Analyzing the Octatonic Scale | Music Theory | Composition | Berklee Online

In this free music theory lesson, Kari Juusela introduces the octatonic scale. An incredibly versatile scale, the octatonic/diminished scale is often used to improvise over seventh chords, and provides some dark, ominous sounds made popular by composers like Messiaen and Debussy.

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About Music Theory and Composition 4
This core music theory course is the fourth of a four-semester curriculum that continues to build a foundation for your musical development. The materials covered here will help you express your musical ideas as applied to composition for film, TV and video games.
You will learn more about the essential elements of music theory and composition that will help you build your own musical language. You will further expand your knowledge of harmony and melody and expand your knowledge of scales, chords, and rhythms.

This music composition course is designed to take you from a strong review of level 3 topics—the standard deceptive resolutions of V7, classical and contemporary analysis techniques, polychord voicings, non-chord tones, approach tones, and approach tone harmonization—to topics like deceptive resolutions of dominant function harmony, contiguous dominant patterns, modal melody and harmony, hybrid voicings, quartal and quintal harmony, exotic scales, 12-tone technique, minimalism and other important twentieth century compositional techniques. We will review the rhythmic elements of Indian, Latin American, and African music and delve into the musical intricacies of the music of Indonesia, China, Japan, and Korea.

We will also continue the unique feature of blending and exploring both traditional and contemporary harmony in order to give you a historical understanding of current topics.
Music Theory and Composition 4 also features a topic called "Rhythm Jam" that will introduce you to many new and exciting rhythmic concepts such as nested tuplets, the Fibonacci series, metric modulation, hemiola, phase, Jahlas, and additive rhythm. Through forum questions you and your classmates will engage in discussions about musical creativity, craft, and inspiration.

Each week you will be asked to engage with your classmates and instructor as you work your way through the topics. Included in each topic are a number of activities and exercises designed to help you more thoroughly experience and understand the material presented.

Each week there will be a composition assignment, including many which will give you the opportunity to practice writing to short film cues.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:
Compose and notate your own musical ideas using advanced concepts
Construct advanced harmonies and melodies and apply them to your writing
Learn how to apply advanced musical concepts to your own writing
Apply advanced theoretical analysis to contemporary music and traditional classical music

Music Theory | Composition | Berklee Online | Lesson | Tutorial | Advanced | Octatonic/Diminished Scale | Music Theory and Composition 4 | Kari Juusela

[MikeJamesMusic]

Here's a scale I developed called Octonic Altered. This scale is easy to construct. It is the 1-3-5b7 of a dominant 7th chord combined with all the altered tensions of the dominant 7th chord. b9, #9, #11 and b13. This makes for an eight tone scale. In the key of C it’s the notes of C-Db-Eb-E-F#-G-G#-Bb If you look on the web under Octonic Altered and my name you can find my article.

[dr.brianjudedelimaphd]

True it is 2 diminished seventh chords, BUT more importantly, it is the related family of dominant chords with their built in diminished 7th chord found a Major 3rd above the dominant root... so now we have 4 related dominant chords with only the notes of their roots being played PLUS the built in diminished 7th chord found on the Major 3rd of every one of those dominant chords

[mauricewhite]

I like starting with a half-step first version. Perfect for djent metal.

[Wayne_Robinson]

Great explanation. The harmonic possibilities are intriguing.

[here]

Awesome. Great informative video, thanks!

[rajeshhkkapoor]

I call it the MESHUGGAH scale.
And they thrive on its dissonance. 🔥🔥🔥

[ILovePeanutButer]

How about the other type of octatonic scale? Beginning with the whole step. I would love to know more about the usage of this version.

[cecelianydam]

When I am asked to write an octatonic scale ascending and descending, will both sides be the same, or do I need to continue the pattern on the way down?

[ibsrijon]

Is it also some kind of altered scale?

[nevets]

Does anyone know the name of the piece at the end?

[ElBeeEss]

Oooh, I dig it; it's groovy-weird!

[OrMoreBones]

I heard this play in my head alot in my childhood... Thank you for telling me what this is!

[psy-lion]

i wish my parents sent me to a music school

[bobbymcloughlin]

That is the Only Octatonic Scale that there is, but there should be a Regular Octatonic Scale here is an example of a Solfege in the Key of C Major: C D E F G H A B C

[professorpancakes]

I love this scale. The predator score used it, I think.

[kingdomsongwriting]

All this music theory language is hard to understand for me, a newbie. Thanks anyway! Looks like a well thought out video!:)

[feverdream]

Finally found its name by searching hwhwhwhwh

[ButtmanRises]

His student was an elite God of War dev!?

[gloiven]

Ohio Players. Roller Coaster ( Of Love .)

[derrickmcadoo]

Professors are great for teaching.. until they offer a style of their own. Which usually falls flat.