Mathematically there is an isomorphism between scales. So I find it useful as a starting point just to remember: TTSTTTS, where T means tone and S semitone. The way I remember this is to visualize the piano keyboard starting with the interval between C and D. The chord construction demonstrated in this video I learned as "piling on thirds". If you also add the 7th, you construct the standard 4 note jazz chords. Because the diatonic scale has semitones, you can create different modes. You just move the starting point for the different modes in that particular key scale. The circle of thirds is a good idea. This has a cycle of 7 as does the circle of fifths. The interval between the circle of thirds is two and between the circle of fifths 4. However, if you look a little closely at the circle of fifths, you realize it does not actually exist. If you use it to find keys with sharps, it breaks down when you get to the key of B since the key with 6 sharps is the key F#. It is actually a circle of eighths where you have to think in semitones. I don't know why they don't teach that, since it would be much more logical.
I've identified a lot of fundamental flaws with music theory and infact a few with the Circle of 5ths, the music professor I wrote on RUclips didn't have an answer unfortunately...
@@ksmyth999 whatever helps you connect the dots in your head is the right way for you. I’ve been a guitar teacher for 20 years, I’ve had students make these connections in dozens of ways. No one way is right or wrong, but the way music theory is taught is just a standardized way of doing it. It works for some and not for others. The good thing is that the people learning theory are usually artists so being creative and “solving” it in their own way is a natural trait that many artistic people share.
I've taught this same material individually to thousands of students since 1979 - I like Ricky's approach, particularly the nemonic 'Every Good Band Deserves Fans And Cash' !
Dear Ricky, you deserve a medal for explaining thing so brilliantly that I could go on watching and listening you endless hours. I love your english humour which appreciate very much. Besides that you know how to make people understood you. À bientôt.
I've been playing the bass guitar and learning music theory for years, and this was the most well-explained version I've seen of why chord structures are the way that they are and how this builds into chord progression and cadence in a song.
would be so helpful if someone had told me this at least 20 years earlier. Awesome explained. Suddenly its so easy to understand how it all fits together
I'm home educating and trying to learn music theory to assist in teaching piano. I have to say that this explanation is the best I've found on RUclips for explaining chords and I thank you for it!
Okay this is awesome. For some reason you're instruction by writing on paper increased my understanding. I've been playing the guitar off and on for 15 years and I'm so used to personal instruction and regular books. Since you were writing on paper and explaining at the same time I really focused and paid attention:)
Completely relatable. I spend seemingly too much time over pen and paper, than the keys or fretboard. Music is mathematical and can be visualized as well as heard. Thanks
Chords are a secondary effect of single lines moving at the same time. In the 1200s through to the 17th century music was mostly church music and it was single lines that were sung. There were strict rules about how those lines were allowed to move together and those rules became known as counterpoint. The preoccupation with the identity via the analysis of chords is an after-the-fact phenomenon.
This is such a great explanation and you've taught in 20 minutes patterns I haven't understood for 40+ years!!! Thank you so much for making this and explaining the concepts so clearly and memorably ❤
Wow! Just WOW! How easy and accessible you made music theory! It just said click in my head and I suddenly grasp the math and beauty in the relationships between the notes and chords.
Wow... so those are the 3rds and 5ths everybody talks about... today I'm feeling one of those "enlightenment moments", if you know what I mean. Today is the first day of an exciting rest of my life. Thank you!
On the piano the easiest method to play 12 chords using base note, plus 4, plus 3. With right hand place thumb on a note (C for example to play C chord), then count 4 notes to get second note of chord (E), now count 3 notes to get third note (G). Now you can play 12 chords! Turn chords into minors by simply moving middle finger 1/2 step back, now you have 12 additional chords! You want 12 more chords? Same as base note plus 4, plus 3 just add another plus 3 to get your 7ths! Now you know how to play 36 chords, which gives you tons of songs to have fun with! 😁
This is probably the easiest way to learn theory. The perfect fifth interval is 7 semitones apart and 7 can be most evenly divided into 4+3 or 3+4. When the interval spacing is 4+3, the triad is major. When the interval spacing is 3+4, it is minor. For your 7th chords though, you want to think in terms of spacing from the 7th and 3rd rather than the 7th and 5th. If the spacing between the third and the 7th is a tritone (6 semitones), you get some type of dominant chord. In the case of a tritone being built off of a major 3rd (4+3+3 as you mentioned), you get a dominant 7th. In the case of a tritone being built off a minor 3rd (3+4+2), you get a minor 6th which is an inversion of a half diminished chord (3+3+4). When the interval between the 3rd and the 7th is a perfect fifth (7 semitones), you get a major 7th if it's built off a major 3rd (4+3+4) and a minor 7th if it's built off a minor 3rd (3+4+3). What's interesting is what happens when we shift these intervals further to the point that we are no longer sitting on a major or minor 3rd. For example, if we take the 3rd and 7th of a major 7th and raise it up one more semitone, we end up with a suspended 4 chord (5+2+5). If we take the 3rd and 7th of a minor chord and bring it down one semitone, we end up with a double suspended chord (2+3+2). This is, unfortunately, as far as we can take it since as soon as we move it one more semitone off center, we end up with a tritone and thus get another dominant type chord. If you can quickly identify your intervals, building chords is easy even if you may not know the names of all of them. Just look for the key intervals: tritones (6 semitones) and perfect fourths(5 semitones)/5ths (7 semitones). Chords without tritones are resting chords that your ear is satisfied with while chords with tritones are moving tones that want to resolve towards a resting chord. Keep that in mind and you can do pretty much anything you want.
Hey Ricky what a GREAT explanation. I wish I would have seen this years ago. I played and could read music for clarinet in my school days but have forgot it all. I can follow music as someone plays on a piano, and I have also played guitar for some time but was always confused about Triads, Major and minors. But you explain Triads, Major and minor so well and let us not forget your wobbly Bob the diminished 🤣It's like one easy to digest course that I will not forget. BTW say hello to Huddersfield as I used to live in New Mill, I really miss Last of the Summer Wine country! Again thanks for sharing!
