Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 2: Minor Keys and More

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This course is an extension of Music Theory for Electronic Musicians, 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 minor keys, focus some time on melody writing and bassline writing, and talk about how different tracks work.
Extensive Analysis
The most important part of this class is an extensive analysis of tracks by Daft Punk, Avicii, Skrillex, and many more. In each of these analysis segments, we look at their tracks on the piano roll editor, and talk about why they sound the way they do, and how you can use similar techniques in your own music. Each of these segments picks apart multiple elements of the song and dissects it in an easy to understand way.
Who should take this course?
Anyone interested in producing their own tracks. This will get you up and running and give your tracks a unique sound in no time.
Structure
This course consists of video lectures, which all contain a session in Ableton Live 9. If you are using a different program (or none at all), no worries! This isn't a class on how to use Ableton Live, and the concepts can be applied to any DAW.
For years I've been teaching Ableton Live in the college classroom. As a University Professor, my classes are sought after, and, frankly, expensive. I believe Music Theory can be learned by anyone, and cost shouldn't be a barrier.

What will I learn in this Course?

  • Clip Fades
  • The Push 2 Interface
  • The Wavetable Instrument
  • Browser Improvements
  • Echo Effect
  • Capture Workflow
  • Automation Changes
  • Programming Wavetable
  • Pedal Effect
  • Drum Bus Effect

Course Outline

  • Welcome & Overview
  • Analysis: Shame on Me (Avicii)
    • Analysis 1: Avicii
  • Minor Scales & Keys
    • Relative Keys
    • Minor Diatonic Chord Progressions
    • The Case of the Melodic and Harmonic Minor Scales
  • Analysis: Ghosts N Stuff (Deadmau5)
  • The Circle of Fifths
    • What We Know So Far
    • Changing Keys in Your Track
  • Analysis: Get Lucky (Daft Punk)
    • Analysis: Get Lucky (Daft Punk)
  • A Few More Chord Extensions
    • 9ths and 13ths
    • Suspended Chords
    • Reading a Chord Chart
    • Cluster Chords and Unnamed Chords
  • Analysis: Everything You Do is a Balloon (Boards of Canada)
    • Analysis: Everything You Do is a Balloon (Boards of Canada)
  • Melody Writing
    • Writing Melodies for Chord Progressions
    • Counter Melody with an Arpeggiator
  • Analysis: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Skrillex)
    • Analysis: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Skrillex)
  • Bass Lines
    • Follow the Root Note
    • Bass Riffs
    • Bass Lines: Getting Muddy
  • Analysis: Windowlicker (Aphex Twin)
    • Analysis: Windowlicker (Aphex Twin)
  • Chromaticism
    • Chromaticism
  • Wrap Up
    • Thanks and Bye! (For now…)
  • Open All · Close All

Course Information

Estimated Time: 4.75 Hours

Categories: ,

Course Instructor

Jay Allen Author

J. Anthony Allen is an Ableton Certified Trainer, and a PhD in Music Composition and master of Electronic Sounds. His music has been heard internationally in film, radio, video games, and industrial sound, as well as the concert hall and theater. He currently is an adjunct professor of composition at the University of St. Thomas, and is the CEO and co-founder of Slam Academy in Minneapolis.

 

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Welcome & Overview

Welcome!

Let’s start with an overview of what we will cover in this class, tools we will be using, and how we will be covering this information.

Analysis: Shame on Me (Avicii)

Analysis 1: Avicii

Our first analysis – in this lesson we examine the track Shame on Me by Avicii, We find the chord progression, figure out why it sounds the way it does, and how it works.

Minor Scales & Keys

Minor Scales

Minor scales! What separates major scales from minor scales? What are the patterns in a minor scale?
Relative Keys

Every minor key has a relative major key, and every major key a relative minor. In this lesson, we talk about how to find the relatives, and how to use them.
Minor Diatonic Chord Progressions

Our old friend the diatonic chord progression that we learned in Music Theory for Electronic Musicians I in the major key is back. Now, we will learn it again in the minor key.
The Case of the Melodic and Harmonic Minor Scales

The minor scale (and key) isn’t as simple as the major. It has a few variations, and we will look at them in this lesson.

Analysis: Ghosts N Stuff (Deadmau5)

Analysis: Ghosts N Stuff (Deadmau5)

The Circle of Fifths

What We Know So Far

What is the circle of fifths, why is it important, and how can we use it in our tracks?
Changing Keys in Your Track

Now that you have a command over the circle of fifths, we can use it as a creative tool to find new and different chords for our tracks.

Analysis: Get Lucky (Daft Punk)

Analysis: Get Lucky (Daft Punk)

In this lesson we examine the track Get Lucky by Daft Punk, We find the chord progression, figure out why it sounds the way it does, and how it works.

A Few More Chord Extensions

7th Chords in Minor

We looked at 7th chords in the previous class, and here they are again applied to minor keys.
9ths and 13ths

Moving beyond 7th chords, we can add more extensions – 9ths and 13ths. See how these sound and can be useful to us.
Suspended Chords

Adding the 2nd and 4th into our chords for a “suspended” sound.
Reading a Chord Chart

Why not a little Michael Jackson? Let’s try reading a chord chart, you will be surprised at what you already know how to do.
Cluster Chords and Unnamed Chords

Found a chord without a good name? Call it a cluster chord.

Analysis: Everything You Do is a Balloon (Boards of Canada)

Analysis: Everything You Do is a Balloon (Boards of Canada)

In this lesson we examine the track Everything you Do is a Balloon by Boards of Canada, We find the chord progression, figure out why it sounds the way it does, and how it works.

Melody Writing

Writing Melodies for Chord Progressions

How can we find a melody that fits with a chord progression? Some techniques and strategies for finding a melody in this lesson.
Writing Chord Progressions for Melodies

How about finding the chords to fit with a melody we have? Techniques and tricks for finding the right chords in this lesson.
Counter Melody with an Arpeggiator

We now have a chord progression and a melody. In this lesson, we look at adding another layer – a countermelody – to the mix.

Analysis: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Skrillex)

Analysis: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Skrillex)

In this lesson we examine the track Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites by Skrillex, We find the chord progression, figure out why it sounds the way it does, and how it works.

Bass Lines

Follow the Root Note

How do we find a bass line that works with a chord progression?
Bass Riffs

If we have a bass riff, how can we find chords that work together with it? A few tricks in this lesson.
Bass Lines: Getting Muddy

A word of caution for creating bass lines.

Analysis: Windowlicker (Aphex Twin)

Analysis: Windowlicker (Aphex Twin)

In this lesson, we examine the track Windowlicker by Aphex Twin. We find the chord progression, figure out why it sounds the way it does, and how it works.

Chromaticism

Chromaticism

Getting outside of the box with your chords. Way outside of the box.

Wrap Up

Thanks and Bye! (For now…)

Thanks for hanging out!

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