Welcome to the MUSIC THEORY FOR ELECTRONIC MUSIC Guide - Part 4!
In this class we are going to focus on turning chord progressions into an expressive element of the track, and not just "blocks" of harmony. We will add some new chords, look at passing tones and a few kinds of suspensions, and a kind of "out of the box" chord progression called a Sequence. This will make writing chords a whole lot easier!
If Your Music is Missing Something, This is Probably It.
If you are finding that you are writing track after track, and while they sound good, there is something they are missing - then this it. You are missing the sense of harmony that professional producers have. In this class, I'll arm you with all the tools you need to produce those tracks just like you imagine them.
Who should take this course?
Anyone interested in producing their own music. 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 10. 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.
Topics include:

  • Non-chord Tones in Chords
  • Passing Tones
  • Neighbor Tones
  • Passing Chords
  • Neighbor Chords
  • Suspensions
  • Appoggiaturas
  • Cadences
  • Half Cadences
  • Plagal Cadences
  • Sequences
  • Progressions by a Fifth Sequence
  • Progressions by a Fourth Sequence
  • Progressions by a Third Sequence
  • ... And much more!!!

Course Outline

  • Introduction
    • Introduction
    • Tools You Will Need
    • How To Use This Class
  • Non-Chord Tones (In Chords!)
    • What are Non-Chord Tones?
    • Passing Tones
    • Neighbor Tones
    • Blurring The Lines
    • Passing Chords
    • Neighbor Chords
  • Suspensions
    • What are Suspensions?
    • Rhythmic Displacement
    • Suspension Types
    • The Appoggiatura
    • Going Downhill
    • Mess Things Up!
  • Cadences
    • What are Cadences?
    • Perfect Authentic Cadences
    • Imperfect Authentic Cadences
    • Half-Cadences
    • Plagal Cadences
    • Deceptive Cadences
  • Sequences
    • What are Sequences?
    • Why Use Sequences?
  • Progressions By Fifth
    • The Ascending Fifth and Descending Fourth Sequence
    • The Descending Fifth and Ascending Fourth
    • Going Farther Down the Staircase
    • Descending Fifth Sequences in Minor
    • Chromatic Descending Fifth Sequences
    • Using a Fifth Progression for a Quick Key Change
  • Progressions By Third
    • The Descending Third Sequence
    • Descending Thirds in Minor
    • Ascending Third Progressions
  • Progressions By Second
    • Progressions by Seconds
    • Combining Sequences
    • Analysis: Canon in D (Pachelbel)
    • DOWNLOAD: Canon MIDI File
  • Wrap Up
    • What Comes Next?
    • Thanks for Watching!

Course Information

Estimated Time: 2.5 Hours

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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