How to write Chords and Songs in Minor [Songwriting Basics / Music Theory]
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
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A crash course in writing with the Minor scale.
There is an error at 7:08 and 8:20. The # sign is missing from the F!
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Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:44 Building The Minor Scale
01:28 Building The Chords
02:26 Writing Chord Progressions
04:48 Minor's Brighter Side
05:55 MAJOR WARNING
07:00 Dominant Seventh Chords
08:15 Writing With Dominant Chords
08:54 Andalusian Cadence
09:47 More Writing
11:31 The Diminished Chord
12:51 Wrapping Up
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![Lydian + 7/4 = Writing Dreamy Instrumental Prog Rock [RIFFING WITH MODES #4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/i7X4YAoHEow/mqdefault.jpg)
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00:49 Building the Scale
01:24 Building the Chords
02:35 Using i VII and VI
04:48 Brighter Minor and SFCP
07:00 Dominant Chord
08:55 Andalusian Cadence
09:47 Let's Write!
11:30 The Diminished Chord
12:50 Final Thoughts
Reliance on dominant fifth chords in Aeolian progressions sounds cliched and invites stagnation. Since Aeolian's v chord comes from Phrygian, why not try staying in the key and using a susb2, 7susb2, maddb9, or mb9? You're trading that half step resolution (from the third of the V7 chord to the root of the i chord) for harmonic purity, and the tritone between the b2/b9 and the P5 produces just as much tension as a dominant chord.
You've got an awesome channel, by the way!
07:00 min love the way you use the word "home" !! gob less
Signals Music Studio *
Come on dude! Why don't you create your own full guitar master class on Udemy or any other online platform?? You teach everything better than anyone else on CZcams. People like me will ofcourse take the course.
Him : Minor is more fun
CZcams : DEMONITEZED
@Unsesquipedalian why did the guitarist go to jail
@Unsesquipedalian Hey man, I read it the way you meant it.
Unsesquipedalian The more creative and inappropriate use is, being a wind instrument player and also doing the lick both literally (tonguing, duh), and figuratively (solo lick).
@@tuipaopao หะ?
@@jayzcoverz1809 ตัดลิ้น
This guy's got the best lessons around right now. Really well thought out approach to delivering the information in a useful way.
I think Jake and Steve Stine are the best guitar instruction around right now. They're different - not a whole lot of overlap, but both are just supremely excellent.
yeh
Great content, great presentation - lots of great info without excessive babbling and with pertinent and useful insights and examples. As I watch this video it's about 2 years old now. It's interesting how great content like this can just pop up. IMO this topic isn't touched on nearly enough.
He still has the best lessons
His name is Jake.
this one tutorial literally answered every question i've had for the last 2 months on building progressions. this dude rocks
so that's why my compositions sound too happy!!! great video Jake!!! Thank you!!!
Honestly, he's really great. I've been playing for 30 years and I'm learning all kinds of things from him. I can't believe this stuff is free. He does have a paid masterclass but I don't know what he could possible teach you there that you don't get for free. His chord theory videos are so good.
Also, maybe this is a bit egocentric on my part. I don't know. But given that you haven't been playing long I thought I'd copy and paste my comment. I thought it was a good one and I thought it was helpful. So let me know If you agree.
Also, try changing it halfway through. So like, when he was playing D/ Em/ C/ Em/ do that once, then the next time around maybe it could go D/ Em/ C/ D/. Put that all together and that's a solid little verse. It's actually kind of nice. I'll give it to whoever wants to use it though. Lol. I stake no claim and I can't take you to court when you have a big hit.
i know im late but the fact that this man gives full blown professional lessons in such an easy and understandable way FOR FREE just blows my mind. keep up the great work 🎸
The best!! I've only just discovered Signals and I've learned more music theory from a few free youtube videos that what I'd previously learned in a lifetime of paid music lessons! Loving it! I'm going to sign up to his theory and songwriting course for sure!!
while some channels tend to talk about theory to explain music I prefer when you use music to explain theory. It's much more intelligent and useful.
just think about it - anyone who listens to music, even without knowing theory has already experienced most of the sonic sensations that gave birth to all the musical theory. It's just a matter of connecting the dots, to associate one thing with the other. your approach excels at it.
Yea once you have learned all of the rules, you know which ones you can break.
Musically speaking, drama!
This is so true. I’ve been sifting through so many channels which underutilise the very thing music is. SOUND. Energy. Some damn movement.
