Music Theory - Harmonizing the Major Scale

[chrisgsauce]

Terrific lesson and well explained. Perfect for the beginner theory student such as myself :D

[Nato955]

This is extremely helpful, thank you.

[hembrow]

Great video :)

[MrSketchSkater]

@christianfff

[PaydayLoanHelp]

Music theory is the best. I can't read notes that well, but with the music theory I know I can just make up a lot of it.

[nymetsrock]

@PaydayLoanHelp oh man, reading notes is so much easier to learn than this, if you can do this you can learn to read notes like a pro in no time

[zliminator]

I drive a truck for a living and I'm trying to memorize the circle of 5ths while I'm at work. I thought it would be a good way to know the I-IV-V progression in any key. Now I see from your video that you could also use the circle of 5ths to determine the minors (II III & VI) and the aug because they are always in the same relative position from the root. How practical would it be to know the circle of 5ths that well as opposed to memorizing each chord progression for each key by just pure rote?

[operaboi1992]

@zliminator It would be more practical to memorize the circle of 5ths progression for 14 major and 14 minor keys rather than simply memorizing I, IV, and V of 14 major and 14 minor keys. The circle of 5ths progression gives you more context for those chords in addition to the fact that practicing circle of 5ths progressions will help you learn ii, iii (III+), vi (VI), and dim viii.

[Dynamik5]

@zliminator If you take the time though and get to know every scale in rote. And you learn "formulas" for how triads are built. Then you'll be surprised how open the whole guitar becomes to you, especially if you combine this with memorizing the fretboard in it's entirety. Learning scale patterns and triad shapes = a huge leap in ability..Plus once you have this foundation laid, everything is much easier to understand.

[lolcudlol]

thanks andrew, ive been following your videos for a year now and when i first saw this, i was lost, but through your teaching i now get it

[GrowingPatatoes]

Im looking to make a piano melody for a beat I made for a rap ive been working on, This video got me wanting to learn more about music, This is interesting, keep making videos please!

[FieryRedDonkeyOfHell]

I'm just starting to play guitar, and I've decided to take the theoretical approach to learning this instrument. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for, and it was clear and precise. Subscribed!

[mikeydcool]

Thanks for all your help. I have been in a rut for about a year now but I am not getting back into theory and guitar again! I can't believe I am saying this but you look like a white Anderson Silva a little bit. Bet you've never heard that one.

[pikotsky0906]

Can you show me the minor sequence too? lets stick to the key C, this time Cm.. thanks!!!

[josemontenegro777]

@pikotsky0906 it's the same, add triads and see what happens

[37no37]

hello, I hope you help me on this, WHY I never see a teacher showing how to harmonize a real song, in the same way that in this video you write the numbers and below the notes, triads etc.. WHY DON'T you show us in the same way with a real melody, or even I saw you explaining chord progression on the guitar, if you show like now on the board and after the guitar would be perfect, thank you for any help you can give me.

[MrMichaelderon]

@37no37 Because this is Theory Hun !

[downhill240]

Even though much of what you talk about is way over my head I still feel like a learn from it!

[TEZZOR8]

Help please.....everyone seems to explain the major/minor scale as a series of intervals....which they are, however, why does the major/minor scale have this series of intervals? So major is R, 2,3.4,5,6 ,6 Octave....bue why on the guitar do you have a minor 2nd and major 2nd etc.....what is the origin behind this and do why say there are 8 notes in an octave, when in fact (if ou count the enharmonics) there are 12?

[Yugatoran]

@TEZZOR8 The major scale consists (from the root) a perfect 1st (unison), major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th, and perfect 8th (octave). This is true for all major scales. There are notes in between, and when those are hit, the intervals can go to minor, augmented, and diminished. There are certain rules for these. As a random example, C to Db is a minor second, where C to D is a major 2nd. Message me if you want more help with this.

[gokharol]

Please, how do I get this stuck in my head?

[Fdirie]

@gokharol

Regular practice.

[dragonzahara]

thank you soo much.

[kengkongs]

now we understand the term diatonic now what's Chromatic??

