Dr. B Music Theory Lesson 1 (Circle of 5ths, Scales)

TOPICS
1. The circle of fifths and key signatures
2. Major scales
3. Minor scales (natural, harmonic, melodic)

[julianb]

You have been helping countless of college music students who have to teach themselves due to bad teachers.

[darren]

omg. a complete harmony course on you tube. this is priceless.

[JaydenLawson]

25:45 this is the most replayed (therefore, most misunderstood) part of this video, which is the explanation of applying the Descending Melodic Minor formula. It’s the only part I also didn’t understand. I think it’s because Dr B. left the Ascending Melodic Minor scale there, and didn’t start from scratch again with writing out the Gb Major Scale that we are applying the formula to.

For anyone else confused, just rewind to 23:36, and pretend to apply the Descending Melodic Minor formula (lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes), and then you can go back to 25:45 and it will make more sense.

Dr. B, I still don’t understand why, at 26:42, you chose to work backwards to explain “on the way down”, but I’m happy to leave that, and I’m sure I’ll understand it after learning more.

Many thanks for these videos!

[King-sdvg]

Omg This is so amazing thank you. I think God saved you a special place in heaven. You aren't just helping college music students you are helping people who are self-thought or have no money to go to an actual music college learn. I am in that category I am a young guitar player and I really want to dive into music theory cause I think it's really cool and you are helping me with that thank you <3

[AnupChapain]

I don't know how many of us have finally found one reliable source to learn music from here on YouTube.
Thank you for making these priceless contents available to us without a charge. This is purely an intellectual philanthropy.
Please Accept a Sincere Gratitude from Nepal 🇳🇵 . May God bless you . 😍

[facepalmdaily]

I was a music major my first two years of college before changing majors and going to film school. Now, 20 years later, I'm going back to relearn all the theory I've forgotten over the years. Your explanation of the circle of fifths is SO MUCH BETTER than how I was taught it (WWHWWWH)

Here I thought I was just bad at music theory, turns out I just had a bad professor.

[donniexl]

Your a great teacher kid, i've watched a lot of music theory tutorials and this is the only one that not only taught me a great deal, but didn't put me to sleep 10 mins into it.

[bicks]

Wanted to post this for anyone who is trying to memorize the scales as this tip has helped me a lot along with everything you covered in the video. Besides writing everything out I am focusing on the first three sharp and flat scales respectively (FBbEb, GDA) and of course C as the foundational scales to memorize. Then whenever you get a scale that has more than 3 accidentals rather than outright memorizing the entire scale, simply take your foundational scale and convert the accidentals from that to natural, and all the original naturals to whichever accidental applies (+7 sharp or -7 flat depending what scale you want).


For example instead of trying to remember that Gb Major has GbAbCbDbEbFb as accidentals, Take G Major which only has F#, F# becomes F natural and every other note becomes flat. Bb major to B Major, Bb and Eb become B and E natural and everything else is raised to a sharp, and so on. C# and Cb major have all 7 accidentals because C has no accidentals.


Foundation Scale Conversion Scale

G Gb
D Db
A Ab
C C# Cb
F F#
Bb B
Eb E



Hopefully this makes sense and helps someone, I wouldn't say I've memorized all 15 scales to the extent I want yet but this has made the process a lot faster for me.

[andrewsuarez]

I am 16 years old trying to learn music theory so I can produce good music and this video is really helpful I've seen 100s of other videos on YouTube but they we're confusing but the way you teach it is crisp and clear Thank you 🔥

[johnjacquard]

I've sent hundreds people to your videos. I appreciate what you do greatly

[twistedgwazi]

The clarity of this lesson amazed me. I watched another video that taught the Whole/Half step approach, introduced the Circle of Fifths halfway through, and forgot about it. I never knew how useful it was! Thank you so much, for making music theory less scary for me and many others.

[jackieborgen]

Okay, this is only the first video, and he explains it so much better than my first music theory teacher did. This video is already showing me my true potential. Thank you!

[devonk]

Feel like I just hit the jackpot finding your site! TY CHris!!

[raindropsroses]

It's always so lovely to watch someone who wants to share their knowledge teach. I regret never taking music classes in college but decided to look into a bit of music theory on YT. What a gem these videos are! Your students are lucky to have you. Your effort does not go unappreciated. Thanks so much.

[andyq]

Dr B, I could not thank you enough for the contents of this music course . They are invaluable to me as a 74 years old self-taught lover of music . I am sure I'm not the only one feeling this way . With gratitude ...

[terryadamson]

Thank you. As someone in middle age and new to music theory, I appreciate the clarity and structure of this lesson. I will definitely check out the others.

[nguessanbenie]

I typed "voice leading lessons" and it got me here...I am not even complaining. Wish me luck.

[jessicam]

omg i been looking for this kind of course for so long! yesss

[hiimras]

You make me want to study to be a music teacher, and I've only watched this video. Looking forward to watching the rest :3

[bgnotes]

Chris! This is exactly what I was looking for as a homeschooling dad! So clear and straight forward!