How Basic Chords Work - Music Theory Lesson 1

END OF TIME-WARPING UPDATE

This lesson is on chords, how they work, and the basic intervals that make them up. Learning the underlying music theory behind chords will not only allow you to find any chord you want, anywhere you want, it will also give you a solid foundation to build your entire understanding of music theory on.

I have a bachelor's in music (I took about a billion theory courses), and I'm a full time music teacher. After trying to help so many people learn music theory, I've decided that this is the best, most useful and most easily understood way into music theory. You don't need to know anything about music to get started on this, other than the names of the notes (and if you don't know that then google it; it's cake). Have fun.

[lance]

Mathematically, major: 4+3; minor 3+4; dim 3+3; aug 4+4. If it is a major chord, the major always comes first, vice versa. Great video, subscribed.

[aumfer]

Came knowing "chords are more than 1 note"
Now they make sense. Thx Michael

My notes:

major chord = base + major 3rd + perfect fifth
major 3rd = 2 whole steps from base
perfect 5th = 3.5 steps from base (1.5 from major 3rd)

minor chord = base + minor 3rd + perfect fifth
minor 3rd = 1.5 whole steps from base
perfect 5th = 3.5 steps from base (2 from major 3rd)

perfect 5th = 3.5 steps from base (1.5 from major 3rd, 2 from minor 3rd)
diminished 5th = 3 steps from base (1.5 from minor 3rd)
augmented 5th = 4 steps from base (2 from major 3rd)

all notes in chord must be 1.5-2 steps apart

so chords
0 1.5 1.5 (minor 3rd diminished 5th)
0 1.5 2 (minor 3rd)
0 2 1.5 (major 3rd)
0 2 2 (major 3rd augmented 5th)

more notes, same formula
each note must be 1.5 or 2 steps up

[spacesheep]

It's great to see a video who actually starts at the very beginning of music theory, and still goes into details.


Best one I found

[heffmusicofficial]

Bro I've watched many videos and this is the first one that's actually simple enough to understand. It doesn't sound like a scientist trying to teach me Beethoven in Old English. It's a regular person telling me how to play piano. Love it bro!

[honzanoel]

Honestly, I feel like I should be giving you money for this. This is by far the best tutorial I have seen in regards to learning chord structures. Brilliant.

[CarrotCream-sr]

Notes:

1:48 - Intro
= root and chord quality
quality = how far from root chord

2:57 - Intervals
step = notes next to eachother
step = 2 half steps

5:09 - Chord quality

chord (Triad)
---Major Chord (5:13)
Root + Major third + Perfect fifth
(Interval)
→major third (2 whole steps)
→perfect fifth (3 whole steps and half step)

---Minor Chord (13:16)
Root + Minor chord + Perfect fift
→minor third (1 whole step and 1 half step)

---Diminished Chord (16:03)
Root + _ Third + Diminished fifth
→diminished fifth (3 whole steps)
→third can be major/minor (interval depends if <2 whole steps or >1 whole step and a half step)
(distance from root to _ third should be the same as from dim5th to _ third)

--- Augmented Chord/Root+ (21:45)
Root + _ Third + Augmented fifth
→augmented fifth (4 whole steps)
→third use the same rules diminished chord third (so between the root and fifth)

[laboule]

You just unlocked this in my brain ... I can't believe it, I tried so hard for so long to understand this and in 25 minutes you just did it... you're awesome. I can't thank you enough ! ! ! instant-sub !

[gasparaangeles]

Finally after 60 years of music study, I understand the theory behind chords. Thank you a zillion Michael. You are a gift from heavens. Bless you. Keep teaching please.

[ButterBallTheOpossum]

I've always felt that it's easier to learn music theory on a piano, even if you can play guitar. Just so much simpler having it all laid out in front of you.

[francesco]

You know that feeling when you're watching a 25 minutes video and it's all interesting and the information just "clicks"? Yeah that's what this video did for me. That's great!

[Bardea]

Just a brief summary to help anyone:


A half-interval, or a semitone, refers to two adjacent notes on a piano. Like C and C#.
An interval, or a whole tone, is two semitones. Like C and D.


A Major Second is 2 semitones.
A Minor Third is 3 semitones.
A Major Third is 4 semitones.


An Augmented 5th is 8 semitones. C to G#.
A Perfect 5th is 7 semitones. C to G.
A Diminished 5th is 6 semitones. C to F#.


A Major chord, consists of a root note, a major third, and a perfect 5th.
A Minor chord consists of a root note, a minor third, and a perfect 5th.
An Augmented Chord consists of a root note, a major third, and an augmented 5th.

[slendgamer]

19:26 "This can't really work as a chord"


Jazz musicians: Are we a joke to you?

[Pirtanco]

Dude, your videos have changed my musical life. I've played guitar over 20 years, but piano has eluded my grasp for whatever reason. Just couldn't get the hang of it even though I've owned keys for years. It feels like you've helped me unlock some kind of app in my brain that is finally allowing me to learn this stuff. The mystery is gone. Great series of vids. Great delivery. Thank you!!!

[paitalian]

Tremendous...I'm a songwriter who has been writing by ear forever and always wanted a "no nonsense" teacher to break music theory down with PRACTICALITY...instead of someone always trying to act like they are the next coming of Chopin and trying to impress you with what they know but not really "teach" you anything. I love your approach to teaching and believe that you should keep doing your videos. Thanks Michael...Great Job!!!

[rayderrich]

The beauty of this great video is that it is timeless, so thousands of more people will watch it after me.
The not so great thing is that it blows my mind, even after listening to and trying to create music for decades.
Thank you for helping me move past that.

[dremovremen]

This is so great. All other ppl out there explaining music theory are just rushing things, not letting you to sink in the stuff.

So, many thanks for your videos = )

[SusobhonSamuelMorrison]

I WANT TO SAY ONE THING....YOU ARE AN AWESOME TEACHER...

[JustAnotherPandaBear]

You know that building feeling of excitement when things start to click? This video made me experience that. Thank you!

[vado]

Very well explained! By far the best tutorial I've seen in the history of tutorials

[Nein]

I took piano lessons for over 10 years as a kid, but never learned any theory. My lessons were strictly based around reading sheet music, and once a year we had recitals where we'd play two chosen classical or contemporary pieces. Now I'm in my early 30s and promised myself I'd finally learn how to *actually* play piano. I'm at the point now where I have a fairly good understanding about stuff like chord types, chord progressions, how to use the circle of fifths, and even a little bit about modes, but still, the WAY you teach is so great that even in this very basic tutorial where all the concepts were already clear to me, I was still able to pick up some new tips that really helped me out! For example, the trick about a major fifth for any black note always having two black notes in between it (except for Bb).. I never noticed it that way before, so it's super helpful for me because the one thing I really need to practice more is getting better at intuitively placing my fingers down in the right spots instead of always looking down and counting steps so much. I've watched so many of your videos, and in my opinion, you're the best music teacher on youtube. Really can't thank you enough for putting so much time in to produce all this wonderful content. Much appreciation!