For what it's worth I thought you did a great job at explaining these concepts. If you are to continue this series I'd love to see it progress into more complex ideas, like modes. One thing I've always been confused on, is how a c-major scale and a-minor are literally the same, yet evoke different feelings, I never understood why that happens. Thanks for another great video and hope more are coming soon!
Thanks so much! I will definitely continue it in the future - I have a few ideas lined up for them, it's just a matter of finding time to ahve people on. Modes and major vs minor are great topics! And yes, more videos on their way - recording the next proper one next week, and loads planned out.
Hi! This was a super helpful video, thank you! So my question is, when you change a key, can it be anywhere in the song, regardless of the song structure setup? Does it have to be from section to section, like prechorus to chorus.. When you gave the example of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror, "Take a look at yourself and then make that CHANGE", I just wanted to confirm that CHANGE is the only part where there is a key change.. or am I wrong? Lol hopefully that made sense.
When you played snippets of "The Barrel," it was obvious that more exposure to this song was needed for me to do justice in engaging with your lesson. The artist and the song were unknown to me so I stopped your video. Did a YT search to the official video of "The Barrel," which was off-putting since I'm not a fan of most contemporary pop music. Then I noticed a "Live on KEXP" video in my feed. I liked this much better since there were no distractions with costume, body language and deadpan facial expressions. It appeared the song employed five different chords. It seemed to be in the Key of B Major but there is a G# Major chord in the pre-chorus, which is not in that key...but I'm getting ahead of myself because I wish to simply address some elements of the song initially. I've heard vocals like this before. In his pop albums from the 70s, Brian Eno sometimes sang high pitched, off kilter vocals on top of the one in his normal voice. The lyrics are in a similar vein. They go well together sonically and occasionally one can glean a meaning from them. Eno has said he chose the words to his songs because they sound good together irrespective of any meaning. Whether it's intentional or not, I feel Aldous Harding are referencing Eno's early work before he became known for ambient music. Now back to your video. My observations: (1) The pre-chorus uses a chord out of key (G# Major) then the chorus seems to revert back to the same chords in the verse: I (B Major), V (F# Major), ii (C# minor) and vi (G# minor). Although with a bit of syncopation since the chorus is not always one chord per bar. My question: is this an actual key change or is it a modal interchange? I've been trying, in my retirement, to teach myself music theory online so I may be way off base here. I chose this video as a learning tool because I found your Warren Zevon video very informative and interesting!! (2) And yes, "The Barrel" is quite hypnotic and trance like. (3) I missed the key change on the brief instrumental break. (4) At first I was disappointed by the lack of discussion in technical music theory terms but then I focused on the fact that you were explaining complex ideas to someone with no real musical skills other than her own two ears. Bottom line, I think you did a good job with your comparisons!! (5) I did learn something new with regard to half-step and whole-step key changes. I take them for granted as a former chorus singer but you describe it as a surprising change to the ear in the flow of a song. I just never thought of them as cheesy, ha, ha!! (6) After several listenings I came to enjoy hearing "The Barrel" but I'm not a fan of the official video. Thank you for your patience if you have read this far but I have one more thought. My favorite key change is 1967's Motown song "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" sung by Jimmy Ruffin. The verses are in Bb and the chorus is in the Key of C. The modulation/transition is accomplished by the use of dominant seventh chords in both instances and are quite smooth. Thanks for "listening" Chuck
For what it's worth I thought you did a great job at explaining these concepts. If you are to continue this series I'd love to see it progress into more complex ideas, like modes.
One thing I've always been confused on, is how a c-major scale and a-minor are literally the same, yet evoke different feelings, I never understood why that happens.
Thanks for another great video and hope more are coming soon!
Thanks so much! I will definitely continue it in the future - I have a few ideas lined up for them, it's just a matter of finding time to ahve people on.
Modes and major vs minor are great topics! And yes, more videos on their way - recording the next proper one next week, and loads planned out.
Going to show this to my daughter, great stuff again Jacob. Keep it up.
Awesome! Thanks! Hope she enjoys it :)
Hi! This was a super helpful video, thank you! So my question is, when you change a key, can it be anywhere in the song, regardless of the song structure setup? Does it have to be from section to section, like prechorus to chorus.. When you gave the example of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror, "Take a look at yourself and then make that CHANGE", I just wanted to confirm that CHANGE is the only part where there is a key change.. or am I wrong? Lol hopefully that made sense.
Hard seen this just before Barbican show bless
When you played snippets of "The Barrel," it was obvious that more exposure to this song was needed for me to do
justice in engaging with your lesson. The artist and the song were unknown to me so I stopped your video. Did a YT
search to the official video of "The Barrel," which was off-putting since I'm not a fan of most contemporary pop
music. Then I noticed a "Live on KEXP" video in my feed. I liked this much better since there were no distractions
with costume, body language and deadpan facial expressions. It appeared the song employed five different chords.
It seemed to be in the Key of B Major but there is a G# Major chord in the pre-chorus, which is not in that key...but
I'm getting ahead of myself because I wish to simply address some elements of the song initially.
I've heard vocals like this before. In his pop albums from the 70s, Brian Eno sometimes sang high pitched, off
kilter vocals on top of the one in his normal voice. The lyrics are in a similar vein. They go well together
sonically and occasionally one can glean a meaning from them. Eno has said he chose the words to his songs
because they sound good together irrespective of any meaning. Whether it's intentional or not, I feel Aldous
Harding are referencing Eno's early work before he became known for ambient music.
Now back to your video. My observations: (1) The pre-chorus uses a chord out of key (G# Major) then the chorus
seems to revert back to the same chords in the verse: I (B Major), V (F# Major), ii (C# minor) and vi (G# minor).
Although with a bit of syncopation since the chorus is not always one chord per bar. My question: is this an
actual key change or is it a modal interchange? I've been trying, in my retirement, to teach myself music theory
online so I may be way off base here. I chose this video as a learning tool because I found your Warren Zevon
video very informative and interesting!! (2) And yes, "The Barrel" is quite hypnotic and trance like. (3) I missed
the key change on the brief instrumental break. (4) At first I was disappointed by the lack of discussion in
technical music theory terms but then I focused on the fact that you were explaining complex ideas to someone
with no real musical skills other than her own two ears. Bottom line, I think you did a good job with your
comparisons!! (5) I did learn something new with regard to half-step and whole-step key changes. I take them for
granted as a former chorus singer but you describe it as a surprising change to the ear in the flow of a song. I
just never thought of them as cheesy, ha, ha!! (6) After several listenings I came to enjoy hearing "The Barrel"
but I'm not a fan of the official video.
Thank you for your patience if you have read this far but I have one more thought. My favorite key change is
1967's Motown song "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" sung by Jimmy Ruffin. The verses are in Bb and the chorus
is in the Key of C. The modulation/transition is accomplished by the use of dominant seventh chords in both
instances and are quite smooth.
Thanks for "listening"
Chuck
Hello from /r/aldousharding
Hello! :) thanks for watching
i lost interest
Good job. Very inspiring!!! You could easily get more people watching with *PromoSM*!!