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Go at your own pace
11 Sessions / 1 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Music Theory, Reading Music, Music Notation, Music Education

Not available for purchase in India

Open for Enrollment

Music Theory Level 1: Part Three

Open for Enrollment
You can also start immediately after joining!

Would you like to enroll?

Enrollment for this course has closed. But you can enroll in a future offering (please select)

Enrollment has closed

Go at your own pace
11 Sessions / 1 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Music Theory, Reading Music, Music Notation, Music Education

Not available for purchase in India

Course Description

Welcome to Music Theory Level 1: Part Three

Minor Keys, The Circle of Fifths, and Compound Meters


This course introduces you to minor keys, the circle of fifths, and compound meters. The course provides you with many worksheets to practice the concepts as well as several complete analysis projects. This course forms part of the complete Music Theory Fundamentals Guide.


This is a class designed for the average person who is ready to dive into music! Whether you are a beginning musician, an active musician, or an aspiring musician - this class is perfect for you.


For years I've been teaching Music Theory in the college classroom. My approach to music theory is to minimize the memorization. Most of these concepts you can learn by just understanding why chords behave in certain ways. Once you understand those concepts, you can find any scale, key, or chord that exists. Even invent your own. If you've tried to learn music theory before, or if you are just starting out - this series of courses is the perfect fit.


In Part 3: Minor Keys, The Circle of Fifths, and Compound Meters, we will cover:

  • My approach to Music Theory
  • Tools you will need to learn Music Theory quickly and efficiently
  • Key Signatures
  • Diatonic Chord Progressions
  • Tendency Chords
  • Using the Circle of Fifths for Songwriting and Composition
  • Borrowing from Closely Related Keys
  • Scale Degree Names
  • Tendency Tones
  • Compound Meters
  • Compound Meter Signatures
  • Reading and Writing Compound Meters
  • Triplets, dubplets, and Quadruplets
  • Finding Minor keys by alternations to Major
  • Patterns in Minor keys
  • Relative Minor keys
  • Parallel Minor keys
  • Minor keys in the Circle of Fifths
  • Using Minor Keys for Songwriting and Composition
  • Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor
  • The V Chord and Minor and the Leading Tone Problem
  • Harmonic Minor Scales
  • Melodic Minor Scales


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Praise for Courses by Jason Allen:

⇢ "It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed and allows the complex concepts to get absorbed easily. My only regret is not taking this course earlier." - M. Shah

⇢ "Great for everyone without any knowledge so far. I bought all three parts... It's the best investment in leveling up my skills so far.." - Z. Palce

⇢ "Excellent explanations! No more or less than what is needed." - A. Tóth

⇢ "VERY COOL. I've waiting for years to see a good video course, now I don't have to wait anymore. Thank You!" - Jeffrey Koury

 "I am learning LOTS! And I really like having the worksheets!" - A. Deichsel

⇢ "The basics explained very clearly - loads of really useful tips!" - J. Pook

⇢ "Jason is really quick and great with questions, always a great resource for an online class!" M. Smith


Reviews
schedule

This course is in adaptive mode and is open for enrollment. Learn more about adaptive courses here.

Session 1: Getting Started (December 25, 2024)
Before we jump in, let's learn a little bit about how we are going to learn. There are a few free tools I like to use that will help you learn music theory.
2 lessons
1. Welcome Overview
2. Tools We Will Need
Session 2: The Circle of Fifths (January 1, 2025)
You might have seen this diagram hanging on a wall somewhere - but it is hugely useful.
3 lessons
1. Circle Of Fifths Overview
2. Borrowing From Related Keys
3. Song Example
Session 3: Scale Degree Names (January 8, 2025)
At this point, we should start identifying scale degrees by a more proper name. Especially since their proper names tell us a bit about how they function.
3 lessons
1. Scale Degree Names Overview
2. Scale Degree Names
3. Tendency Tones
Session 4: Compound Meters (January 15, 2025)
We've look at reading meters before, but now things are going to get a little more complicated.
4 lessons
1. Compound Meter Definition
2. Compound Meter Signatures
3. Another Perspective
4. Example
Session 5: Triplets, Duplets, and Quadruplets (January 22, 2025)
One more rhythmic thing to tackle in this section: Triples and Duplets.
3 lessons
1. Triplets Overview
2. Triplets
3. Other Tuplets
Session 6: Minor Keys (January 29, 2025)
Time for the main event: Minor Keys.
8 lessons
1. Minor Scale Overview
2. Alterations to Minor
3. Whole Half Pattern V2
4. Relatives
5. Parallel
6. Macphail Video Intro
7. MusicTheory Natural Minor Scale
8. Music Theory Tutorial 5 of 5 - Key Signatures and Scales
Session 7: Minor Keys and the Circle of Fifths (February 5, 2025)
Now that we know the basics of minor keys, we should see them in context of the Circle of Fifths.
3 lessons
1. New Wrinkles In Circle of Fifths
2. New Diagrams
3. More Closely Related Keys
Session 8: Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor (February 12, 2025)
If we want to write songs or compose using minor keys, we need to know the diatonic chord progressions in minor.
4 lessons
1. Diatonic Chord Progression Review
2. The Pattern
3. DCP with Relatives
4. The V Chord And LeadingTones
Session 9: Minor Scale Variations: Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales (February 19, 2025)
So far we've mostly been working with the "Natural Minor" scale. There are 2 other version of the minor scale that we need to know.
5 lessons
1. Three Types of Minor
2. Harmonic Minor
3. Melodic Minor
4. Greensleeves Example 2
5. Music Theory Tutorial 4 of 5 - Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales
Session 10: Analysis (February 26, 2025)
A few projects for analysis
5 lessons
1. Analysis Overview
2. Greensleeves Analysis
3. The Scientist
4. What Next
5. Thanks Bye
Session 11: Review (March 5, 2025)
A short section of review - making sure we have some key concepts down before we add to them.
3 lessons
1. Key Signatures Review
2. Diatonic Chord Progression Review
3. Tendency Chords Review
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Learning Outcomes

Below you will find an overview of the Learning Outcomes you will achieve as you complete this course.

Instructors And Guests
What You Need to Take This Course

Students should be enthusiastic about music, but do not need to be producers or musicians. No prior experience is needed in music - All are welcome!

I'll be using a piece of software in this course that I would like students to get. Don't worry - it's free! And works on Mac and PC computers. I'll tell you more in the first few videos.

Additional Information

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