When I open a Ben Levin video, I know I'm about to watch a piece of art. This one happens to be very informative too! Thanks Ben, I will use this knowledge soon.
Thank you SO much for this. I have a music production degree and 15 years experience as a player - including some national radio and TV work - and this is the first time someone has managed to get this kind of thing to make proper sense for me. Thank you Ben.
Great video! A bonus tip: in C harmonic major you can treat the Ab as a G# to get some cool extra chords: E7(#9), Cmaj7(#5), and G#dim7. It also sounds super cool to play the #9 over Abmaj7(#5) since that's still in the scale.
This is just beautiful. I feel this time spent in the train listening to this beautiful music and warm share of knowledge has made a mark in me. I will remember this.
Always love your stuff man, this one is awesome! You always give me something new to try out. I've learned I really love the sound of that weird kind of "modal mixture" where just one note of the scale changes - like the Eyes of the World jam sections that switch between E major and E mixolydian. Landing on that one changed note has such a neat color to it.
Ben, your teaching ability will never cease to amaze me. You have this deep understanding of how to communicate what would ordinarily be a complicated topic in college in a matter of minutes, and so beautifuly too!
So cool to learn more about why the iv chord sounds nostalgic. I’m used to hearing that at the end of line cliche, but now I realize I was looking through a key hole and you opened the door! Thank you as always for cutting through the deficit thinking and perfectionism that pervade music theory and musical instrument instruction videos on CZcams.
Amazing as always. Youre such a lightbeam of creativity shooting throught the darkness fog of the common place... truly inspiring, whenever u drop these i get the urge to pick up my guitar and try smth new ❤❤
Thanks for not starting out like “Chords. What are they? Well, to find out, we have to go back to the beginning of civilization…” Thank you for being aware of what we need to hear and jumping straight into the meat. 🤘🏼🤘🏼 (Edit:) I have come back to this comment after digging through some of your other content, and I’m thoroughly fascinated.
Loved it. I learned the Harmonic Major scale and it`s diatonic chords years ago, but TBH was never actually aware when to use it or how it sounds in context of actual music. Amazing to finally hear how it feels and can be used to great effect. As a guitar player, i am used to playing Minor / Harmonic minor a lot, I`m practicing your tunes and sticking to Harmonic major is indeed very worth it, I get a haunting major minor vibe, but more dissonant and illusive, using all those spicy 4minMaj7 , b6+Maj7 and h.d / dim chords. Time to start exploring Harmonic Major as well, and actually add it to my vocabulary. Thanks!
This is super cool! I feel like I've mostly heard some of these sounds in songs that use modal-interchange to pull in one spicy chord. But staying in harmonic major is really pretty!
worth noting you can build additional chords via abuse of notation: e.g in the key of C, by substituting the Ab for the G in the E minor chord, you create what is enharmonically equivalent to an E major chord (or an E7/E7b9 when extended), which words decently well resolving to C (especially with the B in the bass), or resolving up to Fm without feeling too resolved. also you can build a diminished seventh and an augmented chord on other notes of the scale since both chords are symmetrical. in addition to Bdim7, you can build Ddim7, Fdim7, and Abdim7, and in addition to Ab augmented, you can build C augmented and E augmented. you also get two minor chords in a row a half step apart (Em and Fm) which is an interesting sound in my opinion.
another thing I've noticed is that 7th chords carry a lot of emotion too. I dunno what it is about them, it's probably the way they contain both major and minor chord notes simultaneously, and the harmony becomes really rich I also really love (when in a major key) using the 3rd or 5th as a pedal point. you'll accidentally create a lot of sus and 7th sounds just by moving between triads of the key you're in, and you can even try to play non diatonic chords that include that 3rd of 5th somewhere in the chord. Like how Eb Major is non diatonic to the key of C Major, but both chords include G as a note, so you can try working that into your progression for a surprise, and see where it takes you. harmony is so cool. I feel like you can learn more about it forever
I don't remember being taught harmonic major in music school, just harmonic and melodic minor. I'm sure it was mentioned but that's about it. Great video!
I be using the harmonic major scale in lots of my songs, half-diminished and dominant chords my beloved Only now that I'm learning the music theory I get to know their names, hahaha
i gotta know what cards you got there in the background 👀 i think i can make out a birds of paradise but not sure about the rest... (also incredibly useful video as always, very helpful for a song im working on rn, and that transition into harmonic major during the solo at the end was breathtaking!!)
TY BEN, this somehow clicked in my brain the purpose of flat 5 chords! I never thought of them as the ii of harmonic major, duh! Between that and something like a major dominant II (dominant of the dominant), the ii really does a lot of emotional heavy lifting, huh...
