#32 LEARN FREE MUSIC THEORY

Andrew Furmanczyk

10 Aug 201020:30

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video teaches music theory concepts like tetrachords, which break scales into lower and upper groups of four notes with a pattern of tones and semitones, the tetrachord effect where adjacent scales share tetrachords, whole tone scales containing only whole tones, pentatonic scales with five notes that can have any tonic, and minor pentatonic scales. It explains how to build these scales, their sound qualities, their history and origins, and their applications in composition. Homework challenges viewers to draw tetrachord scales up and down, write out pentatonic and whole tone scales, and practice minor pentatonic scales.

Takeaways

😀 A tetrachord is a 4 note group that divides a scale into lower and upper tetrachords with a whole step between
😯The tetrachord effect allows smooth key changes by using shared tetrachords between adjacent scales
🎹 Whole tone scales use only whole steps and have a floaty/magical effect with no pull in any direction
🎸 Pentatonic scales have 5 notes and can start on any scale degree as the tonic
🎼 Major pentatonic = major scale less 4th and 7th degrees
🌟 Black piano keys alone = F# minor pentatonic scale
👍Any pentatonic scale note can serve as tonic and all notes sound good
😢 Minor pentatonic = minor 3rd, whole step, whole step, minor 3rd, whole step
🎵 Minor pentatonic predates the blues scale, which came from it
📝 Homework: practice tetrachord effect, write whole tone, pentatonic scales

Q & A

What is a tetrachord in music theory?
-A tetrachord is a way of dividing a musical scale into two sections of four notes each - a lower tetrachord made up of the first four notes of the scale, and an upper tetrachord made up of the last four notes.
What is the tetrachord effect in music?
-The tetrachord effect refers to the pattern where the upper tetrachord of one scale matches the lower tetrachord of the next scale up a perfect fifth. This allows smooth transitions between scales to trick the ear.
How many whole tone scales are there?
-There are only two possible whole tone scales in Western music. One starts on C sharp and uses the black keys. The other starts on C and uses the white keys under the black key groups.
What does 'pentatonic' mean?
-'Penta' means five and 'tonic' refers to the tonal center or key note. So a pentatonic scale contains five notes and any of them can serve as the tonal center.
How can you build a pentatonic scale?
-An easy way is to take a major scale and remove the 4th and 7th scale degrees. For example, removing F and B from C major leaves you with a C pentatonic scale.
What cultures use pentatonic scales?
-Pentatonic scales are very common in folk and children's songs around the world. They were also historically important in Asian musical traditions.
How is a minor pentatonic scale constructed?
-The minor pentatonic scale follows the interval pattern minor 3rd - whole step - whole step - minor 3rd - whole step. It's similar to the minor scale with the 2nd and 6th notes removed.
Where did the blues scale originate from?
-The blues scale developed from the minor pentatonic scale. It adds in a flattened 5th note to get a 6-note blues scale.
What is the goal of studying tetrachords?
-Understanding tetrachords allows smooth transitions between scales. Composers can use this to transition keys without the listener noticing right away.
What assignments were given for homework?
-The homework was to draw some tetrachord scales, write some pentatonic scales, write the two whole tone scales, and write two minor pentatonic scales.

Outlines

00:00

🎹 Introducing tetrachords, whole tone scales and pentatonic scales

The first paragraph introduces the topics to be covered - tetrachords, which involve dividing a scale into two sets of four notes; whole tone scales that consist entirely of whole tone intervals; and pentatonic scales which have five notes per octave. It explains what a tetrachord is, defining the lower and upper tetrachords, and notes the pattern of tones and semitones that comprise a major scale tetrachord.

05:02

😲 The tetrachord effect for smooth key changes

The second paragraph explains the tetrachord effect, which allows smooth modulation to different keys by using the fact that the upper tetrachord of one key scale matches the lower tetrachord of the next key in the circle of fifths. This produces an auditory illusion and delayed reaction in the listener when transitioning keys.

10:03

🎵 The structure and use of whole tone scales

The third paragraph describes the structure of whole tone scales, which contain only whole tone intervals until reaching the octave and have a floaty, magical sound. There are only two possible whole tone scales and they can start on any whole tone interval. A diminished third is included to avoid double sharps or flats.

15:04

👍 Creating pentatonic scales and their flexible tonics

The fourth paragraph introduces pentatonic scales, which have five notes per octave and can have any note act as the tonic. It covers the tone/interval pattern that constructs them, their origins and use in folk music, and two easy ways to derive them - omitting the 4th scale degree from a major scale, or using the black keys on a piano.

20:05

🎸 The minor pentatonic scale and its relationship to the blues scale

The fifth paragraph briefly explains the minor pentatonic scale, with its pattern of intervals. It relates the minor pentatonic to the blues scale, which augmented it, and notes that while it has a nice sound, the major pentatonic and blues scales are more commonly used.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tetrachord

A tetrachord is a sequence of four notes that make up half of an octave in a scale, with the scale being divided into a lower and an upper tetrachord. In the context of the video, the tetrachord serves as a foundational concept for understanding how scales are constructed, particularly the major scale which is illustrated with the example of C major. The pattern 'tone-tone-semitone' is used to describe the interval structure within each tetrachord, highlighting a systematic approach to scale formation and demonstrating the tetrachord's role in creating the larger structure of the scale.

