heeeey budy do us a favour, do a vid on phrygian minor as the scale of diva girlie dominance themed charters. it's empowering to approach that scale as part of u.s. media machine than snake charmer music.
I've been playing piano for 50 years, and you just blew my mind a little. I've used that Ab/Bb/C progression many times and just thought of it as "planing" three major chords. It never occurred to me that the Ab and Bb are chords of Cm so I'm effectively using a parallel harmonic change. Very cool!
Can always count on you to get my day started with a grin and a lesson. The tools available to aspiring and accomplished musicians continue to amaze me, and your presentation of these tools & concepts is much appreciated. Music, in all its forms, brings joy to so many and your dedication to helping people grow is appreciated. It is great to see artists like you, people who have invested significant time and energy to develop their craft, embracing new technology and techniques as they help others. The world moves on, we can decide to join it or be left behind. Thanks for jumping on board.
Just use any and every note you have available, to fit the mood of the moment. If you have a way to access some of the tones between the notes, even better. Using 2 parallel keys is a great start for this, but you don't have to stop at parallel keys. You can barrow from any key that feels right, at that moment. A key is just the place that feels like home, but anywhere I lay my head, you know?
The progression I associate with "modern superhero movies", the I, bVI, IV (bVI borrowed from the parallel minor) is a good example with the chromatic walk up from the 5th to the major 6th scale degree and a bit of contrary motion thrown in for extra movie goodness. It's almost the opposite of the IV, iv, I.
The borrowed iv is also just good voice leading: F A C -> F Ab C -> E G C, every time moving one semi tone, and making the IV - I smoother by only having to do Ab -> G instead of A -> G. Another good example, although it's maybe more just from harmonic minor, is the V - i instead of v - i in minor, also good voice leading :)
The follow up to this could be about Modal Mixture - essentially using the same technique as parallel major/minor borrowing, but borrowing from any/all parallel modes. Also, the minor v to Major I, without any other context, sounds to my ears like a Dorian i to IV. I love how that epic chord shift is in both the Dorian and Mixolydian modes, as inversions of each other. Just found your channel - great stuff!
thank you so much. for a beginner like me this sort of lessons are gold thanks for all the efforts you put in for providing us :) hope i could play piano like you :)
After watching your video, I realized I have been doing this all along. I play by ear mostly not music theory. I’m partially deaf on one year but, my modo is if it sounds good use it. -cheers!
fun little thing I find myself doing often is interchanging major and minor V chords, and using a minor i as a transition to a closing major I. idk why but I love doing it
Waiting at the drive-thru at McDonalds I'll take a #5 with some fries Can I have some apple pies? You're out of apple pies, oh no, f*ck you guys! Priceless :D
Dude this is the best youtube content i have ever seen, amazing voice over, great examples, the piano overlay, everything feels just spot on to me, thanks for the amazing work
crazy that you feel this stuff without knowing any theory . but as you said it sounds so epic you're inevitably doing this without even knowing it !! niiiiice video duuuuuuuude!
@4:32 -ish I'm not sure if you intentionally slipped in the McDonald's diddy (badup bup bup ba!) in there or if that was accidental.. but either way, brilliant. Also, your synthwave impression was amazing and really made me laugh. lol
I've always been fascinated by the relationship between chords and how they evoke very emotional reactions. One example is from the movie "Mirrormask," specifically the scene where Iain Ballamy does an incredible version of the song "Close To You." Just mind-blowing. More videos por favor!
Wow, I never knew this lol. Been trying to get as much music theory as possible recently just to spice up my chords and melodies. This video just opened up an endless amount of musical possibilities for me, absolutely love this vid. And that McDonald's song was pure fire. I would like to see a vid about "romantic" scales or chord progressions etc. since there aren't many (if anything) videos about it out there. Found plenty of major, minor and even "cute anime" progressions etc., but barely anything on "romantic". P.S: I remember back when this channel had 1k subs, and now it's on 108k subs and he totally deserves that and even more because he makes some of the best tutorials on youtube that I've ever seen. I'm glad to see how much this channel has grown over the years
Parallel keys are awesome. I like to think of them in terms of what notes they have in common with each other. You can play those notes and be in both keys, and treat the notes they don't have in common as variables. It's super easy when they are close together, but at 180 degrees on the circle of 5ths it is a bit more difficult. I would like to see someone, as I am trying to do, develop some sort of handy dandy chart like the circle of fifths that maps out which ones have however many notes in common like something that would make memorizing them easier, maybe even an addition to the circle of 5ths. Also, imagine... in addition to the fact that our Western tonal system limits us somewhat from using other systems, there are also scales within the 12-tone system that were not accounted for as much in the naming conventions of the scales and chords. I found out this is largely due to the physical properties of sound, but nonetheless it makes the more esoteric scales and keys more difficult to approach and talk about. I'm extremely interested in learning more about weird keys and scales. Also btw diatonic means 7-tone so 7-note scales. I'm guessing you're waiting to get into some of that stuff, because there's just so much, but there it is anyway.