I just learned my first lesson in music theory and my mind is blown at how much I've been missing out on. Immediately after studying your lesson and "methods of madness", I picked up my guitar and mapped out the notes (I play in open tunings and weird tunings) and I understood the notes and how to move between them. THANK YOU FOR THIS LESSON, I definitely subscribed!
I knew most of this already, but it's great to see it all explained comprehensively and concisely. I'd also forgotten that an augmented chord is two major thirds stacked.
Just got my copy of the book and it’s also brilliant! Very clear. Has really helped me to understand music notation and what the keys are on a piano which I previously thought was a ‘black art’ . A life changing moment for me, thanks Ricky
I play piano and this is a fantastic explanation of what makes a chord major vs minor, Primary vs Secondary, how the Roman Numerals are related to the chords and a scales chords. I must have had at least 10 Ah-Hah (epiphany) moments. You did a great job - THANK YOU !!! :)
I can remember figuring out the pattern of notes to an octave that a scale was, all by myself jumping up and down in my room : "that's why its called a diminished chord!! That's how it works!! Oh my god!!!" I'll never forget that epiphany. Thought I was a genius lol
Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. Most importantly thank you for the clarity of your explanations. For someone who finds this a difficult concept you have made it easy to follow and learn. And your presentation manner is enjoyable and perfect. Thanks much!
Great video! One thing to add is that there are two gaps from a root to a third (e.g. C to D and D to E), the size of each gap is determined by the root and second notes (e.g. C and D) and if either of the gaps are a half-step, it is a minor third. Only two notes are followed by a half-step: B and E. So the only situations where we have a minor third are when B or E are in the root or second (in between the root and third) positions; all others are major. The roots for minor thirds are either B or E or one note before them (A or D). The minor cases are four: A-C, B-D, D-F and E-G. All else is major
Awesome...For the first time in god knows how long and in just ten mins of your video I understand something I never could get my head round... I am now a subscriber....Thank you...!!!
Great explanation. I love the way you explain music. Your textbook and your videos really go hand in hand for easier understanding and memorization. Thank you very much❤
This is the best explanation I have ever heard, this is fantastic. Thank you very much for teaching this. When I was taking radiation physics we sat there lost. The professor did what you did, he broke it down into cookies and chips on the cookies and we were like oh we get it now. I taught Nuclear Medicine, I broke it down into cooking recipes and the students got it right away. I got teacher of the year the two years I taught.
Half way through watching video and I’ve just paused it to buy the book. Love how you lay things out in a layman’s terms kind of way. I enjoy noodling on my guitar, but want to get some theory knowledge to help further things. This could just be the key. Thanks Ricky
Of course, I still have one major unrealized goal in my guitar journey… Memorizing the guitar fretboard! It’s crazy when you think about how much music you can make on the guitar without even exactly knowing what note you’re playing. Except maybe for the root note, generally, his guitar players, we think that’s a blessing… But are there any other musicians out there that don’t know all the notes on their instrument? 😢
My father was a professional musician in the 60ies - he tried to explain me for YEARS what you did in a few minutes! He was able to write Arrangements but he should have contacted you to explain me that 35 years ago. RIP Herbert, I miss you and thank you for this Ricky!❤
Great Lesson. This was something that my first guitar instructor taught me in 1977. He also had me waik it through all of the relative minors associated with each key. It changed my life! I have never understood why music theory courses don't start with this as it is a fundamental building block.
Please do yourself a big favor and buy the book 😳. It's the closest you'll ever get to stealing something but not actually stealing. It's a gold mind of very useful lessons. I think it's worth more than the price of admission. Thanks Ricky 🙂🙏🏼
I'm so happy u said this. I've been wanting something better than what I have. And that includes face to face instruction. Thx for that. And thx Ricky. U ha e another book sold
I really liked this lesson. Didn't understand all of it but it felt easier. Could you advise if the books starts from a day 1 position? I.e. I could learn theory from knowing nothing?
i have tried to learn the guitar both independently and through teachers, i decided to try again and just as i was reaching the point of giving up i stumbled upon your channel and you have made the guitar a music theory make so much more sense than anyone i've come across so far. I'm actually retaining the information because of how you discuss and illustrate it, and my practicing has actually been productive rather than frustrating and reductive, so thank you very much
I Started learning piano when I was 6 years old and studied until I turned 19 in college and now one showed me this, However having an ear for music I could always play chords etc and they added so much to my music…. This is so exciting for me because now I am teaching myself guitar till I get to the point I need a teacher in person…
That was amazing . 😮 I don't understand exactly how to apply it yet but you broke it down beautifully. I'll be returning and it will all sink in soon. Beautifully laid out and explained, thanks 👍
Awesome. I am so old half my brain cells have fizzled out but I am following and understanding your lessons incredibly well. Thank you! I wish I had a tutor like you when I was younger and had time to play around with the idea of learning music theory and playing it.
My fiance is teaching me to play music and understand music theory and it's really great to find videos like this to help me study when he's not around. Thank you so much good sir for your video I will be coming back for more!
This is the most understandable help I have ever seen period !!!! You answered a Question I had using my Conklin 7 string fretless this early morning.I wanted to understand how to build cords from notes.Bless Jesus you came perfectly into my day .And I am a new sub too :>) Cheers Mate.
I was totally with you until you started talking about minor and major and 3rd and 5th... 🤯 I realised I'm a little out of my depth!! As a newbie, it is interesting to know how the chords are made up though!
I enjoyed your perspective on this subject. About 5 years ago I (finally) discovered thru a couple different content creators the meaning of chords, scales, progressions (145) etc. And, how I could build my own melodies. It was like the clouds parted and the Angels sang (insert Terry Gilliam illustration here)
It is amazing tutorial … thank you so much for this videos!! Open my mind for this, I’m 47 years old and never couldn’t understand it very!!! Your video was nee word for me!!! Thank you again!!
Although I played the guitar, my interest in watching this theory is to put into muscle memory what you show in this video. I play the keyboard and enjoyed the video.
