Chord Theory Pt. 2 of 2 - Half Cadences and Endless Progressions

This is Part 2 of the essential intermediate harmonic (chord) theory that producers need for creating rich and interesting chord progressions. In this video I explain how to build chord progressions that are based on a "Half Cadence".

In Part 2, I explain how to build chord progressions that are based on a "Half Cadence". After absorbing the simple ideas in Parts 1 and 2, you will know 95% of everything there is to know about writing chord progressions, and you'll be able to -understand- why some neat chord progression you're looking at actually works!

(Big thanks to Robert Crawford for compiling this list of timestamps!)

0:00 - INTRODUCTION
3:17 - Half Cadence Explained
5:18 - Half Cadence Example
7:40 - A Little History
8:41 - Why They Work in EDM
10:39 - Rule 1
11:31 - Rule 2
12:20 - Rule 3
12:53 - Rule 4
15:18 - Rule 4: Modal Interchange & Chord Substitution
18:29 - Extra Example
22:14 - Extra Example 2
25:58 - Extra Example 3
30:15 - Making Longer Progressions w/ Half & Full Cadences *
33:30 - OUTRO

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HARMONIC THEORY IN A NUTSHELL - Part 2 of 2

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Half Cadences:

These are like a comma in the middle of a sentence. They leave you hanging, and make the chord progression so far feel incomplete or suspended, making the listener expect some type of continuation.

IMPORTANT: A progression that ends in a half-cadence almost always must start with a 1 to sound pleasant. This effectively resolves that suspenseful ending by coming back to "home" at the start of the progression.

anything to 5
1 to 4
5 to 4

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Rules for Suspenseful/Endless Chord Progressions:

1. Nearly always end with a Half Cadence (anything to 5, 1 to 4, or
5 to 4)
2. Always start with a 1
3. Put literally anything you want in the middle between the starting
1 and the half cadence.
4. Note that a 1 to 5 or 1 to 4 half cadence all by itself with no other
chords at all is a perfectly good suspenseful/endless chord
progression. You can even do these in reverse!
( 5 to 1 or 4 to 1 )

[newguy]

Pound for pound, I learn more from this channel than just about any other out there.

[AxeMask]

0:00 - INTRODUCTION
3:17 - Half Cadence Explained
5:18 - Half Cadence Example
7:40 - A Little History
8:41 - Why They Work in EDM
10:39 - Rule 1
11:31 - Rule 2
12:20 - Rule 3
12:53 - Rule 4
15:18 - Rule 4: Modal Interchange & Chord Substitution
18:29 - Extra Example
22:14 - Extra Example 2
25:58 - Extra Example 3
30:15 - Making Longer Progressions w/ Half & Full Cadences *
33:30 - OUTRO

[TheBlindAudiophile]

Scaler should add this video to their download support page. This video just made Scaler infinitely more useful to me. Great job.

[seanhayes]

This and its predecessor are the best distilled summary of functional harmonic theory I've ever seen - and I've been looking for a long time; I finally get it. Thank you so much.

[HydrogenHuman]

Please make more of this excellent chord theory videos with scaler! Your two videos have been invaluable with understanding cadences and modes!

[spyspy]

love seeing MG The Future pop up in your recommended vids! you two are top 5 on youtube sharing knowledge like this! thank you!

[floridaman]

This is something I have struggled with for years. Every time I get into it I am totally overwhelmed because it doesn't make sense, and I give up. I have have taken over 60hrs in music production courses teaching me how to use software but not how to actually write a song. You made this super easy to understand!!! I am sooo grateful! You are a really good teacher! I think there is a lot of people like me who know how to use software but are stuck on making music. Anymore videos along these lines would be GREATLY appreciated! You are awesome!

[gjb]

Best video on functional harmony on Youtube, imo. You finally made it click for me, after so many attempts and looking at it from many different angles. Never have I learned so quickly. Forever thankful you took time to record this and share with the world. Thank you so much, many years after this was posted!

Out of curiosity, how did you learn music theory? The clarity with which you summed things up is impressive. Do you have learning resources you would recommend about this? Preferably material that’s as high-quality as yours :)

[chyllhollywood]

I know this is late but I watched BOTH of these videos and you SMASHED this topic. Thanks.

[lowspotsound]

You’ve got a gift for teaching and some great knowledge, thanks!

[servinggodthroughmusic]

Man - this is really teaching at its finest. I learned so much in this short half-hour video. I have been listening to the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau and have fallen in love with his incredibly decorative rhythms but I was lost when it came to understanding his harmonic progressions. After this video I can listen to his phrasing and see how he uses half-cadences so beautifully.

[mikemikalis]

This video has been so helpful! I have been studying music theory for a long time, the bit that always seems to be missed out is how to use the different chords in a practical sense. Same with Scaler tutorials, I now feel like I have the knowledge to use it more fully. Thank you!

[sammiller]

Excellent Tutorials. Although they may not be common in EDM music, I would add two more types of chord substitutions/borrowed chords common in modern music: secondary/auxiliary dominants (with and without 7ths, with and without resolving to their "secondary" tonics) and tritone substitutions. For example, in "Creep" by Radio Head: I V/vi IV iv (E G# A Am), the V/vi (dominant of vi does not resolve to the vi). Since your two other tutorials on Chord Theory are so highly praised, how about doing a part 3, using Scaler 2? (Maybe also include role of the "circle of fifths/fourths" in creating chord progressions)

[kertisternur]

Yo. You're the G.O.A.T. ... You obviously know what you're talking about, and distilled it perfectly... Lot of Youtubers don't really know what they're talking about themselves... then they turn around and try to sell you courses lol... But you have given us the major keys before I could finish my coffee!

Fantastic Job.

[nosguitar]

Superb with the first part a fine tutorial on chord progression theory . Thank you

[SaeTmpr]

This is brilliant! Thank you so much for doing these 2 videos! I have learned so much about music theory, creating music and using Scaler in such a short time!

[RTH]

Really great videos (part 1 & 2) - the videos I've watched about chord progressions that I actually understood. Explained really well. Thanks for sharing

[johnghadimi]

Excellent stuff. Part 2 didn't disappoint. Thank you.

[goldcoastj]

I would love to see a follow up video about how Jazz and Classical progressions differ from these progressions. Your explanations are extremely helpful. Thank You.

[merfy]

Thank You very much, this has been so helpful in understanding.