Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 3: Extended Harmony

This course is an extension of Music Theory for Electronic Musicians, and Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 2, in which we learned how to work with the piano roll editor in a DAW to make harmonies, melodies, and whole tracks. In this class we expand on those ideas and work with harmonic patterns (harmony) that is more rich than just major and minor.

Production Techniques Through Theory
The most important part of this class is an extensive foray into using these techniques in actual tracks. I’ll be creating 9 tracks through this class, right along with you, each using a different technique so you can see exactly how I incorporate it right into my music.

COURSE FEATURES

• Understand and apply new harmonic ideas to your songs
• Produce music using techniques outside of just major and minor keys
• Understand and use the 7 musical modes
• Over 50 individual video tutorials
• 4.5 hours of indepth tuition
• Learn at your own pace, watch as many times as you need to learn the lessons

“Love that he not only shows you the theory and a bunch of cool chord progressions but also composes using them. This series is great!”

– Dixon Leavitt

IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?

• This course is ideal for music theory beginners, as well as student with some background in music theory.
• Anyone who produces music, or aspires to produce music, should take the course.

REQUIREMENTS

• Although Ableton Live is used in the class, students do not need to be Live users. But they should have access to some kind of audio program with MIDI sequencing. Garageband, Logic, or several free pieces of software all work great.
• No MIDI instruments are required.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Welcome & Overview

• Introduction
• Working with the Piano Roll Editor
• Major and minor chords, scales, and keys
• Diatonic Chord Progressions

Modes! New Harmonic Territories

• Introduction to new harmonic ideas (more than just major and minor)
• How Modes Work
• History of the Modes
• The Ionian Mode
• The Dorian Mode
• The Phrygian Mode
• The Lydian Mode
• The Mixolydian Mode
• The Aeolian Mode
• The Locrian Mode

Using Modes

• A word about analysis projects in this class
• Producing with Modes
• Example Track Using Modes
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session
• Example Track Using Modes
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session

COURSE OVERVIEW

Pentatonic Scales

• What are Pentatonic Scales?
• Uses of the Pentatonic Scales
• The Major Pentatonic Scale
• The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Using Pentatonic Scales

• Example Track with Pentatonic Scales
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session
• Example Track with Pentatonic Scales
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session

Chromatic Mediants

• What are Chromatic Mediants?
• Example Track with Chromatic Mediants
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session
• Example Track with Chromatic Mediants
• [DOWNLOAD] Full Session

Creating with Advanced Harmonies

• Ok, We Have Tons of Options Now. What Do I Do?
• Tip 1: Work Backwards
• Example Track Using the “Work Backwards” Technique
• Tip 2: Map out a Mode or Scale and Explore it
• Example Track using “Mapping”
• Tip 3: Find the “Essence” of the scale, mode, or key.