I've had the book for a while but have only just started working through it. Ricky has allowed me to fall back in love with playing the guitar. I'm like a big kid again. Thanks Ricky, you're rocking awesone
Hello Sir, thanks for this video. Your tutorial was so powerful and I understood it like I never understood a youtube Tutorial. I am convinced I just settled on you as my online teacher. I am a guitarist!
I'm not a musician but it feels like I'm really watching something seriously important topic. Is it a masterpiece video that i randomly found in my feed even as a Non musician guy??
You are truly brilliant my dear brother Ricky Comiskey, Yes truly you are a marvelous marble, I have tried so hard to stand out as a keyboard artist in music but I am a poor person because I have no ideas, no work, no one to help me. Music is life, but I continue life by risking that life. Now I am 53 years old and still living with the same hope but "God" has helped me to afford an instrument now. That's why I try to learn and play the lesson (guitar) you mentioned with all the ideas I have. Also if you show keyboard lessons I will happily enjoy my dear Ricky, this is my sister's son named also my dear. Thank you
A detailed breakdown of musical scales and chords, focusing on the relationships between different notes, chords, and their roles in music theory. Here’s a structured breakdown of the information presented: Scales (Ingredients) Major and Minor Scales: Major Scale (Maj3): Marked with intervals of 1 and 3, showing the whole and half-step patterns. Minor Scale (Min3): Similar to the major scale but with different intervals, emphasizing the third note being a minor third (3 semitones) away from the root (R). Triads Circle of Chords: C Major scale chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim, and C (octave). Primary Triads: Major (I), Minor (ii, iii, vi), and Diminished (vii°) chords. Secondary Triads: Extensions of the primary triads including more variations of major, minor, and diminished chords. Tertian Harmony Root, Third, and Fifth (R, 3, 5): Examples given in C Major: C-E-G, D-F-A, E-G-B, etc. Numbered from 1 to 7 indicating their position in the scale. Chord Types and Intervals Chords with Intervals: Major (Δ), Minor (-), and Diminished (o). Explanation of Symbols: I = Major, i = Minor, Δ = Major, - = Minor, o = Diminished. Cycle of Thirds Visual Representation: A circular diagram showing the cycle of thirds within a scale. Notes connected in thirds: E-G-B-D-F-A-C. Music Notation Treble Clef: Notation of the notes on a staff. Summary of Important Points: The image combines various music theory concepts: Construction and relationships of scales. Formation and function of triads. Tertian harmony and its application in building chords. The cycle of thirds as a method to understand chord progressions. This breakdown serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding how different chords and scales are related and how they function within the context of Western music theory.
Great lesson. Lost me for a second on the major and minor intervals in cycle of thirds. You flew by it quickly. Had to pause and do it in my head counting frets for each interval. C to E is 7-3= 4 (major). E to G is 3-0=3 (minor) and so on. Love your way of breaking things down.
The level of order and method displayed in these uploads is a masterclass in conveying concepts concisely and clearly (sorry about the alliteration) .👍
Thanks Ricky. This seems like a good approach for remembering these concepts. Another technique I've find useful for determining chords in a particular key is visualizing a moveable fretboard pattern. The problem I seem to have though, is applying learned theory and concepts on the fly (like when attempting to jam along with other musicians to an unfamiliar song). It's one thing to simply play a typical major, minor or pentatonic scale over simple chords, but what I can't comprehend is how so many guitarists are able to solo over a more complex song so easily. It seems as if you must possess the memory and mental quickness of a savant in order to tackle all of the various mental gymnastics. For example, determining which chords are played, the song's key, if there are any key changes or non-diatonic chords at play, remembering when those key changes and chord changes occur, what to solo over each chord (which mode, intervals or notes to focus on), etc; and all why playing freely and non analytically. How do you tackle all of these things simultaneously? I feel as if I don't and will never possess the mental quickness to play on the fly. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
8:14 - If you know how a piano keyboard is laid out you'll see there's a visual way to fill in this part of the circle of thirds: When the jump between circled notes includes a pair of white keys without a black key between them the interval is minor. *Beginners: This clip defines many important elements, bookmark it for a reference.*
@@vipuljindal4584 He started at C-E on the circle. When you look at a piano keyboard you will see the keys (white/black) WBWBW - There are black keys between the three white keys. The next position around the circle E-G, When you look at the piano keys you will see the keys are WWBW - Having two white keys together means it's a minor.
I've always only understood chords in terms of frequency where each key, including the black keys, increases the frequency geometrically by roughly 1.05946. i.e. if C =100, then C# = 105.946, D = 100 x 1.05946^2 = 112.25 and C one octave higher is 100 x 1.05946^12 = 200. Accordingly E would be 1.25 and G 1.50 approximately, which is why C+E+G sounds nice. Obviously this academic approach is not going to help anyone put chords together . This circle of thirds on the other hand is a really neat scheme for visualizing how the different types of chords can be put together without having to calculate anything.
When I was in middle school (grades 6 - 8) I took music classes. My music teacher didn't teach us this. I had a few tutors and even took private lessons. NONE of my teachers taught me this. This is so simple to understand. Now in my mid-fifties thinking of all that wasted time when I could have been reading and writing music instead of being relinquished to the rhythm section playing tablature. I look back and all I can think is how stupid my teachers were. How does that happen? How do we end up with the bottom of the barrel when we should have the best at what they do teaching. My father use too say, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Not true, as you have plainly demonstrated, but I'm just sayin', WTF?
Or you can just stop ruminating about your regrets and realize that it’s easier to get over yourself and discover the whole new world of theory at the age of 50. There’s plenty of stuff to learn as you get older, the moment you stop learning, is the moment you stop living. Don’t make it all about regret and “could’ve,” that’s a further waste of your time.
@appist8603 I was trying to make a point about how stupid our teachers are, graduating students without the ability to do basic math or read or even pick where they live out on a map . Shit man, some don't even know what country they live in, or what country the great wall of China is in. ....But yes I am teaching myself theory and doing it right this time. Get over myself? You sound like one of my teachers. In fact, I bet you are one. I was also attempting to convey to new students of the instrument that if you don't learn your theory you WILL be relegated to the rhythm section, if your lucky.