[triviumd13]

@kengkongs its using every note

[funkking567]

man this is helpful for high school music program. thank you so much. PS: your good at this so thanks. :) :) :)

[cdnLEE]

oh man, if they only taught university level organic chemistry like this, everyone would be getting A's instead of getting weeded :D

Thanks :D

[TheodoreKalantzakos]

Hi Andrew!

Very cool video!

I'll attach it and use it as supplementary video to my video tutorials series: "Harmonizing the C major Scale" on the guitar using all the Chord Shapes!

Again, Great job!

/Theodore K

[jollincones]

I kept waiting for you to really dig in. I don't think I would have understood what you were explaining had I not already understood the concept presented.

[musicalidea]

Super, super basic elementary 101 stuff. Does he have a more advanced series of Tonal analysis/long range voice leading analysis on YouTube? That would be sweet.

[closetome]

What minor modes correspond to the harmonized natural minor scale? I can't find this anywhere?

[arizandyh]

um... you should probably use lower case fir minor triads like it should be. scale degree 2,3,6 and dim 7 should be ii, iii, vi and vii˚

[creativeguitarstudio]

@arizandyh ...

The lowercase minor's are only used in Classical Theory. I do not use Classical theory. You need to learn more about Jazz & Contemporary Harmony & Theory to more completely understand my approach.

[bboystarchild]

@creativeguitarstudio i think it is best to understand both the classical approach and the newer and different approaches. i have seen several different was to say different things. like a augmented III III+, III+5, IIIaug,

[plumeriaink]

@creativeguitarstudio You lost me at diminished everything else made sense. thanks,

[lonephoenix08]

@plumeriaink On the diminished chords, he explained that (B, D, F) which when they are sounded together will sound like a diminished chord. An easy way to remember this is that they always happen right before hitting (I) again so every (VII) will be diminished chord.

The difference of what a dim chord is and a minor is that a minor is (B, D, F#) and Diminished is (B,D,F) which the difference is that the 3rd note of the triad is flatted, brings a creepy sounding chord.

[mohosfasho]

@creativeguitarstudio 4:00 haha whyd they ask..

[potissimus100]

@arizandyh he said howcome

[MegaJosue30]

apology could do a Spanish video pratodas the Spanish-speaking personae by

[Fanizzle27]

Thank you!!

[xxxblucoxxx]

back to the school bench......

[pinkkid94]

This is HARD stuff to remember :(

[CARREONE1000]

thanks ADREW.. I always learned something new in your lessons or proper technique in music theory

[BerndGunther]

Great stuff! Easy and understandable... do you have any lessons on a practical approach on modes usage for soloing when composing? Thanks tons

[oaklandfla2]

whew......wish I lived closer to Andrew for lessons. He is gooood.

[gldnkltz101]

I might as well be watching this in Dutch.

[lp4everockzzz]

what is the 1st lesson should i watch? i am a begginer and i want to learn music theory, please give me the llink for Step 1

[JustmedudeSpliff]

@lp4everockzzz hey man are you learning theory? just startin out on manuscript reading? me too, and I found one guy that rocks so far dude, he is "musictheoryguy". He's here on youtube somewhere, english fella, just gotta search for him.

[lp4everockzzz]

@JustmedudeSpliff thanks man,, i found his page, on may 7th ill start watching his video, 'coz right now i'm on vacation with my parents, thank you for telling me these information. Goodluck to us!

[blistershot88]

@creativeguitarstudio Hey Andrew, This is great stuff:) You were mentioning in this video about Harmony Theories centered around using the notes of a scale for Vocals.... do you have any links for that or do you think you could make a video for that? Would be Awesome:-)

[Bootz3456]

I have been browsing the internet for a long time to find the best Music Theory courses and training, and I have to say this video is really good.

[JustmedudeSpliff]

@Bootz3456 Boots? do you know a dude named Spliff and a dude named Pocket? haha thatd be crazy if this is you bootz? but hey either way, check out "musictheoryguy" on you tube. he is an english fella and has helped me alot, very careful explanations.