Oh I see… That’s why melodic minor based on the 4th’s root note (in this example, F melodic minor) works perfectly over the minor 4 chord… Thanks for this lesson…🙏
Amazing video Ben
So nice to see you here, hope you are having a great start to the year!
Describing bVI+maj7 and VIIdim7 as “two bangers in a row” is a moment of divine comedic inspiration hahah
Ben Levin is the Bob Ross of music theory CZcams.
This is the epitome of "doctors hate him! man reveals one simple trick", but in real life. Another banger video from one of the best artists :DD
I love meme culture😂
Yes doctors hate him because he's the fake doctor
When I open a Ben Levin video, I know I'm about to watch a piece of art. This one happens to be very informative too! Thanks Ben, I will use this knowledge soon.
wow. changing that one note has such a dramatic effect! thanks for another amazing lesson, Ben!
Thank you SO much for this. I have a music production degree and 15 years experience as a player - including some national radio and TV work - and this is the first time someone has managed to get this kind of thing to make proper sense for me. Thank you Ben.
i’ve reincarnated 4 times and every time i’ve been a musician, and i’ve never heard of this technique.
This is a great tutorial. Love the graphics and playing through the notes to get a sense of whats happening instead of just listing the notes.
Thank you i'm litterally gonna go write in harmonic major right now, thanks for the inspiration
Great video! A bonus tip: in C harmonic major you can treat the Ab as a G# to get some cool extra chords: E7(#9), Cmaj7(#5), and G#dim7. It also sounds super cool to play the #9 over Abmaj7(#5) since that's still in the scale.
Thank you for the beautiful and helpful video, Ben❤
Great video as always, thank you so much Ben!
This blew my mind! What a great teacher! Thanks Ben!
This is just beautiful. I feel this time spent in the train listening to this beautiful music and warm share of knowledge has made a mark in me. I will remember this.
I love this kind of video ! thanks !
Always love your stuff man, this one is awesome! You always give me something new to try out. I've learned I really love the sound of that weird kind of "modal mixture" where just one note of the scale changes - like the Eyes of the World jam sections that switch between E major and E mixolydian. Landing on that one changed note has such a neat color to it.
Ben Levin is your favorite musician's favorite musician. Great video!
That was so incredibly awesome. Thank you so much, Ben!
Ben, your teaching ability will never cease to amaze me. You have this deep understanding of how to communicate what would ordinarily be a complicated topic in college in a matter of minutes, and so beautifuly too!
Nice. Best explainer video I’ve seen in your channel. I think this would have really helped me as a teenager as I was figuring this stuff out. ❤
Incredible work, as always
So cool to learn more about why the iv chord sounds nostalgic. I’m used to hearing that at the end of line cliche, but now I realize I was looking through a key hole and you opened the door! Thank you as always for cutting through the deficit thinking and perfectionism that pervade music theory and musical instrument instruction videos on CZcams.
This is awesome! Thanks!
Thanks for teaching me harmonic major, I love you Ben!
Thanks for making great videos! Very talented my friend!
Lovely work on this Ben !
I loved this. This was great. More like this pls
Love the flat 6. Have been listening a lot to the xfiles theme lately.
needed this video just exactly now - a great new sound to play with thanks
Amazing as always. Youre such a lightbeam of creativity shooting throught the darkness fog of the common place... truly inspiring, whenever u drop these i get the urge to pick up my guitar and try smth new ❤❤
Yes!!! Try something and keep exploring!
You are awesome!
Thank you!
Thanks, Ben! You're just fantastic.
Hi Ben, thank you very much for everything you post. I m trying to learn music theory now and your videos are very informative
I love your channel so much please don't stop😩😩😩😩
I’m always gobsmacked by the density of the creativity in these productions. Stellar material, thank you.
love you Ben
Hi Ben, This concept helped me finish off a song I've had laying around for over a year and inspired a new one to start tinkering with. Thank you!
Ben Levin videos never fail to teach me something new. Thank you for making me better at theory!
Awesome!!!!!! Thank you so much! Clear and concise.
Oh wow, I accidentally stumbled across this last month. This is cool to see what I did analysed
Dr. Levin you make learning music so fun! Been a patient of yours since the ground up series 🎉 🏥
Ben. I haven’t seen you on my feed in so long. Glad to see you again. Thanks for the bit of theory.
Ben this was amazing
It's always a treat when I watch a new Ben Levin video
Perfect! Nice solo!
Thanks for not starting out like “Chords. What are they? Well, to find out, we have to go back to the beginning of civilization…” Thank you for being aware of what we need to hear and jumping straight into the meat. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
(Edit:) I have come back to this comment after digging through some of your other content, and I’m thoroughly fascinated.
the animations are so good!
I'm glad you are teaching this in layman terms
Awesome, Ben.
Loved it. I learned the Harmonic Major scale and it`s diatonic chords years ago, but TBH was never actually aware when to use it or how it sounds in context of actual music.