I went to music lessons for 15 years and the same thing happened to me. They wouldn't even let me learn any songs that i like. Now in my thirties I am having the best time ever with music.
This is more advanced than what someone would teach in a school… what is also useful to know is that all of these chords can be played in different order than root, major/minor 3rd, and perfect 5th. Such as G, C and E…. Instead of C, E and G. You must have a deep interest in the “connections “ of music… most kids learning this stuff -which would be taught in a music theory class- Would be completely lost!!!
Wait. Did I REALLY understand this Lesson?! I usually am always confused when trying to comprehend Music Theory Anything. I feel very strange right now. Surely this can't be right? But By George, I think I GOT IT! Thank you!
So this is how to build a chord from a scale but chords are derived from the overtone series of natural vibrations within a singular note. The overtone series in C major is C, C, G C, E, G and so on. Your Major chord is the combination of the 3rd, 4th and 5th tones in the overtone series of a root note as their vibrational patterns are coherent fractions of the root tone. This is also why a C2 and a C9 sound drastically different. Although both add a D to the chord the C2 is dissonant due to it's interference wave length while the C9 is soothing and melodic case of it's wave proportionality and corresponding nodes.
A very interesting perspective! I was searching for a similar explanation that would talk in terms of physics and vibrations. Any other references or videos that I can take a look at? I'd love to explore this in much more depth
This is based on simple physiology, adjacent notes of a "scale", which are really just the notes of a melody listed in order of pitch, tend to sound sour together because they are too close in pitch, so out of C D E F G A B C the C to D together sound harsh as does the D to E, the E to F, the F to G , the G to A , the A to B and the B back to C again, all sound harsh. In most cases every other note of a scale will be further apart in pitch so more mellow sounding together. There is a simple rule that few teachers cite: The closer together any two notes are in pitch the better they connect together in a melody but the worse they connect together in a harmony while the further apart any two notes are in pitch the worse they connect together in a melody but the better they connect together in a harmony, so for harmony one should at the very least skip every other note of the scale, although one can also skip more notes than this for harmony, such as C F A ( C d e F g A b ) or C G D (C d e f G a b c D) and so on.
@@johannalvarsson9299 Wait a minute, that's my point, that far apart intervals tend to be used for harmony but not for melody, (which includes intervals larger than an octave) while close together intervals are more often used for melody but not so much for harmony. The minimum interval separation required for harmony would be satisfied at the very least by every other step in the melodic scale since most melodies consist mostly of semitones and whole tones, which are intervals that are good for melody but make for rough harmony which is only used occasionally. We don't then need to think about specifics, larger intervals in general are better for harmony and worse for melody while smaller intervals are better for melody but worse for harmony. C4 to C#4 is good for melody but not as useful for harmony, but C4 to C#5 is not so good for melody but is better for harmony. This means chords that are spread out across octaves (as orchestras often perform them) tend to be more consonant than chords that are confined inside of octaves (for example C3 E4 and G5 is more consonant than C4, E4, G4 ) while melodies that confine themselves to an octave hold together better than melodies that jump across octaves, the point is the needs of melody for small intervals and of harmony for large ones are the reverse of one another.
I have never heard of the circle of thirds. That was very enlightening! I was already somewhat familiar with chord structure, but the origin of the diatonic chord sequence has been a mystery until now.
This is great, so well-explained. Nit: in your table at the top "C Dm Em F G Am B", should there be some annotation of the B character? It's not a major, it's wobbly Bob.
How is it that in 15 minutes you’ve been able to help me understand something I haven’t for the last 15 years.. thank you for this amazing video!
I hope Ricky goes over the "inversions" too.
Math
Mathematically there is an isomorphism between scales. So I find it useful as a starting point just to remember: TTSTTTS, where T means tone and S semitone. The way I remember this is to visualize the piano keyboard starting with the interval between C and D. The chord construction demonstrated in this video I learned as "piling on thirds". If you also add the 7th, you construct the standard 4 note jazz chords. Because the diatonic scale has semitones, you can create different modes. You just move the starting point for the different modes in that particular key scale. The circle of thirds is a good idea. This has a cycle of 7 as does the circle of fifths. The interval between the circle of thirds is two and between the circle of fifths 4. However, if you look a little closely at the circle of fifths, you realize it does not actually exist. If you use it to find keys with sharps, it breaks down when you get to the key of B since the key with 6 sharps is the key F#. It is actually a circle of eighths where you have to think in semitones. I don't know why they don't teach that, since it would be much more logical.
I've identified a lot of fundamental flaws with music theory and infact a few with the Circle of 5ths, the music professor I wrote on RUclips didn't have an answer unfortunately...
@@ksmyth999 whatever helps you connect the dots in your head is the right way for you. I’ve been a guitar teacher for 20 years, I’ve had students make these connections in dozens of ways. No one way is right or wrong, but the way music theory is taught is just a standardized way of doing it. It works for some and not for others. The good thing is that the people learning theory are usually artists so being creative and “solving” it in their own way is a natural trait that many artistic people share.
Awesome breakdown Ricky! This is super helpful for anyone trying to get their head around harmony including all my sax students. Love it!
Isn't that sheet of paper aesthetically pleasing? A work of art.
I'm going to make one for myself and put it on my wall.
Me too
@@adipsous I might frame it😀
40 years of learning guitar without lessons, this has been the BEST explanation I've ever seen. THANK YOU. Subscribed.
I've taught this same material individually to thousands of students since 1979 - I like Ricky's approach, particularly the nemonic 'Every Good Band Deserves Fans And Cash' !
Dear Ricky, you deserve a medal for explaining thing so brilliantly that I could go on watching and listening you endless hours. I love your english humour which appreciate very much. Besides that you know how to make people understood you. À bientôt.
