#36 LEARN FREE MUSIC THEORY

Andrew Furmanczyk

23 Aug 201031:11

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video provides an in-depth music theory lesson on augmented and diminished triads, as well as Roman numeral chord analysis. It explains the formulas for constructing augmented triads using two major thirds, and diminished triads using two minor thirds. It then covers Roman numerals for labeling chords in major and minor scales, denoting major/augmented chords with uppercase and minor/diminished with lowercase. The video explains patterns of chord qualities in major and minor scales and how to apply figured bass symbols to identify chord inversions. It aims to equip viewers with key concepts to analyze chords for harmony study.

Takeaways

😀 Introduces augmented and diminished triads - augmented has two major thirds, diminished has two minor thirds
🎹 Goes through major and minor scales, relating them to Roman numeral chord analysis
🎼 Uppercase Roman numerals signify major chords, lowercase signify minor/diminished
👍 The major scale always follows the same chord pattern
🔊 Memorize the major scale chord pattern: maj - min - min - maj - maj - min - dim - maj
🎶 Minor scales have slightly different chord patterns melodically vs harmonically
✏️ You must properly notate chords for harmonic analysis using quality (maj/min/dim/aug) and inversion
📝 Figured bass notation indicates chord inversions - 53 is root position, 63 is 1st inversion, etc.
🙌 This lesson covers essential basics that prepare you for harmony and further theory
📋 Homework: analyze augmented/diminished triads, chord analysis practice, and memorization

Q & A

What are augmented and diminished triads?
-Augmented triads are made up of two major thirds, while diminished triads are made up of two minor thirds. Augmented triads sound bigger and more expanded, while diminished triads sound smaller and more compact.
How can you identify if a triad is augmented or diminished?
-To identify if a triad is augmented or diminished, first arrange the notes so they form a 'snowman' shape with intervals stacked in thirds. Then examine the intervals - if both intervals are major thirds, it's an augmented triad. If both intervals are minor thirds, it's a diminished triad.
What is the pattern for major and minor triads in the major scale?
-The pattern of major and minor triads in the major scale is: major - minor - minor - major - major - minor - diminished.
How are upper and lower case Roman numerals used to indicate chord quality?
-Uppercase Roman numerals (I, IV, V etc.) indicate major chords while lowercase Roman numerals (ii, iii, vi etc.) indicate minor chords. A circle around a lowercase numeral (vii°) indicates a diminished chord.
What are the differences between harmonic minor and melodic minor scales?
-The harmonic minor raises the 7th note while ascending and descending. The melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th notes when ascending, but lowers them again when descending.
What do figured bass numbers represent?
-Figured bass numbers represent chord inversions - 53 is root position, 63 is first inversion, and 64 is second inversion. The numbers indicate the interval distance between the lowest and highest notes of the chord.
How can Roman numerals and figured bass be used together in analysis?
-We can combine Roman numerals and figured bass, for example writing "I 64". The Roman numeral indicates the scale degree and the figured bass indicates the chord inversion. Together they precisely describe the chord.
What is the difference between a triad and a chord?
-A triad specifically contains three notes, while a chord can contain three notes (a triad) or more, usually four notes. In harmonic analysis though, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably when describing three-note chords.
Why is this an important lesson for further study of harmony?
-This lesson covers foundations like Roman numeral analysis, chord inversions, and augmented/diminished chords that are essential for more advanced harmonic analysis. It prepares students for more complex concepts they will learn later.
What should students memorize most from this lesson?
-Students should memorize the major scale Roman numeral pattern (I - ii - iii - IV - V - vi - vii°), as well as the figured bass notation for triad inversions. These will be used extensively in future harmony study.

Outlines

00:00

😄 Introducing Augmented and Diminished Triads

The instructor introduces the concepts of augmented triads, which comprise two major thirds, and diminished triads, which comprise two minor thirds. He explains how to identify if a triad is augmented or diminished by rearranging the notes to see the intervals between them.

05:00

📝 Overview of Roman Numeral Chord Analysis

The instructor provides an overview of Roman numeral analysis, explaining how Roman numerals are used to label chords in a key. He covers the standard major and minor chord patterns and notation conventions for indicating major, minor, augmented and diminished chords.

