looking for fun, awesome piano lessons for kids ages 6-10? Check out this video!

A journey through the hit song “Killing me softly” in order to work out what makes it such a success. We look at the design of the melody and how one phrase relates to another. We also examine the rhythmic structure and the colourful...