I've been playing the bass guitar and learning music theory for years, and this was the most well-explained version I've seen of why chord structures are the way that they are and how this builds into chord progression and cadence in a song.
would be so helpful if someone had told me this at least 20 years earlier. Awesome explained. Suddenly its so easy to understand how it all fits together
I'm home educating and trying to learn music theory to assist in teaching piano. I have to say that this explanation is the best I've found on RUclips for explaining chords and I thank you for it!
Okay this is awesome. For some reason you're instruction by writing on paper increased my understanding. I've been playing the guitar off and on for 15 years and I'm so used to personal instruction and regular books. Since you were writing on paper and explaining at the same time I really focused and paid attention:)
One of the best and easiest explanations I have seen. Thank you for sharing.
Completely relatable. I spend seemingly too much time over pen and paper, than the keys or fretboard. Music is mathematical and can be visualized as well as heard. Thanks
Chords are a secondary effect of single lines moving at the same time. In the 1200s through to the 17th century music was mostly church music and it was single lines that were sung. There were strict rules about how those lines were allowed to move together and those rules became known as counterpoint. The preoccupation with the identity via the analysis of chords is an after-the-fact phenomenon.
He has a real mastery in music. So well explained making it so easy. Thanks so much. 🎉
This is such a great explanation and you've taught in 20 minutes patterns I haven't understood for 40+ years!!! Thank you so much for making this and explaining the concepts so clearly and memorably ❤
I can't believe how incredibly clearly you explained that. Thank you so so much.
Wow! Just WOW! How easy and accessible you made music theory! It just said click in my head and I suddenly grasp the math and beauty in the relationships between the notes and chords.
Wow... so those are the 3rds and 5ths everybody talks about... today I'm feeling one of those "enlightenment moments", if you know what I mean. Today is the first day of an exciting rest of my life. Thank you!
On the piano the easiest method to play 12 chords using base note, plus 4, plus 3. With right hand place thumb on a note (C for example to play C chord), then count 4 notes to get second note of chord (E), now count 3 notes to get third note (G). Now you can play 12 chords!
Turn chords into minors by simply moving middle finger 1/2 step back, now you have 12 additional chords!
You want 12 more chords? Same as base note plus 4, plus 3 just add another plus 3 to get your 7ths!
Now you know how to play 36 chords, which gives you tons of songs to have fun with! 😁
This is probably the easiest way to learn theory. The perfect fifth interval is 7 semitones apart and 7 can be most evenly divided into 4+3 or 3+4. When the interval spacing is 4+3, the triad is major. When the interval spacing is 3+4, it is minor. For your 7th chords though, you want to think in terms of spacing from the 7th and 3rd rather than the 7th and 5th.
If the spacing between the third and the 7th is a tritone (6 semitones), you get some type of dominant chord. In the case of a tritone being built off of a major 3rd (4+3+3 as you mentioned), you get a dominant 7th. In the case of a tritone being built off a minor 3rd (3+4+2), you get a minor 6th which is an inversion of a half diminished chord (3+3+4).
When the interval between the 3rd and the 7th is a perfect fifth (7 semitones), you get a major 7th if it's built off a major 3rd (4+3+4) and a minor 7th if it's built off a minor 3rd (3+4+3). What's interesting is what happens when we shift these intervals further to the point that we are no longer sitting on a major or minor 3rd. For example, if we take the 3rd and 7th of a major 7th and raise it up one more semitone, we end up with a suspended 4 chord (5+2+5). If we take the 3rd and 7th of a minor chord and bring it down one semitone, we end up with a double suspended chord (2+3+2). This is, unfortunately, as far as we can take it since as soon as we move it one more semitone off center, we end up with a tritone and thus get another dominant type chord.
If you can quickly identify your intervals, building chords is easy even if you may not know the names of all of them. Just look for the key intervals: tritones (6 semitones) and perfect fourths(5 semitones)/5ths (7 semitones). Chords without tritones are resting chords that your ear is satisfied with while chords with tritones are moving tones that want to resolve towards a resting chord. Keep that in mind and you can do pretty much anything you want.
Who knew it could be the easy to learn with this right teacher.
Great explainer for anyone who wants to learn music theory.
Hey Ricky what a GREAT explanation. I wish I would have seen this years ago. I played and could read music for clarinet in my school days but have forgot it all. I can follow music as someone plays on a piano, and I have also played guitar for some time but was always confused about Triads, Major and minors. But you explain Triads, Major and minor so well and let us not forget your wobbly Bob the diminished 🤣It's like one easy to digest course that I will not forget. BTW say hello to Huddersfield as I used to live in New Mill, I really miss Last of the Summer Wine country!
Again thanks for sharing!
Just write GBDFACE in groups of three letters GBD, FAC, EGB, DFA, CEG, BDF, ACE. Tada!
I just learned my first lesson in music theory and my mind is blown at how much I've been missing out on. Immediately after studying your lesson and "methods of madness", I picked up my guitar and mapped out the notes (I play in open tunings and weird tunings) and I understood the notes and how to move between them. THANK YOU FOR THIS LESSON, I definitely subscribed!
I knew this but somehow it’s much more clear now. Thanks Ricky😊
I knew most of this already, but it's great to see it all explained comprehensively and concisely. I'd also forgotten that an augmented chord is two major thirds stacked.
Just got my copy of the book and it’s also brilliant! Very clear. Has really helped me to understand music notation and what the keys are on a piano which I previously thought was a ‘black art’ . A life changing moment for me, thanks Ricky
I play piano and this is a fantastic explanation of what makes a chord major vs minor, Primary vs Secondary, how the Roman Numerals are related to the chords and a scales chords. I must have had at least 10 Ah-Hah (epiphany) moments. You did a great job - THANK YOU !!! :)
DEAR RICKY, YOU ARE JUST A JOY TO LISTEN TO MY FRIEND... GOD BLESS YOU FOR MAKING LESSONS SO FUN AND SIMPLISTIC... MY HATS OFF TO YOU SIR.
After 10 years of learning chords, today I can proudly say that I understood how it works. Thank you Sir
I can remember figuring out the pattern of notes to an octave that a scale was, all by myself jumping up and down in my room : "that's why its called a diminished chord!! That's how it works!! Oh my god!!!"