[cris5949]

diatonic= 2 notes. his explanation is confusing

[jippie11261]

@cris5949 ... You need to just learn more about music theory. Andrew is completely correct in his use of Diatonic. In my University music classes most of the Prof's mention the "Modern" meanings of many musical terms. In classes with strict Classical Prof's, it can be more ridged. But, Diatonic can refer to at least 3 concepts in modern music... Inside a mode, the opposite of chromatic, or a mixed meaning based upon context. You'll have to read up more to fully understand it.

[cris5949]

@jippie11261 i listened to him again, it does make sense but most of the time when someone refers to a diatonic harmony they are talking a bout a pair of notes, but yes by definition it can be more notes

[PhrygianBlack]

Here's what I call them....

Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant, Submediant, and of course THE LEADING TONE TRIAD!!!

[PhrygianBlack]

Great video for the novice, but not music theory experts like me. Ha-ha!

[GameLevelEditor]

I might have to watch this video a few times and reference those videos prior as well because pentatonic zakk wylde scales only gets me so far. The harmonies and the chords found in jazz will only perplex me if I partake in jazz music and only try to memorize solos and chord compings from the jazz greats. I can see I missed the most important basics of music already haha but I'm onto it!

Great explanations here and appreciate your sharing!

[Vengeanceisourpassio]

he i still dont get what diatonic is? im sorry for the complacations

[N33m0]

Please get a mic or at least dampen the room a bit, the reverb is horrible and it's hard to make out what your saying.

[illeagle7]

@N33m0

Tha fuck you talkin' bout?

[KitchBiscuit]

@N33m0 You're an idiot

[ibanezguitarplayer88]

I know this and more!!!!!!!!

[tcinpa37]

Thanks for the info. Great series of videos you have here.

Although I think someone needs to call the WAH-mbulance for the butt hurt folks who complain about upper and lower case Numerals. First of all, you've explained why they are upper at the end of the video, and secondly, if anyone doesn't automatically know which degrees are minor and which are major, and needs specific characters to define it, this video is probably beyond them anyway.

Anyway, thanks again to the author. Great stuff!

[ibanezguitarplayer88]

I ii iii IV V vi viio I

[timwood1104]

@ibanezguitarplayer88

That's the first thing I was thinking.

I don't like he wrote it out... >_>

[timwood1104]

@timwood1104

*how he wrote it out.

[tcinpa37]

@ibanezguitarplayer88 Have a bah-bah, crybaby.

[stargazer1701E]

thank you.

[nochi143]

GOOD LESSON! but i didn't understand a thing, but i'll repeat this, to make myself understand! thanks!!!

[MisGuitarrasYYo]

Fantastic lesson Andrew, thanks a lot. I am the guy you talked about, I have played for over 20 years, and can play pretty much in any key on the spot to accompany a singer or follow in a nice chord progression, but I didn't understand until now why I played the sequence of chords I did. Thank you Andrew, you inspire me to learn more, even at my age. You do make a difference. Thanks.

[dannymusick]

Nice! this is exactly what i was looking for! somone who can explain theory and is good at it! great job!!!

[christianfff]

anyone else feel like a newborn puppy on the highway? x(

[TheReenix]

@christianfff Not really; it's rather simple. I found it fascinating for strengthening my composition.

[GamingJediPwns]

Thank you so much Andrew. Your videos are of an excellent quality and the audio is perfect. I learned so much from just this one lesson that I subscribed and I am now about to sit and watch all your videos. Thank you once again, I really appreciate the work you put in to bring these to us.

[SoulGuitarMan]

If i had to add something to the board i would have included the each step of the major scales has names, that you should definetly memorize; Ionian(c), dorian(dm), phrygian(em), lydian(f), mixolydian(g), aeolin(am), and locrian(b dim). Great lesson btw, i wish i could've watched something like this when i was first learning this stuff instead of having to figure it out on my own

[rogue1426]

@Royisinabox natural is being a flat or sharped i belive and is not related to the minors in th key of c major. dont take my word for it, i just barely understand music theory and its just a guess lol

[nanozone11]

you know EVERYTHING!

[HARDOZ30]

good lesson, this is not an easy topic to conceptualize and clearly communicate to others.

