Masterclass: Chord Progressions

Learn our easy 6-step method that will take you from a blank screen to a great chord progression!
►FREE Book: https://HackMusicTheory.com/Books
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►Songwriting & Producing PDF: https://HackMusicTheory.com/Bestsellers

0:00 intro
0:45 - playthrough of the song (so far)
1:35 - the blank canvas is full of endless possibilities
2:15 - STEP 1: choose the scale/mode that reflects what you're feeling
3:12 - we chose Dorian, which sounds like the cloud with a silver lining
3:25 - STEP 2: choose a key note for your mode
5:20 - STEP 3: write out the mode from your key note
7:00 - STEP 4: write out all the chords in your mode
8:25 - root note vs key note
9:27 - the musical menu
10:44 - STEP 5: choose the specific chords that tell your musical story
11:04 - minor chords vs major chords
12:01 - our musical story
13:35 - choose the ratio of major chords to minor chords
15:40 - play with the harmonic rhythm (i.e. how long they last and when they change)
18:40 - play the chord that emphasizes Dorian
20:54 - STEP 6: use inversions and sus chords to make your chord changes flow
21:26 - make chord changes flow using common notes (i.e. how to use inversions in your chord progression)
23:15 - what happens when you have adjacent chords
24:55 - how to make a common note between adjacent chords (i.e. how to use sus chords in your chord progression)
27:27 - create a sense of movement without changing chords
31:02 - explore the melodies within the chords (i.e. the melodic approach to harmony) and the beginnings of counterpoint
32:08 - use the power of motifs to add familiarity and structure
33:16 - check the chord change from the last chord to the first chord
35:51 - playthrough of the final chord progression
36:54 - Ray's "piano test"
38:14 outro

►Want to know how we wrote the bass line you hear. Check out our video here:    • Masterclass: Bass Lines  

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ABOUT
Hack Music Theory is the fast, easy and fun way to make music. Taught by multi-award-winning music lecturer Ray Harmony, and his protégé wife Kate. Ray started teaching music theory in 1995, and has made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), and more!

COPYRIGHT & CREDITS
© 2017 Revolution Harmony
Revolution Harmony is Kate & Ray Harmony
Script & music in video by Revolution Harmony