I'll never forget that epiphany. Thought I was a genius lol
Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. Most importantly thank you for the clarity of your explanations. For someone who finds this a difficult concept you have made it easy to follow and learn. And your presentation manner is enjoyable and perfect. Thanks much!
Great video! One thing to add is that there are two gaps from a root to a third (e.g. C to D and D to E), the size of each gap is determined by the root and second notes (e.g. C and D) and if either of the gaps are a half-step, it is a minor third. Only two notes are followed by a half-step: B and E. So the only situations where we have a minor third are when B or E are in the root or second (in between the root and third) positions; all others are major. The roots for minor thirds are either B or E or one note before them (A or D). The minor cases are four: A-C, B-D, D-F and E-G. All else is major
The greatest explaination i ever seen. Simple & easy to remember. Thanks so much
Awesome...For the first time in god knows how long and in just ten mins of your video I understand something I never could get my head round... I am now a subscriber....Thank you...!!!
I have seen many people's classes but believe me no one could explain it like you💝. Sir you're really genius ✨
This video is a chefs kiss. Thank you for saving me months
The best and most understandable explanation that I have seen so far on Utube. Thank you Rick.
Best accent of any music teacher ever.
I 've had that explained to me at least three times, but your explanation is by far the best, (even if it is in english!) merci
Great explanation. I love the way you explain music. Your textbook and your videos really go hand in hand for easier understanding and memorization. Thank you very much❤
This is the best explanation I have ever heard, this is fantastic. Thank you very much for teaching this. When I was taking radiation physics we sat there lost. The professor did what you did, he broke it down into cookies and chips on the cookies and we were like oh we get it now. I taught Nuclear Medicine, I broke it down into cooking recipes and the students got it right away. I got teacher of the year the two years I taught.
Half way through watching video and I’ve just paused it to buy the book. Love how you lay things out in a layman’s terms kind of way. I enjoy noodling on my guitar, but want to get some theory knowledge to help further things. This could just be the key. Thanks Ricky
Of course, I still have one major unrealized goal in my guitar journey… Memorizing the guitar fretboard!
It’s crazy when you think about how much music you can make on the guitar without even exactly knowing what note you’re playing. Except maybe for the root note, generally, his guitar players, we think that’s a blessing… But are there any other musicians out there that don’t know all the notes on their instrument? 😢
Thanks for buying my book Jezza, I appreciate your support. Ricky
Absolutely brilliant!!! A very engaging video tutorial. Will make a compelling watch for each budding guitarist!
My father was a professional musician in the 60ies - he tried to explain me for YEARS what you did in a few minutes! He was able to write Arrangements but he should have contacted you to explain me that 35 years ago. RIP Herbert, I miss you and thank you for this Ricky!❤
Great Lesson. This was something that my first guitar instructor taught me in 1977. He also had me waik it through all of the relative minors associated with each key. It changed my life! I have never understood why music theory courses don't start with this as it is a fundamental building block.
This is the best basic explanation I have seen in many years!
Please do yourself a big favor and buy the book 😳. It's the closest you'll ever get to stealing something but not actually stealing. It's a gold mind of very useful lessons. I think it's worth more than the price of admission. Thanks Ricky 🙂🙏🏼
I'm so happy u said this. I've been wanting something better than what I have. And that includes face to face instruction.
Thx for that. And thx Ricky. U ha e another book sold
I really liked this lesson. Didn't understand all of it but it felt easier. Could you advise if the books starts from a day 1 position? I.e. I could learn theory from knowing nothing?
What book ?
I really appreciate your support, your comments mean a lot. Thank you! Ricky
Thank YOU, super appreciate you buying my book. Ricky
This is the first well explained video I ever found! well done! and thanks for the great lesson!
no buddy, has explained so clear as you done, you are the man :D
i have tried to learn the guitar both independently and through teachers, i decided to try again and just as i was reaching the point of giving up i stumbled upon your channel and you have made the guitar a music theory make so much more sense than anyone i've come across so far. I'm actually retaining the information because of how you discuss and illustrate it, and my practicing has actually been productive rather than frustrating and reductive, so thank you very much
This was a great explanation of chord building, Nashville Number System and a lot more. Great Job!
This video clarified so many things for me. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Fantastic video. Thank you for explaining every step patiently and clearly! I’m an absolute beginner and this is exactly what I was looking for.
I Started learning piano when I was 6 years old and studied until I turned 19 in college and now one showed me this, However having an ear for music I could always play chords etc and they added so much to my music…. This is so exciting for me because now I am teaching myself guitar till I get to the point I need a teacher in person…
I finished a music school and loved your explanation ❤
That was amazing . 😮 I don't understand exactly how to apply it yet but you broke it down beautifully. I'll be returning and it will all sink in soon. Beautifully laid out and explained, thanks 👍
Albeit genius subject , you’re teaching in a simple comprehensive manner thank you NBG
That's a Proper lesson.
Awesome. I am so old half my brain cells have fizzled out but I am following and understanding your lessons incredibly well. Thank you! I wish I had a tutor like you when I was younger and had time to play around with the idea of learning music theory and playing it.
My fiance is teaching me to play music and understand music theory and it's really great to find videos like this to help me study when he's not around. Thank you so much good sir for your video I will be coming back for more!
You are a credit to understanding scales. I will study this seriously. Thank you so very much.
This is the most understandable help I have ever seen period !!!! You answered a Question I had using my Conklin 7 string fretless this early morning.I wanted to understand how to build cords from notes.Bless Jesus you came perfectly into my day .And I am a new sub too :>) Cheers Mate.
I was totally with you until you started talking about minor and major and 3rd and 5th... 🤯 I realised I'm a little out of my depth!!
As a newbie, it is interesting to know how the chords are made up though!
You are awesome Sir! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you so much for this part of wisdom of music! 🎉🎉🎉❤❤
I enjoyed your perspective on this subject. About 5 years ago I (finally) discovered thru a couple different content creators the meaning of chords, scales, progressions (145) etc. And, how I could build my own melodies. It was like the clouds parted and the Angels sang (insert Terry Gilliam illustration here)
They ate Robin's minstrels...and there was much rejoicing. Yaaay...
