The SECRET To Learning Music Theory (even if you HATE it!)

Do the words "music theory" make your brain hurt? I know they scared me away from learning anything about how music really works.

That all changed when I started writing songs and I realized that all of them sounded EXACTLY the same.

Then a music teacher came along who showed me that music theory isn't scary but is actually the KEY to writing and singing better!

[BH-iqic]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this! It's been several years that I've written songs, but somehow I stopped, I just don't know why. I want to get back doing it. I think it's writers block, but I don't know. Thank you for always being so informative and helpful.

[huss]

I love how you centre storytelling around the topic you want to teach. This is highly effective and just flat out engaging to listen too. Good job!

[brandycelis]

Your background has changed, I love it.

[robharris]

Learn the major scale & it`s relative minors, that is the key to music !! The circle of 5ths is a good place to start !!

[stephenphil]

Love the story telling, you sir are awesome. Love, love, love this video

[siuzannavyshneva]

It is so cool how inspiring it is! Music has never felt so I'm happy you're sharing this! And God bless

[oosagimami]

I took music theory in highschool. 😄😊💜 I used to randomly play on piano and i always ended on the c key.

[RUT]

Take classical piano lessons for years likeI did & you’ll know music theory inside & out. I honestly don’t like shortcuts.

[trashcatlinol]

What you said about listening to the same type of music got me thinking about why I don't care for country.

And it mostly comes down to lyrics. I adore country music style instrumentals just fine.

I honestly didn't know where to start concerning music theory. I have a bit of natural talent and just needed some direction! Thanks for this stepping stone! I hope I can use it to improve my skills!

[JonNewquist]

That was my light bulb moment too. Nice lesson.
Did you instinctively hear that the 2 & 6 chords are minor? That the 7 is diminished?

[Vanderful_life]

sorry Ramsey can you do it one more time in English?

[derrickwatts]

I must be dumb because it still does not make since to me. 😂

[CameronPerry-Kizito]

Could you go further into dearth on this method ?

[gavii]

I hope you will react to Hua ChenYu new songs: 《Black And White Artist》 and 《Flight Mode》. Please please

• Flight Mode:

[earljeffhabon]

Hello, , I can hit the she's gone chorus when i'm 10 years old but now im 13 i cant hit that, ,,,can i took back my voice and hit that chorus again?please give me an advice that can help me effectively

[oneeyemonster]

That's just the BASIC or Notes only in the MAJOR Scale ( ALL 12 notes WORK)
Just learn more scales.
It's EASIER if I'll explain it in C MAJOR/Amin ( KEYS are just PITCH)
If you can play in C MAJOR/Amin on the FRETBOARD..you can play in ANY KEYS.
SIMPLY USE the FRETBOARD like a SLIDE RULER or pretend the CAPO is the NUT.
IF YOU COMPREHEND it in C MAJOR/Amin....
It'll be the SAME THING in other KEYS

it's just visually harder to SITE read or notate.
However...The KEYBOARD is a GOOD TOOL to comprehend/visual it in C MAJOR/Amin
as the PARENT KEY ( PITCH)

it's EASY....b3, b6, b7 are the SECOND arpeggio of the 1, 4, 5 chords.

b6 = Harmonic MAJOR ( Maj F min G7 into C
b3 = Melodic min ( min F7 G7 into C
b3, b6 = Harmonic min ( Eb, min F min G7 into C
b3, b6, b7 = NATURAL min F min G min

Im going to REVERSE the PROCESS...PUSH UP from A min towards A MAJOR
b3, b6, b7
b3, min D min E7 into A min
A min D7 E7 into A min
MAJOR D min E7 into A

Just KEEP it SIMPLE
learn how to ALTER the 1, 4, 5 chords....back and forth from MAJOR to min..
or visa versa.

A lyd b3 or A melodic min #4 A min B7 into E ( E Harmonic MAJOR)

The so call N6 chord
A Harmonic min b2 ( phrygian maj7) = Bb lyd #6
A melodic min b2 ( dor b2, maj7 = Bb lyd #5, #6 ( Bb AUG)
D double harmonic min Bb lyd #2, #6

In a nutshell you could INSERT ..sub the Bb chord as WHATEVER.
Those MODE are just GUIDES....

