#11 LEARN FREE MUSIC THEORY

Andrew Furmanczyk

3 Feb 201027:01

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn lesson 11 of 'Learning Free Music Theory,' the focus shifts to minor scales, following an introduction to major scales. This tutorial dives into natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales, explaining their characteristics, differences, and uses in composition. The instructor outlines the importance of understanding the relationship between major and minor scales, key signatures, and the concept of tonality. Additionally, practical advice on memorizing scale patterns and the significance of leading tones in creating emotional effects in music are discussed. This foundational knowledge prepares students for advanced topics in music theory, including modes, harmony, and voice leading, with exercises to solidify learning.

Takeaways

😀 This is a beginner music theory lesson covering major and minor scales
😊 Major scales sound happy while minor scales sound sad
🎵 Natural minor scales share the same key signature as major scales
🎶 Harmonic minor raises the 7th note to create a leading tone
🎼 Melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th notes ascending and reverts to natural minor descending
🎹 Relative major and minor keys are 3 semitones apart
🎋 Memorize the natural minor scale formula - tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone
🎤 The lesson will later cover key signatures, circle of fifths, and more advanced concepts
🎻 Practice finding relative major/minor keys using the 3 semitone rule
🎺 The video aims to provide a foundation before getting into more complex theory

Q & A

What are the three types of minor scales covered in the video?
-The three types of minor scales covered are natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.
How can you find the relative minor of a major key?
-To find the relative minor of a major key, go down three semitones from the major key. For example, the relative minor of C major is A minor.
What is the difference between harmonic and melodic minor scales?
-The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th note when going up and down. The melodic minor scale raises the 6th and 7th notes going up, but is natural minor going down.
What is the pattern for the natural minor scale?
-The pattern for the natural minor scale is tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.
What is the purpose of the leading tone in minor scales?
-The leading tone creates a pull back to the tonic and provides a sense of resolution at the end of the scale.
Why were harmonic and melodic minor scales created?
-They were created to provide a leading tone and avoid the augmented 2nd interval, which was considered undesirable in early music.
What is tonality in music theory?
-Tonality refers to the tonal center or key of a piece of music. There are two main tonalities - major and minor.
What is the difference between harmony and melody?
-Harmony involves multiple notes sounding together vertically. Melody is a single linear succession of notes.
What are key signatures?
-Key signatures define the scale and key of a piece of music using sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff.
What is the circle of fifths?
-The circle of fifths shows the relationship between major and minor keys and their key signatures.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introducing Minor Scales

The instructor introduces that they will be covering minor scales in this lesson after covering major scales in the previous lesson. They explain music theory has levels and they will get to more advanced concepts like modes later on. They define what a scale is and compare major happy sounding scales versus sad sounding minor scales.

05:00

🎼 Explaining Major and Minor Key Signatures

The instructor explains the concepts of major and minor key signatures and tonality, using an analogy of a family with the same last name to illustrate the relationship. He reassures it's okay if this is confusing for now as it will be covered more in depth later.

10:07

🎹 Comparing Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales

The instructor demonstrates natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales audibly on piano. He explains why harmonic and melodic minors were created - to fix the lack of a leading tone in natural minor. He also explains rules around avoiding augmented seconds historically.

15:09

⛔ Avoiding Augmented Seconds in Harmony

The instructor further elaborates on why harmonic and melodic minor scales were invented, to avoid the forbidden augmented seconds in harmony while still having a leading tone, in line with old rules of voice leading.

20:09

🔽 Finding Relative Minor Scales

The instructor explains how to find the relative minor of a major scale and vice versa, using a trick to go up or down 3 semitones. He demonstrates examples for the audience to practice this concept.

25:10

📝 Minor Scale Homework

The instructor sets homework for viewers to practice finding relative majors and minors using the 3 semitone trick. He also tells them to memorize natural, harmonic and melodic minor scale patterns provided.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Scale

A scale is a set of musical notes arranged in ascending or descending order. Scales are fundamental to music theory and are used to play melodies, chords, and compose songs. The video discusses different types of scales like major, minor, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.

💡Minor scale

A minor scale is a type of musical scale that sounds somber or melancholic compared to major scales. The video introduces natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, explaining the patterns and modified notes in each.

💡Relative minor

The relative minor of a major key has the same key signature and starting note 3 semitones lower. For example, A minor is the relative minor of C major. Understanding relative minors helps with transposing between major and minor keys.

💡Leading tone

The 7th note of a major or harmonic minor scale leads up to the tonic or home note, creating a sense of resolution. This leading tone tendency gives the scale a pull or directionality. The natural minor lacks a leading tone on the 7th.

💡Harmonic minor

Harmonic minor raises the 7th note of the natural minor scale by a semitone to create a leading tone. This modification improves the cadence when harmonizing in minor keys. The harmonic minor scale is used over natural minor in chord progressions.

💡Melodic minor

Melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th notes when ascending to create a leading tone and avoid an augmented 2nd interval. The ascending melodic minor scale is modified compared to natural minor.

💡Augmented 2nd

An augmented 2nd is a gap of 3 semitones between two notes, such as F to G#/Ab. Large augmented 2nd intervals were considered dissonant so melodic minor avoids them when ascending by raising the 6th.

💡Tonality

Tonality refers to the tonal center or key that music is based around. The video discusses the major tonality and minor tonality - music feels grounded in a major or minor key.

💡Key signature

The key signature defines the scale and central key note through the number of sharps or flats at the start of the music staff. Minor and major keys sharing the same key signature are relative keys.

💡Semitone

A semitone is the smallest musical interval between two notes, equivalent to a half step on a piano. Scale patterns are defined based on the sequence of tones and semitones between notes.

Highlights

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Theoretical contribution was applying intersectionality theory to understand multidimensional inequities.

Mixed methods approach combining ethnography, surveys, and medical records was methodologically innovative.

Practical impact was developing culturally tailored interventions to improve outcomes.

Noteworthy finding was the cumulative impact of structural disadvantage on health over the life course.

Media outreach and community forums significantly increased public discourse on health equity.

Policy change to increase healthcare access for disadvantaged groups was a practical outcome.

Proposed framework made theoretical contributions to understanding pathways between inequality and health.

Transcripts

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