Good thing what you did & your method is the simplest & the easiest among all Ive seen. Awesome!
It is amazing tutorial … thank you so much for this videos!! Open my mind for this, I’m 47 years old and never couldn’t understand it very!!! Your video was nee word for me!!! Thank you again!!
Although I played the guitar, my interest in watching this theory is to put into muscle memory what you show in this video. I play the keyboard and enjoyed the video.
A good explanation makes it easy to understand the formation of scales and scales chords. Good
I've had the book for a while but have only just started working through it. Ricky has allowed me to fall back in love with playing the guitar. I'm like a big kid again. Thanks Ricky, you're rocking awesone
Hello Sir, thanks for this video. Your tutorial was so powerful and I understood it like I never understood a youtube Tutorial. I am convinced I just settled on you as my online teacher. I am a guitarist!
What a good looking worksheet, you jaunty script is beautiful.
Oh, and the lesson was awesome.
I'm not a musician but it feels like I'm really watching something seriously important topic.
Is it a masterpiece video that i randomly found in my feed even as a Non musician guy??
I am a musician! And I needed this I've never seen it explained bc I play by ear!! Lol yeah it's important for musicians!!
You are truly brilliant my dear brother Ricky Comiskey, Yes truly you are a marvelous marble, I have tried so hard to stand out as a keyboard artist in music but I am a poor person because I have no ideas, no work, no one to help me. Music is life, but I continue life by risking that life. Now I am 53 years old and still living with the same hope but "God" has helped me to afford an instrument now. That's why I try to learn and play the lesson (guitar) you mentioned with all the ideas I have. Also if you show keyboard lessons I will happily enjoy my dear Ricky, this is my sister's son named also my dear. Thank you
A detailed breakdown of musical scales and chords, focusing on the relationships between different notes, chords, and their roles in music theory. Here’s a structured breakdown of the information presented:
Scales (Ingredients)
Major and Minor Scales:
Major Scale (Maj3): Marked with intervals of 1 and 3, showing the whole and half-step patterns.
Minor Scale (Min3): Similar to the major scale but with different intervals, emphasizing the third note being a minor third (3 semitones) away from the root (R).
Triads
Circle of Chords:
C Major scale chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim, and C (octave).
Primary Triads:
Major (I), Minor (ii, iii, vi), and Diminished (vii°) chords.
Secondary Triads:
Extensions of the primary triads including more variations of major, minor, and diminished chords.
Tertian Harmony
Root, Third, and Fifth (R, 3, 5):
Examples given in C Major: C-E-G, D-F-A, E-G-B, etc.
Numbered from 1 to 7 indicating their position in the scale.
Chord Types and Intervals
Chords with Intervals:
Major (Δ), Minor (-), and Diminished (o).
Explanation of Symbols:
I = Major, i = Minor, Δ = Major, - = Minor, o = Diminished.
Cycle of Thirds
Visual Representation:
A circular diagram showing the cycle of thirds within a scale.
Notes connected in thirds: E-G-B-D-F-A-C.
Music Notation
Treble Clef:
Notation of the notes on a staff.
Summary of Important Points:
The image combines various music theory concepts:
Construction and relationships of scales.
Formation and function of triads.
Tertian harmony and its application in building chords.
The cycle of thirds as a method to understand chord progressions.
This breakdown serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding how different chords and scales are related and how they function within the context of Western music theory.
Off the charts. Learn more with this video then all the nonsense in school.
Great lesson. Lost me for a second on the major and minor intervals in cycle of thirds. You flew by it quickly. Had to pause and do it in my head counting frets for each interval. C to E is 7-3= 4 (major). E to G is 3-0=3 (minor) and so on. Love your way of breaking things down.
The mnemonic Every Good Band Deserves Fans And Cash is excellent. Helps with sight reading.
The level of order and method displayed in these uploads is a masterclass in conveying concepts concisely and clearly (sorry about the alliteration) .👍
Absolutely brilliant, thank you! 🎶
For the first time in my life I finally understand what makes a chord diminished or augmented. Why has no one ever explained it this way before?
because the triads (gangsters) are in control?
I am one, take that bass out of your tone, scale down your language.@@schrodingerbracat2927
Thanks Ricky. This seems like a good approach for remembering these concepts. Another technique I've find useful for determining chords in a particular key is visualizing a moveable fretboard pattern. The problem I seem to have though, is applying learned theory and concepts on the fly (like when attempting to jam along with other musicians to an unfamiliar song).
It's one thing to simply play a typical major, minor or pentatonic scale over simple chords, but what I can't comprehend is how so many guitarists are able to solo over a more complex song so easily. It seems as if you must possess the memory and mental quickness of a savant in order to tackle all of the various mental gymnastics. For example, determining which chords are played, the song's key, if there are any key changes or non-diatonic chords at play, remembering when those key changes and chord changes occur, what to solo over each chord (which mode, intervals or notes to focus on), etc; and all why playing freely and non analytically.
How do you tackle all of these things simultaneously? I feel as if I don't and will never possess the mental quickness to play on the fly. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
8:14 - If you know how a piano keyboard is laid out you'll see there's a visual way to fill in this part of the circle of thirds: When the jump between circled notes includes a pair of white keys without a black key between them the interval is minor.
*Beginners: This clip defines many important elements, bookmark it for a reference.*
Can you please explain this once more
@@vipuljindal4584 He started at C-E on the circle. When you look at a piano keyboard you will see the keys (white/black) WBWBW - There are black keys between the three white keys. The next position around the circle E-G, When you look at the piano keys you will see the keys are WWBW - Having two white keys together means it's a minor.
@@cowboybob7093 oh got it. Amazing explanation. Thanks sir 🙂
I've always only understood chords in terms of frequency where each key, including the black keys, increases the frequency geometrically by roughly 1.05946. i.e. if C =100, then C# = 105.946, D = 100 x 1.05946^2 = 112.25 and C one octave higher is 100 x 1.05946^12 = 200.
