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M-I: Horizontal View

Start Learning Melody Theory

1. What is Melody? First of all, I'm gonna check to what extent a music theory sees as a "melody". A is a horizontal sequence of single notes that we see as a single "line". Here's a famous nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down". In this case the upper part is regarded as a melody, while the lower part…
yuta
May 25, 2022
C-I: Basic System

Cadences

1. Resolution In the article "" 、The role of prime chords are categorized into three, namely, . Prograding or retrograding this functional "orbit" creates various stories of chord progressions. Above all, when to reach is a very important factor. In music theory, releasing musical tension (e.g. an unstable chord progresses to a stable chord, a dissonant sound becomes consonant) is…
yuta
June 3, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Seventh and Tension Chords

1. Extend the Sonority There are no rules in music. But what was explained so far is limited; only six prime chords in simple "BBQ" style (stack by 3rd). The Bitter Tastes Better Why we started with this "3 notes, by 3rd" is that their sonority is quite consonant(≈pure, clear, stable). By adding extra notes to them, they get dissonant(≈muddy,…
yuta
April 29, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Quality Change

From chapter II, you'll learn more chords other than six prime chords. But you may plan to finish studying at chapter I. Then, All that you get is just these six chords...which is a bit insipid. So I pick up some useful chords from later chapters and briefly introduce them. In later chapters I'll explain them again in detail, including…
yuta
February 19, 2025
C-I: Basic System

Harmonic Functions

1. The "Roles" Chords Play In you learned that six prime chords are divided into two parties, constructing 3vs3 symmetric correspondence. {I}{IV}{V} are all major chords, and {VIm}{IIm}{IIIm} are all minor chords. But when they form a chord progression, each chord gives a distinct impression to you, by the power of contexts. Typically, when a song progresses to {I} chord,…
yuta
June 4, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Three Chords and Substitution

1. Major vs Minor The six prime chords are in the order of "maj, min, min, maj, maj, min". It looks unbalanced but when sorted by chord types, you'll find some beauty of form in it. Look at the distance between notes...... Well, keyboards will visualize that better. Can you see that the major family and the minor family form…
yuta
February 10, 2025
C-I: Basic System

Harmonic Rhythms and Cycles

You've learned 2 chord types, chord symbols, the six prime chords and how to place notes (=voicings). Now it is high time to talk about chord progressions. 1. Cycle of a Chord Progression The very first thing to be noted is that repetition is crucial in almost all sort of music. In general, a song repeats a cycle of chord…
yuta
May 25, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Roman Numeral Analysis

1. Relativity in Music In the previous section you learned that every key has its own prime chords. Prime chords in A major key The reason why guitarists memorize a large number of chords lies here. They have to switch the set of prime chords according to the key of a song. Let's say a guitarist makes a song for…
yuta
May 5, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Basics of Realizing/Analyzing Chords

1. Realizing Chords So far we've laid the groundwork for basic concepts such as harmonies, chord tones and chord names. If you're a guitarist, you can realize these chords by pressing strings as formulated. But in keyboards you have to decide in which octaves tones should be placed. In music theory, the placements of chord tones are called . In…
yuta
June 14, 2024
C-I: Basic System

Prime Chords (2)Utilize Circle of Fifths

1. Prime Chords in Other Keys Now, below are the prime chords in C major key. These are the most basic chords "in C major key". It means that each key has a unique set of prime chords. In this article I'm gonna explain how to identify prime chords in a key. Case 1 : A Major Key Take A…
yuta
May 2, 2022