I can give SHORT CUT....how to use those N6 chords.
From C MAJOR/Amin
ARE ALL POSSIBLE inserted CHORDS/NOTES
5 BLACK KEYS

ANOTHER SHORT CUT...
2, 4, b6, DEGREE ARE POSSIBLE FULL DIMINISHED
They overlap in different KEYS ( C harmonic MAJOR or min)
A harmonic MAJOR or min
Harmonic MAJOR or F# Harmonic min
Harmonic MAJOR or Eb Harmonic min

The Db chord....alot of people knows that as the TRITONE SUB
it's becuase you can play MAJOR, min, DOMINANT, dim...chords
every b3 INTERVALS too....if you use the FULL dim H/W
KEEP it SIMPLE...from G7...just COUNT.

used the SHORT CUT...of b2, b3, b5, b6, b7.
You would already KNOW HOW to INSERT the Db and Bb chord as WHATEVER

The BASIC...You just DOMINANT
as in PLAY before the DOMINANT chord G7 into C
Db maj7 G7 into C
Eb Maj7 G7 into C
Gb Maj7 G7 into C
Ab maj7 G7 into C

A min Bb7 into Eb Maj7 E7 into A min
A min Bb7 into Eb min Gb maj7 G7 into C MAJOR

A min Bb7 into Eb Maj7 Ab min G7 into C MAJOR

C Maj F min Ab Maj7 Db maj7 Bb dim E7 into A min...
Just pretend you modulated to F min...ish

A min Bb dim C7 into F
A min Bb dim C dim into C# min/E MAJOR
A min into C# min...

it's D and E chord of A H harmonic or melodic min...ect
C# min....D dim E7 into A
C# min D7 E7 into A
C# min D dim E dim into F min Dbmaj7 G7 into C MAJOR
A min into F min F# dim G# dim into A min
dim/D G# dim into A min
into A min
C# min D Maj7 B min E7 into A min
C Maj Eb maj7


I can list it like ( melodic min is just dorian maj7)
A dor
A aeo dor maj7
A aeo b2, dor b2, maj7
A aeo b5, dor b5, maj7
A aeo #4 dor #4 maj7


Aeo maj7
dor maj7
phry maj7

mix, maj7 = IONIAN ( CIRCLE of 5th)
loc , maj7 = Ion #6, dor #5...phry #4....lyd #3. ..Mix #2...Aeo #1.

IT'S EASY....KEEP it SIMPLE STUPID...do simple COUNTING.

aeo maj7...loc maj6....Ion #5....dor maj3 Lyd #2 mix b1

Some mode just got CONVERTED so it's EASIER.
Mix b1 is b4, bb7

Ion b3....dor b2....phy b7....mix b4

phrygian b1..is WEIRD. Most people call it LYD augmented ( ion #4, #5)

or Aeo b1 from C HARMONIC MAJOR = Ab lyd aug #2 ( ion #2, #4, #5)

Im not trying to cap on you...but your singing SOUNDS AWFUL...
it's becuase it's out of your VOCAL RANGE.
PLAY in a different KEYS to batter MATCH your vocal RANGE.
It's EASIER to do it on the GUITAR...if your fingers are STRONG enough to make BARR chords..
example to play in C# min/E MAJOR.
Im simply going to BARR the 4th fret..Make C# min chord.
Then life my PINKY to play the E note...whalla E MAJOR.
lift my middle finger...whalla...E Maj7

INTERSTATE LOVE SONG...E MAJOR/C#min
C# min C dim B Maj A# dim A Maj
E Maj F# min....E Maj F# min

The A# dim and C dim are just chords inserted..via C# melodic min.

To play in B min/D MAJOR.
Just Fret the B min chord on the fret....( it's the samething)
JUST the WAY you are by Billy Joe...

D Maj....E7 B min G min G maj7 G min D Maj A7 in D Maj

G Maj F# min E min A7 D Maj... A mix b2.

The E7 is borrowed from B melodic min
The G min is G lyd b3 or lyd #2....= A mix b2 ( D Harmonic MAJOR)

During the BRIDE ( a couple of N6 chords got INSERTED....b6 and b7 chord degree)
Bb F# min B min E min A Maj D Maj

Hotel Ca is just F# Maj or F#7 from B Harmonic min.
During the solo it'll do sort of the samething as Interstate love song...chromatically

B min A# dim... A Maj G# dim... G Maj F# min/b6....E min F# Maj ( into B min)

SHOW me the WAY...Framptom ( D MAJOR/B min) b6...b7 chords degree inserted
D Maj....D Maj7 B min Bb Maj

[poblealpicat]

Hola. Me gustan mucho tus vídeos y siempre aprendo algo. Me gustaría que hicieras una reacción a esta canción de Rosalia "Me quedo contigo". Es muy diferente del estilo que suele tener y estoy seguro de que te interesará. Muchas gracias

[janicemurphy]

Many of the top performing artist have no idea about music theory and their stars. Awm