I think a friend of mine Thomas MacMillan might have done that or something very similar. He's a classical guitar player/composer/music theory wizard. You could look him up and ask him. He's always down for geeky music chat.
That Gminor (5th) to Cmajor (1st) at 6:14 is actually a 'false' dorian mode (considering the 'real' dorian mode to be with the Gminor as 1st and Cmajor as the dorian mode 4th in major in stead of being minor.) Anyway... you get it... Nice video once again!
Nice, wonderful tips. From what I can tell, the key to Depech Mode's sound is this "borrowing" of major into minor and vice versa. Sometimes Gahan will sing a major melody line over a minor version of the chord. I think this is the key to how Depech's music sounds both dark and pop-melodic at the same time?
Play flight of the bumble bee and note that any note works on the keyboard because it's the ones you emphasis and land on that are the important ones to our ears. Use any notes or combos and sound like Herbie Hancock just slide past fast
Great stuff! That Drive Thru vignette wouldn't have been out of place in a Flight of the Conchords episode! :-). For spicy chord change examples in rock music, definitely worth checking out Cardiacs. One of their "chord tricks" I've used loads is bIII, V I, so G to B to E if you're in the key of E - it's really quite "majestic" for want of a better term. Lots of borrowed chords going on in Cardiacs music and a whole lot more besides! If you don't know 'em and want to listen to one track - Dirty Boy is the one. Those chords blow my mind every time.
Yesss mooorrreeee 😵💫😵💫😵💫 I can’t really play any particular instruments in the motor skills sense, but I LOVE theory and seeing how I can use it to build something, even if it’s much slower than if I could just bust something out. Also I’m a nerd, so.
4:16 Tryin' to find my way On the keyboard. My fingers trying hard To make some moves. Can I Have some mastery? It's so hard to see... Oh no... It's a Cameron surprise Saving my demise. "****" you guys...
Oh man...that was hilarious you sang about McDonald's. Very good example. I am not good with theory but learnt by ear. Your explanation made lot of sense when you started playing the notes. Thank you!
Just my second time catching your videos and I must say DUDE, what a great Voiceover Voice and from one with a self proclaimed Doctorate in Wise Assology yep you got it Dr. WIse Ass, your humor made me laugh.....I'm looking forward to perusing more of your content.
Is the book shown in your intro one of your favorites you mentioned? if not, which are ones you recommend for learning theory in a practical application setting
Lol, funny stuff. And it's all perspective - a simple example is the Gm to Cmaj example. It could simply be a I - IV progression in G Dorian, that's how it hear it. The C chord does not sound like it's functioning as the tonic here. " Oye Coma Va" my friend?
Oh My Gosh - did not realize that was the progress in that tune. Haven't heard it in years and you just inspired me to go listen to it and learn to play it! Thanks!
I am gonna have that "Can I have some apple pies?" song stuck in my head every time I see a McDonald's sign now. Thanks, I guess? It at least demonstrates the concept but now it's stuck in my head
My first visit. Nice! Would you consider adding labels with the name of the underlying chords [like a jazz lead sheet] while you're playing? It's fine to see the ivories being engaged visually, but a little too fast for my slow uptake.
sponsor wise Hook theory is actually pretty dope. Also I remember Mike Shinoda (From Linkin Park) talked about this is one of his livestreams back in 2020 and he said it was vital for linkin parks early sound.
![Demonstrating 7 Ways that Composers Make Music Using Modes [SONGWRITING / THEORY]](/img/1.gif)
More theory videos? 🤔
🎼 Hooktheory! ► hooktheory.com/affiliate/209.html
Yes, please!
heeeey budy do us a favour, do a vid on phrygian minor as the scale of diva girlie dominance themed charters.
it's empowering to approach that scale as part of u.s. media machine than snake charmer music.
DEAR LORD PLEASEEE!!!!!
Dose not look that FREE to me🤷♂️
funny thing about hooktheory, i found them before i found your channel. i don't think i'll ever buy the software but its free resources are enough
I really felt that McDonald Apple Pie lyric. Great content as always and ideas to create. Thanks Cameron.