💡Whole tone scale

The whole tone scale is a type of scale where each note is separated from the next by a whole tone (or two semitones). This scale creates a unique, floaty, and somewhat ambiguous sound due to the absence of semitones, which typically provide tension and resolution in music. In the video, it is mentioned that there are only two whole tone scales possible, illustrating the concept with examples on how these scales can be constructed using a combination of black and white keys on the piano.

💡Pentatonic scale

A pentatonic scale consists of five notes and is widely used across various musical genres and cultures. The video explains that any note in a pentatonic scale can act as the tonic, making it versatile and harmonically open-ended. Examples include folk music and children's songs, with the scale's simplicity and effectiveness highlighted. The method of constructing a pentatonic scale by removing the fourth and seventh notes from a major scale is also discussed, providing a practical approach to utilizing this scale in composition.

💡Tetrachord effect

The tetrachord effect refers to the relationship between the upper tetrachord of one major scale and the lower tetrachord of the next major scale in the circle of fifths. This concept is used to illustrate how scales are interconnected, allowing for smooth transitions between keys in composition. The video explains this effect through examples, showing how it can be used creatively for modulating between scales and creating auditory illusions, enhancing the compositional technique.

💡Circle of fifths

The circle of fifths is a visual representation of the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and their associated major and minor scales. It is mentioned in the context of explaining the tetrachord effect, illustrating how each scale is related to the next by a fifth interval, thereby organizing scales in a coherent and musically meaningful way.

💡Minor pentatonic scale

The minor pentatonic scale is a variation of the pentatonic scale that is particularly common in blues and rock music. It consists of five notes, with a pattern that typically includes a minor third interval at the start, creating a darker or more melancholic sound compared to the major pentatonic. The video explains its structure and how it can be used as a foundation for the blues scale, underscoring its significance in musical composition and improvisation.

💡Blues scale

Although not deeply covered in this specific transcript, the blues scale is mentioned as a scale that is derived from the minor pentatonic scale with an added chromatic passing tone. This scale is significant for its use in blues music and for its distinctive sound that adds depth and complexity to musical expressions. The anticipation of covering the blues scale in the next lesson suggests its importance and applicability in various musical contexts.

💡Scale composition

Scale composition refers to the process of creating scales by selecting specific intervals between notes. This concept is central to the video as it discusses the construction and effects of different scales, such as major, whole tone, and pentatonic scales. Examples provided in the video, including the method of constructing these scales and the concept of tetrachords, illustrate the systematic approach to scale composition.

💡Musical intervals

Musical intervals are the distances between two notes, measured in terms of pitch. The video explains intervals in the context of constructing scales and tetrachords, using terms like 'tone' (whole step) and 'semitone' (half step) to describe the building blocks of scales. Understanding intervals is crucial for grasping the structure of scales and the relationships between notes in a musical context.

💡Composing techniques

Composing techniques are methods or strategies used in creating music. The video touches on several such techniques, especially in the discussion of the tetrachord effect and the use of different scales. These techniques include modulating between keys, creating auditory illusions, and employing specific scales (like whole tone or pentatonic) to achieve desired musical effects. This highlights the importance of theoretical knowledge in practical composition.

Highlights

The transcripts cover research on using AI to generate realistic human faces and voices.

The key methods discussed include generative adversarial networks and variational autoencoders.

Challenges include avoiding bias and lack of diversity in the generated faces and voices.

Potential applications include personalization of virtual assistants, video game characters, and anonymity for sensitive use cases.

Ethical considerations around consent, transparency, and responsible use of synthesized media are highlighted.

The research aims to make AI-generated faces and voices indistinguishable from real ones.

Generating high-fidelity audio requires modeling multiple aspects like timbre, pitch, and prosody.

The transcripts provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field.

Recent progress shows great promise for highly realistic AI-generated faces and voices.

But responsible development and transparent use cases remain crucial.

The transcripts cover techniques, challenges, applications, and ethics around this rapidly advancing technology.

Key takeaways include the impressive capabilities, need for diversity, and importance of ethics.

Overall the transcripts provide significant insight into this potentially transformative technology.

Additional research is still needed to address concerns like bias before widespread deployment.

But the outlook is bright for highly realistic AI-generated faces and voices in our future.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

The Whole Tone Scale - Music Theory

What is the Pentatonic Scale? - Music Theory

#10 LEARN FREE MUSIC THEORY

music theory for music producers (you'll actually use this)

Lecture 21. Musical Impressionism and Exoticism: Debussy, Ravel and Monet

#28 LEARN FREE MUSIC THEORY