Recap of basic music theory

1

This lecture recaps the basic music theory knowledge you will need in

order to progress in this unit. It will look at interval inversions, the

cycle of fifths – the order of the keys, the relationship that those keys

have with one another and key signatures. 161

2 Major and minor pentatonic and blues scales

Major and minor pentatonic scales, despite their prevalence in blues

and rock music, have been in use for many centuries, and are found in

countries as far apart as Ireland and China in their folk music. This

lecture will also look at the 12-bar blues. 173

3 Minor scales

This lecture explains the construction of the minor scale and its

importance in western music. It also explains the intervals of the major

scale and inversions of those intervals.

179

4 Triads and harmonizing the major scale

This lecture covers the method of harmonizing in thirds, the

construction of triads, the diatonic chords of the major scale, and

major, minor, diminished and augmented chords. 187

5 Triad inversions and chord voicings

This lecture continues work on diatonic harmony, focusing on the

inversions of triads and describes various chord voicings. 193

6 Other chord types and compound intervals

Before looking at seventh chords and all the various extended chords,

you will explore other chords such as add chords, suspended (sus)

chords, sixth chords etc. Learning about compound intervals. The

lecture also discusses the correct naming procedure for these

intervals.

Chord families and diatonic chord substitution

This lecture applies some of the knowledge learnt throughout the term

and teaches the student how to make musically intelligent choices for

simple diatonic chord substitution. 205

8 Seventh chords

The chord type basic to western harmony, and the starting point of a

number of extended chords that will be studied. Learning how to

building them using the chord formulae and key signatures and

exploring the harmony of these chords. 211

9 Transposition and modulation

In transposition we take the melody and harmony of a piece of music

and transfer it completely to a new key. This is useful when a new key

is required for a vocalist or instrumentalist or when a particular key is

not suitable for a certain instrument. Modulation is moving from one

key centre to another within the same piece of music. 219

10 Modes of the major scale

This lecture will focus on the seven modes of the major scale and their

formulae. You will also study the parent scale method. 225

11 Extended chords

In this lecture we will study ninth chords, eleventh chords and

thirteenth chords.235

12 Secondary dominants

The tutor will explain the construction, derivation and the use of

secondary dominant chords. The tutor will provide examples of chord

progressions that use secondary dominant chords. 249

13 Semester review

This lecture will be used to review all of the theoretical material

studied so far this term. This will take the form of an exam where any

problem areas will be discussed. 255

14 Exam/Assessment week 256

15 Exam/Assessment week 256