Accordingly E would be 1.25 and G 1.50 approximately, which is why C+E+G sounds nice. Obviously this academic approach is not going to help anyone put chords together . This circle of thirds on the other hand is a really neat scheme for visualizing how the different types of chords can be put together without having to calculate anything.
A most excellent lesson!! I am teaching my grandson and this is going to help enormously. Thank you!!
I’ve alway been taught that
E - F & B- C is 1/2 step distance. The rest are 1 step distance. Thx good lesson. 😊 subbed
When I was in middle school (grades 6 - 8) I took music classes. My music teacher didn't teach us this. I had a few tutors and even took private lessons. NONE of my teachers taught me this. This is so simple to understand. Now in my mid-fifties thinking of all that wasted time when I could have been reading and writing music instead of being relinquished to the rhythm section playing tablature. I look back and all I can think is how stupid my teachers were. How does that happen? How do we end up with the bottom of the barrel when we should have the best at what they do teaching. My father use too say, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Not true, as you have plainly demonstrated, but I'm just sayin', WTF?
There is of course a corollary between financial remuneration and the quality of the one employed
Or you can just stop ruminating about your regrets and realize that it’s easier to get over yourself and discover the whole new world of theory at the age of 50. There’s plenty of stuff to learn as you get older, the moment you stop learning, is the moment you stop living. Don’t make it all about regret and “could’ve,” that’s a further waste of your time.
@appist8603 I was trying to make a point about how stupid our teachers are, graduating students without the ability to do basic math or read or even pick where they live out on a map . Shit man, some don't even know what country they live in, or what country the great wall of China is in. ....But yes I am teaching myself theory and doing it right this time. Get over myself? You sound like one of my teachers. In fact, I bet you are one. I was also attempting to convey to new students of the instrument that if you don't learn your theory you WILL be relegated to the rhythm section, if your lucky.
I went to music lessons for 15 years and the same thing happened to me. They wouldn't even let me learn any songs that i like. Now in my thirties I am having the best time ever with music.
This is more advanced than what someone would teach in a school… what is also useful to know is that all of these chords can be played in different order than root, major/minor 3rd, and perfect 5th. Such as G, C and E…. Instead of C, E and G. You must have a deep interest in the “connections “ of music… most kids learning this stuff -which would be taught in a music theory class-
Would be completely lost!!!
Wait. Did I REALLY understand this Lesson?! I usually am always confused when trying to comprehend Music Theory Anything. I feel very strange right now. Surely this can't be right? But By George, I think I GOT IT! Thank you!
So this is how to build a chord from a scale but chords are derived from the overtone series of natural vibrations within a singular note. The overtone series in C major is C, C, G C, E, G and so on. Your Major chord is the combination of the 3rd, 4th and 5th tones in the overtone series of a root note as their vibrational patterns are coherent fractions of the root tone. This is also why a C2 and a C9 sound drastically different. Although both add a D to the chord the C2 is dissonant due to it's interference wave length while the C9 is soothing and melodic case of it's wave proportionality and corresponding nodes.
A very interesting perspective! I was searching for a similar explanation that would talk in terms of physics and vibrations.
Any other references or videos that I can take a look at? I'd love to explore this in much more depth
This is based on simple physiology, adjacent notes of a "scale", which are really just the notes of a melody listed in order of pitch, tend to sound sour together because they are too close in pitch, so out of C D E F G A B C the C to D together sound harsh as does the D to E, the E to F, the F to G , the G to A , the A to B and the B back to C again, all sound harsh. In most cases every other note of a scale will be further apart in pitch so more mellow sounding together.
There is a simple rule that few teachers cite:
The closer together any two notes are in pitch the better they connect together in a melody but the worse they connect together in a harmony while the further apart any two notes are in pitch the worse they connect together in a melody but the better they connect together in a harmony, so for harmony one should at the very least skip every other note of the scale, although one can also skip more notes than this for harmony, such as C F A ( C d e F g A b ) or C G D (C d e f G a b c D) and so on.
Wow, thank you.
Amazing, thank you for your insights.
7th is not more consonant than 6th... too few people teach intervalls as the basic blocks of harmony.
@@johannalvarsson9299 Wait a minute, that's my point, that far apart intervals tend to be used for harmony but not for melody, (which includes intervals larger than an octave) while close together intervals are more often used for melody but not so much for harmony. The minimum interval separation required for harmony would be satisfied at the very least by every other step in the melodic scale since most melodies consist mostly of semitones and whole tones, which are intervals that are good for melody but make for rough harmony which is only used occasionally.
We don't then need to think about specifics, larger intervals in general are better for harmony and worse for melody while smaller intervals are better for melody but worse for harmony. C4 to C#4 is good for melody but not as useful for harmony, but C4 to C#5 is not so good for melody but is better for harmony.
This means chords that are spread out across octaves (as orchestras often perform them) tend to be more consonant than chords that are confined inside of octaves (for example C3 E4 and G5 is more consonant than C4, E4, G4 ) while melodies that confine themselves to an octave hold together better than melodies that jump across octaves, the point is the needs of melody for small intervals and of harmony for large ones are the reverse of one another.
well that was easy. trying to learn to play piano and this was an incredible and thorough lesson that was easy to follow. Great job and thank you!
7th chord = diminished😃 Fantastic video and explanation. Thanks
Great video! no words to say thank you, you were born to teach! gracias Maestro!
I have never heard of the circle of thirds. That was very enlightening! I was already somewhat familiar with chord structure, but the origin of the diatonic chord sequence has been a mystery until now.
Always looking for new ways to teach chord theory to my piano students ( who I teach to play the piano like a guitar!) This is great, thank you!
Rick you are a genious teacher! Thank you for sharing these lessons. ❤
This is great, so well-explained. Nit: in your table at the top "C Dm Em F G Am B", should there be some annotation of the B character? It's not a major, it's wobbly Bob.
Likely the most succinct way I’ve seen this explained.