[sonico73]

Just a humble advise the seven the roman number should have the diminish sign! Great lesson thou and thanks to help people to understand it.

[downhill240]

Way over my head but I still feel I pick up some of it!

[treguzzardo]

I need to learn more of this!

[TheKillander]

o_0 So much knowledge!!!!!!!!!! *Brain Explodes*

[wajang1000]

Very good video. Well explained in a succinct manner. I have seen your improvisation video but I would like to see more practical applications of how the improvisation ties in with this lesson, preferably played on electirc guitar.

[gshine07]

keep making shit like this! plz dont stop bro! i honestly watch this and study everything you say....im honestly learning more and getting better!

[steveo27545]

Thanks so much, got many things from this, this is the stuff people need, I have spent about four months studying this stuff, too be honest sometimes my brain goes into paralysis analysis.

Thanks for letting me know I really have to get this in my brain.

Very good lesson

Steveo

[galtesler]

Very good video. Thanks a bunch

[bassboygnd]

great video

[Adam777s]

sorry dont no what diotonic means. could u help.pleeeese

[toml71]

@Adam777s the notes in that particular scale

[Adam777s]

@toml71 thanks very much mate especially for passion of christ video. im from scotland.

[JoeGancher]

@Adam777s The major scale is another name for the diatonic scale.

[pianoscantalk]

You should use lower-case roman numerals to represent the minor degrees.

[Klutz20082008]

Glad to see videos posted on this. A lot of times it takes many teachers teaching different ways to create associations in student's thinking.  On the first board, it is customary to use lower case numerals to signify minor chords such as, [ii,iii,iv] Also for the 7, viio. Though you may have reasoning behind it...

[tcinpa37]

@Klutz20082008 Yeah, he explains it. Did you even watch the video or just randomly interject your wannabe expert opinion?

[uRockMySocksxP]

im ready to fail my music theory test tomorrow !

i dont understand anything about triads .

my teacher told us to memorize the chart she gave us, it includs tonic, supertonic, major keys: roman numerials and other craps.

anyways, thanks for these videos ! i tried so hard to understand them lol

[512Airsoft]

Ugh, so no matter how many times someone tries to explain music theory to me all the terms and things just go over my head and I end up totally lost as to what the heck they're talking about. Any advice?

[realjuvelive]

what is the purpose of the scales ? major (minor)>> harmonic minor melodic !?

[FluidDelusions]

thanks for the video.

i know understand how to harmonize major scales, but where to from here? i mean how can i use this, say in an improvisation? do i just grab a couple of harmonized chords from a scale make a chord progression and use the scale above it to create a melody?

i need some guidance as to how to apply this knowledge. thanks again, great lesson as always.

[guitaraddict4life]

diatonic means two tonics or two roots, this is because every major scale contains with in it a relative natural minor so in essence its diatonic to change key but stay in the same note system for instance a modulation from c major to a minor

[jouma666]

Sweet lesson as usual! Thanks alot Andrew!

[najtrows]

this is so good! i have a kind of "mixed" knowledge in this are and with your vids it helps me to straighten things out and have more order in my knowledge! :)

[MetalBassjunkie420]

CDEFGABC= C major scale. Can you please give me the rest of them?

[7StrangeFruits]

Use this its easier then memorizing.

The order of sharps is FCGDAEB.

C has no sharps or flats if you count 5 up from C (CDEFG) G has one sharp so its GABCDEF#. Keep going you get (GABCD) D has 2 sharps so... DEF#GABC# and so on. For Flats its Backwards BEADGCF the only difference is count 4 (CDEF) F has 1 flat FGABbCDEF (small b is a flat) the only thing about flats is F is the only one without flat in the name so if you go to the next one which is B its called B flat B would be sharps.

[ihypno]

why do i see this everywhere? ill give ya G if thats what your talking about haha. there easy to find.

