Music Theory

This tutorial explains how scales and chords are related to each other. You will also learn musical examples that show how to combine scales and chords.

This tutorial shows you an exercise on how the A major scale can be used to "walk in and out" of a group of related major chords (A, D, E major).

This tutorial shows you an exercise on how the A minor scale can be used to "walk in and out" of a group of related minor chords (A, D, E minor).

Christopher will cover the the main concepts in music theory. Music Theory is the set of concepts that describes the nature of musical events. It is the process of mentally identifying the sounds that occur in music. We do this in order to build a consistent set of ideas to describe what happens in music.

Christopher will show you how the major scale is harmonized by building the notes of the scale into chords and their relative functions.

Christopher will show you how the minor scale is harmonized by building the notes of the scale into chords and their relative functions.

In this tutorial we will learn how the minor scale can be altered to make different scales, chords and harmonies. We'll build a minor chord progression and learn how to play the natural diatonic minor scale as melodic lines along with those chords. Then we'll alter the chords and scales to show the different possible minor sounding flavors that are used in music.

Christopher will explain the Circle Of Fifths. Topics covered include key signatures with sharps, key signatures with flats, and practical applications of Circle of Fifths.

Christopher will show you basic ear training exercises designed to be used for guitarists. You will use the guitar to play, hear, sing and identify all 12 chromatic scale degrees. We'll start with the diatonic major and minor scales. Then we'll add the remaining chromatic degrees. Then we'll try some basic exercises to practice identifying all those intervals in order to gain the aural skill of relative pitch identification.

Christopher will show you basic ear training exercises designed to be used for guitarists. You will use the guitar to play, hear, and identify major chords and minor chords. We'll also learn to identify chord progressions by listening for their bass motion and using functional harmony Roman Numerals. Then we'll try some basic exercises to practice identifying those chord qualities and chord progressions in order to gain those aural skills.