10:01

👂 Memorizing the Major Scale Chord Patterns

The instructor emphasizes the importance of memorizing the chord patterns in major scales, as they are consistent across all major keys. He advises going back and reviewing to commit the patterns to memory over time.

15:02

🎹 Minor Scale Chord Patterns

The instructor covers the chord patterns in minor scales, differentiating between harmonic minor, melodic minor ascending, and melodic minor descending. The patterns have some differences from the major scale.

20:05

💡 Chord Inversions and Figured Bass Notation

The instructor introduces figured bass notation, which uses numbers to represent chord inversions in a shorthand way. He explains where the numbers come from in relation to chord intervals.

25:07

📋 Homework Assignments

The instructor assigns homework to practice building augmented and diminished triads, memorize major scale chord patterns, and write out sample chords using Roman numeral and figured bass notation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Triads

Triads are basic 3-note chords that form the foundation of harmony. The video introduces augmented and diminished triads, made up of two major thirds and two minor thirds respectively. It also covers major and minor triads, relating them to scale degrees and intervals.

💡Roman numeral analysis

Roman numerals are used to label chords in a key based on their scale degree. For example, the I chord is the tonic chord. The video shows how triads built on each scale degree have specific qualities in major and minor keys, which is key knowledge for harmonic analysis.

💡Inversions

Inversions refer to the rearrangement of chord tones so that a note other than the root is in the bass. The video teaches figured bass numbers that specify inversions, like 53 for root position or 63 for first inversion. This shows bass note relationships.

💡Major and minor scales

The lesson shows the triad qualities that come from the major scale vs the minor scales. Minor has forms like harmonic and melodic that alter certain tones. These relate directly to building triads, so scale construction is foundational.

💡Scale degrees

Scale degrees underlie Roman numeral chord analysis. Degrees like tonic, supertonic etc. show how harmonies relate to the main key. The video links them to triad qualities in major and minor keys for analysis.

💡Harmonic analysis

Also called Roman numeral analysis, this labels chords by scale degree and quality to show harmonic function. The video lays the groundwork for this by teaching triad building, chord inversions and qualities, and scale degree names - key concepts.

💡Augmented/diminished

Augmented triads add a major third above a major third for a wider, tenser sound. Diminished triads stack minor thirds for an unstable sound. Learning these "bigger" and "smaller" triads expands chord vocabulary for analysis and composition.

💡Figured bass

Figured bass is a shorthand way of indicating chord inversions by scale degree intervals above the bass. The video teaches the number patterns so students can identify inversions in analysis more easily and communicate them clearly.

💡Tonic, dominant, subdominant

These primary chords have important harmonic functions. The tonic is the home chord, dominant leads to tonic, while subdominant prepares the dominant. The video relates them directly to scale degrees I, V, IV which build these chords.

💡Chord progressions

Though not explicitly named, the lesson ultimately enables students to analyze and describe chord progressions by Roman numerals. This shows harmonic movement and cadences in compositions, built on these triad foundations.

Highlights

We are going to be talking about augmented and diminished triads.

Augmented triads have two major thirds, while diminished triads have two minor thirds.

Uppercase Roman numerals indicate major or augmented chords, while lowercase indicates minor or diminished.

In a major scale, the 1, 4, and 5 chords are always major.

Minor scales have an augmented 3 chord in the harmonic minor and a major 7 chord in the melodic minor descending.

Memorize the pattern of chords in the major scale as a foundation for harmony.

Figured bass numbers represent intervals from the bass note - they specify chord inversions.

Practice building augmented and diminished triads in various inversions.

Memorize the Roman numeral chord pattern in major scales.

Write out sample chords using Roman numerals and figured bass to visualize harmonies.

This lesson provides a foundation for studying harmony.

Augmented triads have two major thirds (e.g. C E G#).

Diminished triads have two minor thirds (e.g. C Eb Gb).

Uppercase numerals are major/augmented, lowercase are minor/diminished.

Memorize the major scale chord pattern as a basis for harmony.

Transcripts

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