Speaking of which. Here's the McDonald's info you'll never see anywhere: ruclips.net/video/3XrY2TP0ZyU/видео.html
I don't even eat apple pie but I felt his pain. Lol
It made me Snort Laugh, which is an 8 out of 10 on the Laugh Scale.
When he put it in synth wave terms I jizzed in my pants
I've been playing piano for 50 years, and you just blew my mind a little. I've used that Ab/Bb/C progression many times and just thought of it as "planing" three major chords. It never occurred to me that the Ab and Bb are chords of Cm so I'm effectively using a parallel harmonic change. Very cool!
"In synthwave terms" bro you are my favourite youtuber for a reason
Can always count on you to get my day started with a grin and a lesson. The tools available to aspiring and accomplished musicians continue to amaze me, and your presentation of these tools & concepts is much appreciated. Music, in all its forms, brings joy to so many and your dedication to helping people grow is appreciated. It is great to see artists like you, people who have invested significant time and energy to develop their craft, embracing new technology and techniques as they help others. The world moves on, we can decide to join it or be left behind. Thanks for jumping on board.
Just use any and every note you have available, to fit the mood of the moment. If you have a way to access some of the tones between the notes, even better.
Using 2 parallel keys is a great start for this, but you don't have to stop at parallel keys. You can barrow from any key that feels right, at that moment. A key is just the place that feels like home, but anywhere I lay my head, you know?
amazing, i love this kind of content a lot. i think the majority of us lack music theory skills.
thank you
This is one of the most under-rated youtube channels out there. Great content.
4:11 you are the funniest music teacher on youtube man! love it :)
Your piano skills are getting super good, Cam. Inspiring stuff!
The progression I associate with "modern superhero movies", the I, bVI, IV (bVI borrowed from the parallel minor) is a good example with the chromatic walk up from the 5th to the major 6th scale degree and a bit of contrary motion thrown in for extra movie goodness. It's almost the opposite of the IV, iv, I.
You sir are amazing , I watch a lot of tutorial videos on a ton of subjects and you are now my favorite man! Thank you for this video !
And I thought my voice was low. - "You're out of apple pies oh no F*ck you guys~* I can hear the harmonies already. Truly beautiful.
The borrowed iv is also just good voice leading: F A C -> F Ab C -> E G C, every time moving one semi tone, and making the IV - I smoother by only having to do Ab -> G instead of A -> G.
Another good example, although it's maybe more just from harmonic minor, is the V - i instead of v - i in minor, also good voice leading :)
Yes right inversions and minimal finger movement sounds awesome 👍🏼
you always make me realize how much still i have to learn and how big is the world of the music. thankss
The follow up to this could be about Modal Mixture - essentially using the same technique as parallel major/minor borrowing, but borrowing from any/all parallel modes.
Also, the minor v to Major I, without any other context, sounds to my ears like a Dorian i to IV. I love how that epic chord shift is in both the Dorian and Mixolydian modes, as inversions of each other. Just found your channel - great stuff!
best teacher period!! thanks so much, percussionist learning everything i can about keys/chords/mode...you are the clearest.
Loving the music theory content a lot! Thanks heals for the great work! 🖤
Awesome tutorial! Always learning.
Always love your presentation of material. Your personal delivery/spin makes the videos much better.
Thank you!
thank you so much. for a beginner like me this sort of lessons are gold thanks for all the efforts you put in for providing us :) hope i could play piano like you :)
This is still my fav video to come back to for inspiration.
After watching your video, I realized I have been doing this all along. I play by ear mostly not music theory. I’m partially deaf on one year but, my modo is if it sounds good use it. -cheers!
6min 16sec to 6min 22sec is just really insane stuff! Thanks for explaining these kinds of examples. Powerful.
The McDonalds song, but in Cartman's voice...LOL
I had to turn off my Subwoofer after you started talking! The "Human 808 Voice"
Cameron's voice is like a warm bath for the ears.
Love the melody at 7:12. Sounds like Ramin Djawadi (I am currently binge watching Westworld).
4:12 😂😂😂😂😂 Gotta get some apple pies
great trick--very useful and succinctly explained, and a big congrats on 100k subscribers!
Nice one Venus! Really inspiring for someone who doesn't know much music theory. Thank you 😊
I'm very partial to using major V on minor key progressions. Especially Im7 -> V7. It sounds spicy and it's great to improvise to.
My favorite piano teacher. And Hook theory changed my world when it first came out ❤. Good stuff
You did a great job breaking this down to simple terms, nice work! Would gladly welcome more of these types of tidbits.
fun little thing I find myself doing often is interchanging major and minor V chords, and using a minor i as a transition to a closing major I. idk why but I love doing it
"Are we in a major or a minor key?"
