Contents
Music Fundamentals
The 7 notes that are the building blocks of a song
The spacing between notes
Functional Harmony
The study of how chords work
Establishing the set of notes and chords used in a song
A powerful framework for understanding how songs work
Numbering notes within a key
Numbering chords within a key
Basic Chord Concepts
Chords naturally found in the key
Different chord sounds and their function
Different ways of playing or arranging the same chord
Ending a musical idea
Melody
A song's rhythmic framework
Understanding melody tension over chords
Advanced Chords
Using a different bass note to change a chord's sound
Adding one more note to the basic chords
Chords that temporarily shift the harmonic center
A chord with built in tension and release
A chord with an added tone that enriches its sound
Using chords from parallel modes for contrast and emotion
Jazz harmonic technique replacing dominant chords with chords a tritone away
Altered (raised or lowered) notes create tension and complexity in chords
Advanced Concepts in Harmony
Two ways to change a song's key
Borrowing chords from another key
New scales and home base chords for a different mood
Using notes within and outside a song's key
Progressions that connect the bass