Amazing to finally hear how it feels and can be used to great effect. As a guitar player, i am used to playing Minor / Harmonic minor a lot, I`m practicing your tunes and sticking to Harmonic major is indeed very worth it, I get a haunting major minor vibe, but more dissonant and illusive, using all those spicy 4minMaj7 , b6+Maj7 and h.d / dim chords. Time to start exploring Harmonic Major as well, and actually add it to my vocabulary. Thanks!
Damn, this is so good! Thanks Ben
I was your 1,000th like! Your solo is fire, Ben.
oh that's cool, expecially switch to maj to maj harmonic!
I learned something new today. Thank you. 🎉
Man, your love of music makes me feel understood
This is super cool! I feel like I've mostly heard some of these sounds in songs that use modal-interchange to pull in one spicy chord. But staying in harmonic major is really pretty!
Ahhhh hits me right in my feels
Thanks for making these videos Ben, you're making me want to pick up my guitar again!
Always full of knowledge
Great video!
worth noting you can build additional chords via abuse of notation: e.g in the key of C, by substituting the Ab for the G in the E minor chord, you create what is enharmonically equivalent to an E major chord (or an E7/E7b9 when extended), which words decently well resolving to C (especially with the B in the bass), or resolving up to Fm without feeling too resolved.
also you can build a diminished seventh and an augmented chord on other notes of the scale since both chords are symmetrical. in addition to Bdim7, you can build Ddim7, Fdim7, and Abdim7, and in addition to Ab augmented, you can build C augmented and E augmented.
you also get two minor chords in a row a half step apart (Em and Fm) which is an interesting sound in my opinion.
Just when I’m about to give up, Ben comes in and smacks me in the face
This is some primo stuff. Thank you!
Great video thank you
I love the flat 6th!
Thank you!
I appreciate you.
This is really expanding my view of that minor IV chord sound
This is really cool!
Amazing!
The album Aura from Miles Davis is a great example of that. 🥰
Dude the flat 6 has so much emotion
ben levin never disappoints
Thanks for sharing.
thank you for sharing ❤
This video made my brain feel things i didn’t think it could feel anymore
Super tasty solo !
Very cool!!
another thing I've noticed is that 7th chords carry a lot of emotion too. I dunno what it is about them, it's probably the way they contain both major and minor chord notes simultaneously, and the harmony becomes really rich
I also really love (when in a major key) using the 3rd or 5th as a pedal point. you'll accidentally create a lot of sus and 7th sounds just by moving between triads of the key you're in, and you can even try to play non diatonic chords that include that 3rd of 5th somewhere in the chord. Like how Eb Major is non diatonic to the key of C Major, but both chords include G as a note, so you can try working that into your progression for a surprise, and see where it takes you.
harmony is so cool. I feel like you can learn more about it forever
I don't remember being taught harmonic major in music school, just harmonic and melodic minor. I'm sure it was mentioned but that's about it. Great video!
lots of really enticing melodic material in this one.
Harmonic major is super underrated. Nice NJ Schecter too man. Great video.
Wow this is such a cool video, I love writing in harmonic major, it just sounds so pretty. My favorites from the scale are iv6/9 and bVIaug
I be using the harmonic major scale in lots of my songs, half-diminished and dominant chords my beloved
Only now that I'm learning the music theory I get to know their names, hahaha
tremendo video, sos un capo
beautiful
The sound quality of the music in your videos is absolutely incredible! Please do a mixing and mastering tutorial
Thank you! I'm a bit insecure about my mixing sometimes so it's nice to hear you like it!
Amazing
fuck yea dude, killer video!
The final piece and solo sounds like it could have been recorded by Prince around the Emancipation/Rave un2 the joy fantastic period!
Merci Ben
i gotta know what cards you got there in the background 👀 i think i can make out a birds of paradise but not sure about the rest... (also incredibly useful video as always, very helpful for a song im working on rn, and that transition into harmonic major during the solo at the end was breathtaking!!)
They are cards that look cool and that I got when I was a kid! One of them is a Spiritmonger
Somehow this feels like Prince and I absolutely love it!
A song I really like that made me super aware of this scale is Hypnotize by System of a Down. Great video!
THANK YOU~~~~~~~!!!!!!!
TY BEN, this somehow clicked in my brain the purpose of flat 5 chords! I never thought of them as the ii of harmonic major, duh! Between that and something like a major dominant II (dominant of the dominant), the ii really does a lot of emotional heavy lifting, huh...
siiiiiick dude
Me when IV to iv 😢😢😢
Mind blown
Oh I see… That’s why melodic minor based on the 4th’s root note (in this example, F melodic minor) works perfectly over the minor 4 chord… Thanks for this lesson…🙏
Whoa!