"Yes".
Nice one, really appreciate your take on theory. Would be happy to see more
1st time I’ve found 1 of your vids. GREAT! I liked and subscribed.
Waiting at the drive-thru at McDonalds
I'll take a #5 with some fries
Can I have some apple pies?
You're out of apple pies, oh no, f*ck you guys!
Priceless :D
I wasn't ready for it to end
Dude this is the best youtube content i have ever seen, amazing voice over, great examples, the piano overlay, everything feels just spot on to me, thanks for the amazing work
It's not his voice he pays someone to do voice overs because his voice is too low for humans to hear it... That's what he said in a video once
Awesome tips man, thanks for sharing. 🤘
Awesome stuff man! I'll be trying this soon!
Love the theory videos! More please
crazy that you feel this stuff without knowing any theory . but as you said it sounds so epic you're inevitably doing this without even knowing it !! niiiiice video duuuuuuuude!
@4:32 -ish I'm not sure if you intentionally slipped in the McDonald's diddy (badup bup bup ba!) in there or if that was accidental.. but either way, brilliant. Also, your synthwave impression was amazing and really made me laugh. lol
Don’t know if you know this, but your speaking voice is world class broadcast stuff
I've always been fascinated by the relationship between chords and how they evoke very emotional reactions. One example is from the movie "Mirrormask," specifically the scene where Iain Ballamy does an incredible version of the song "Close To You." Just mind-blowing. More videos por favor!
You make it Look so easy... I've been overcomplicating chord choice for years and still am
Cheers Cameron! I'm going to play with this - see how it works with both melodic and harmonic minors.
Wow, I never knew this lol. Been trying to get as much music theory as possible recently just to spice up my chords and melodies. This video just opened up an endless amount of musical possibilities for me, absolutely love this vid. And that McDonald's song was pure fire. I would like to see a vid about "romantic" scales or chord progressions etc. since there aren't many (if anything) videos about it out there. Found plenty of major, minor and even "cute anime" progressions etc., but barely anything on "romantic".
P.S: I remember back when this channel had 1k subs, and now it's on 108k subs and he totally deserves that and even more because he makes some of the best tutorials on youtube that I've ever seen. I'm glad to see how much this channel has grown over the years
Look up rnb chords
Thanks for sharing. Inspiring!)
bravo man! quality content right here
A good example of this in pop music is "Never Can Say Goodbye" written by Clifton Davis and recorded by Michael Jackson and Gloria Gaynor, and others.
Just what I needed! I hope you'll do modulation lesson videos like this!
I need to watch that video couple of times and make notes 😂 Thank you for this video, God bless! 😊🙏🏻❤
Parallel keys are awesome. I like to think of them in terms of what notes they have in common with each other. You can play those notes and be in both keys, and treat the notes they don't have in common as variables. It's super easy when they are close together, but at 180 degrees on the circle of 5ths it is a bit more difficult. I would like to see someone, as I am trying to do, develop some sort of handy dandy chart like the circle of fifths that maps out which ones have however many notes in common like something that would make memorizing them easier, maybe even an addition to the circle of 5ths. Also, imagine... in addition to the fact that our Western tonal system limits us somewhat from using other systems, there are also scales within the 12-tone system that were not accounted for as much in the naming conventions of the scales and chords. I found out this is largely due to the physical properties of sound, but nonetheless it makes the more esoteric scales and keys more difficult to approach and talk about. I'm extremely interested in learning more about weird keys and scales.
Also btw diatonic means 7-tone so 7-note scales. I'm guessing you're waiting to get into some of that stuff, because there's just so much, but there it is anyway.
I think a friend of mine Thomas MacMillan might have done that or something very similar. He's a classical guitar player/composer/music theory wizard. You could look him up and ask him. He's always down for geeky music chat.
That Gminor (5th) to Cmajor (1st) at 6:14 is actually a 'false' dorian mode (considering the 'real' dorian mode to be with the Gminor as 1st and Cmajor as the dorian mode 4th in major in stead of being minor.)
Anyway... you get it...
Nice video once again!
Loved this! Thank you 😁 (short & to the point as well)
Big fan of the drive-thru song
Nice, wonderful tips. From what I can tell, the key to Depech Mode's sound is this "borrowing" of major into minor and vice versa. Sometimes Gahan will sing a major melody line over a minor version of the chord. I think this is the key to how Depech's music sounds both dark and pop-melodic at the same time?