GABCDEF#G

i hope thats what you mean haha.. because there are no more notes in C

[LzI]

@MetalBassjunkie420 lol? you want him to write ALL types of scales? :P hah

[strabbs1]

how do you do this for a minor scale, ive read it goes minor, dim, maj, maj,min,min,maj. i konw it slightly differetn with the minor but id be intersted to know

[ihypno]

i think what your trying to do is take the major formula for chords and apply that to minor? like major is maj min min maj maj min dim maj.C wound be c d e f g a b c chords with the maj/min pattern above.. A being the minor note, i guess you could do a pattern there also. a b c d e f g a

min dim maj min min maj maj min

[strabbs1]

thanks, i struggle to understand why the minor is more complex than the major, iam a bit stupid i guess!!

[Klutz20082008]

@strabbs1 this may be belated, but the minor system is very complex, that is why many of the coolest pieces are written that way. In order to create direction in minor keys, the 7th scale degree is raised for the "5" chord. This will create a solid resolution to "1" Though you can choose to not raise it and have a total modal piece in the aeolian mode! One such song is Chevaliers de Sangreal by Hans Zimmer from the Da Vinci Code.

[g4guitarstudent]

Great lesson. I am from g4guitar and I will refer our students to this lesson as I know they will appreciate it.

[janken919]

Ok, I think I got it D Phrygian is D Eb F G A Bb C. Harmonized; the triads would be: DFA, EbGBb, FAC, GBbD, ACE, BbDbF, CEbG. All the scale degrees are major except for the fifth which is augmented, is this correct.

[janken919]

@janken919 and the sixth is minor ,sorry.

[mcewanschampion]

ACE should it not be ACEb?? ;-)

[janken919]

@mcewanschampion I don't ..think so? but I have been known to be wrong.

[TarnishedMedia66]

there is no Eb in the c major scale thats why its like that

[janken919]

Hey Andrew, I was wondering how one would harmonize a D Phrygian scale

D, D#,F,G,A,A#,C.

[lonnysara]

hey Janken

You shouldn't use the same note names in the same scale. (D, D# and A, A#) should not be in the same line. Now if you use every letter you can change your D# and your A# to flats..

So now your D Phrygian is D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C

Phrygian is 2 whole steps above the Ionian. So if you go back 4 frets you will find your Ionian scale. So in this case it is Bb. D Phrygian is harmonized with the Bb Ionian/Major scale. C Dorian is the same notes. Basically Harmonized means same notes...

[janken919]

O.K, I think I'm following you. I basically want to harmonize the scale so I can figure out which scale degrees are major or minor etc, for writing chord progressions. I guess using the same note names(D,D#) is a faux pas,lol.

[fresh1air]

Thank you so much for this lesson!

[Sw1tch08]

brilliant lesson

[HugoDesMusic]

Another great vid ! Thanx !

[Draugoth]

Jeez, wish I knew about you three years ago. Would have saved me alot of frustration about scale harmony.

[KacanuHa]

Another great one, Andrew, and although I know this stuff already, it was a pleasure watching you explain it. You are not only a good musician, but also a GREAT teacher! 5/5

[Rixx21]

I found this video very useful, thank you :)

[LiveinHiDef]

A valuable class, but free. I love it.

Thanks!!

[jippie11261]

Hey Qpidon...

Listen man, Andrew takes what would probably be a 45 min. class at a college or university and somehow manages to cover it, (I would say better than a professor in most cases), in under 15 min. To me that alone is incredible... but you're giving him lip about it being too long... he should make them shorter... I don't know what your after, but as far as I am concerned Andrew is the best instructor I've ever seen or heard. Shorter videos in my opinion, would NOT be better.

The Jip

[Qpidon]

*Andrew is the best instructor I've ever seen or heard.*

I totaly agree!! : I watch every video from Andrew religiously!

I Did not expect my comment to stir such a polemica. Mea Culpa!

Pascal

[marlosfm]

I totally agree!

[gremboul]

Great for learning and refreshing. Would be nice to look at theory around altered tunings.

[alexdaplayar110]

hey thanx for all of these videos...could u do a bass video if you know that stuff i would love that cuz i am just starting to learn it

[EricImpMusic]

Wow great video

[Einfrein]

I learned alot, and I also learned a thing I've been wondering for a long time. Thanks!