Landing on the major I from minor is very satisfying. Like opening up a stuck jar of pickles.
Play flight of the bumble bee and note that any note works on the keyboard because it's the ones you emphasis and land on that are the important ones to our ears. Use any notes or combos and sound like Herbie Hancock just slide past fast
Awesome! Nice move throwing up some theory👍🏼 thanks I really enjoyed it & suits you well too
Great stuff! That Drive Thru vignette wouldn't have been out of place in a Flight of the Conchords episode! :-). For spicy chord change examples in rock music, definitely worth checking out Cardiacs. One of their "chord tricks" I've used loads is bIII, V I, so G to B to E if you're in the key of E - it's really quite "majestic" for want of a better term. Lots of borrowed chords going on in Cardiacs music and a whole lot more besides! If you don't know 'em and want to listen to one track - Dirty Boy is the one. Those chords blow my mind every time.
"They're out of apple pie" has to be the saddest song ever. I'm gonna need to see a therapist after that one.
Great content as usual! Thanks 🙌🙌🙌
i vote for more music theory stuff in the future :)
Very cool. I came here from seeing you in another video about an electronic voice blocker device (or something like that).
Such a simple technique and yet can be so effective when used in the right musical context 🎼🎹🎶 great video tutorial thank you 👌
Yesss mooorrreeee 😵💫😵💫😵💫 I can’t really play any particular instruments in the motor skills sense, but I LOVE theory and seeing how I can use it to build something, even if it’s much slower than if I could just bust something out. Also I’m a nerd, so.
06:16 V, is that Out of Space (The Prodigy) intro keys, pitch shifted?
Love and appreciate your work and the humour.
Thank you for your videos bro! I've learned a lot becouse of you
4:16
Tryin' to find my way
On the keyboard.
My fingers trying hard
To make some moves.
Can I
Have some mastery?
It's so hard to see...
Oh no...
It's a Cameron surprise
Saving my demise.
"****" you guys...
Oh man...that was hilarious you sang about McDonald's. Very good example. I am not good with theory but learnt by ear. Your explanation made lot of sense when you started playing the notes. Thank you!
Impressive! I was asking myself always what key and scale lie behind old funk and disco house, probably a triviial question for you
oof that part at 5:28 was nice !, thanks for the tip
Just my second time catching your videos and I must say DUDE, what a great Voiceover Voice and from one with a self proclaimed Doctorate in Wise Assology yep you got it Dr. WIse Ass, your humor made me laugh.....I'm looking forward to perusing more of your content.
Is the book shown in your intro one of your favorites you mentioned? if not, which are ones you recommend for learning theory in a practical application setting
5:37 sounds dope in dnb actually
Thanks for posting!
Lol, funny stuff. And it's all perspective - a simple example is the Gm to Cmaj example. It could simply be a I - IV progression in G Dorian, that's how it hear it. The C chord does not sound like it's functioning as the tonic here. " Oye Coma Va" my friend?
i was very pleased that when u played that i-vi-iv-ivb i i instantly thought about the eye in the sky lol this is one of my favorite progressions
Oh My Gosh - did not realize that was the progress in that tune. Haven't heard it in years and you just inspired me to go listen to it and learn to play it! Thanks!
Very good explanation
🔥👌👏 fire video, thanks!
Best intro ever…. So far!
Brilliant (and very funny!) This content is much appreciated!
Loving this channel mam! You’re hilarious 👌
I got one more, major 5 (first inversion) to 1 *in minor* (sounds particularly pretty in Ab Minor)
Hi, great video... anything in the close future about Negative Harmony tricks and cheats ? Ciao
I am gonna have that "Can I have some apple pies?" song stuck in my head every time I see a McDonald's sign now.
Thanks, I guess?
It at least demonstrates the concept but now it's stuck in my head
Really incredibly cool stuff.
That Drive Thru Song really needs fleshing out.
Great vid, as always.
Just totally ace. Thank you Mr Theory.
Great work-Keep them coming!
My first visit. Nice! Would you consider adding labels with the name of the underlying chords [like a jazz lead sheet] while you're playing? It's fine to see the ivories being engaged visually, but a little too fast for my slow uptake.
compared to when I started, its getting harder to learn something new, thanks for teaching this to us
sponsor wise Hook theory is actually pretty dope. Also I remember Mike Shinoda (From Linkin Park) talked about this is one of his livestreams back in 2020 and he said it was vital for linkin parks early sound.
as an aspiring synthwave producer that example spoke to me on a spiritual level
4:12 like damn🔥
I really felt that lyrics…
Thank you for your knowledge 🤘😎🤘 I subscribed