Clear, unpretentious and generous. What a great teacher you are.
"campfire music" lol. It's so great to hear someone who really knows their stuff make casual analogies like that :D
With the exception of some jazz musicians I find most people who become very proficient in music to be very friendly and humble. Jazz elitists are certainly a thing but the elitist usually aren't even the best jazz players, they just spent a lot of time practicing and want some form of validation for that time spent.
@@draetonalimoffatt8780 you mean they are cunts
Best music teacher on the internet because he explains so very well and his voice is calming and clear and he doesn't goof around and waste time like so many others do. Thank you for the gift you've given us.... so appreciated! ❤
Look mom, i'm writing my own songs
this channel is a godsend for any music genre thank you signals
Not sure why this is funny but it made me lol.
:)
Who needs love now, Mum? Mum?
Without hands :D
C, A, and E walk into a bar. The bartender says " sorry, we don't serve to minors."
Why did C, E and A hurl when on the boat? They were C6.
James Scobie Nice one
A relative minor, a Morman wife.
Alternative punchline: "sorry, we don't serve to a minor"
C said "A is my relative".
I must say for someone who plays by ear & has always found theory beyond my attention span, this is a masterclass.
As a self taught guitarist for about a year now, this guy is SO HELPFUL. He teaches in such an easily understandable way and in bite sized lessons. It’s perfect.
It's so hard to find people like you that deconstruct music theory in such an easy way. Thank you very much!
“Your ear will reset” that is a perfect metaphor for what it is
I cant get over how GREAT your examples are. And the effort alone into the examples is insane!! Love it
I agree
about the thumbnail or the video? 🤨
you're so good at making these videos man. Very comprehensive. Thank you.
The best, indeed
The best!
Obama toast
Yes, for real. Everything is clear and well instructed. I've been on a hiatus from playing since the summer but now I feel those butterflies again thanks to his videos. Thank you sir!
last summer*
Your lessons on chord progressions are fantastic! It helps a lot
Especially the modal interchanges, like here on v chord. Great stuff!
Thought you were stevie t first
I agree.
I mistook u for stevie t
Wow !! Thank you so much ... Not everyone can explain it that well.
JAKE.
LISTEN UP TEACH. 😆😜☺️
You are by far. The most practical, fluent, thourough, and down to earth music teacher a lot of us will ever have.
Thank you for all that you have invested, for us.
I have invested so many hours in your channel over so many years.
This year, I’m wrapping up some advanced stuff, but have such a solid foundation thanks to each video you put out.
Now onto flamenco!
Sincerely- thank you man!
Minor is more METAL!
Actually, Locrian.
What about atonal? Gotta love technical death metal. But honestly, great songwriters can make anything sound metal.
Chromatic Swing black crown initiate?
Never heard of them, but they sound interesting.
They are my favorite band right now
I like the way that you teach.
I teach too, and I'm always interested in seeing the approach that other teachers take.
Your approach is very accessible and rather empowering.
Thank you.
9:08 for some reason that progression REALLY sounds like everything I heard in my whole life, specially in my childhood, like it sounds like I heard it millions of times in movies or cartoons
This is legit one of the best guitar tutorial videos I've ever seen on CZcams. no bullshit, straight to the point with clear examples and plenty of theory.
@Zayricch I think he just means add the 7th note of that scale to the chord but just make it major.
Fantastic teaching. Clear, practical, just enough theory to help understand what's going on without so much that it bogs things down for an amateur like me.
And if this music thing doesn't work out, you can just be a vocal broadcaster, voice over etc - you have an amazing voice!
For 25 years I wondered about the G major/ E minor scale as an example. I was spending too much time on the G chord and that’s why it sounded so happy. Finally got it.
Well, good. Are you happy now ?
Oops 😬. Uh... satisfied?
You have a voice for radio. Did you ever pursue being a radio DJ?
@Vatsal Payaal hahaha that's good.
It was due to your videos that I have been able to compose songs in such a systematic fashion. I was never too confident with my understanding, but I have been able to improve upon what you gave me. Thank you so much and you are the bomb!
Nobody makes things make sense... you make them simple & applicable. You the man.
So glad to find this channel. You do such a great job of quickly providing the info you need, but never make it overwhelming.
You have an amazing talent to put this so straight that even I can understand it. Thank You for that. I think you should continue with Songwriting Basics until we get to Songwriting expert :):) The best theory lessons on YT so far...
There are a billion comments here to the extent that i had to stop reading. They pretty much echo the same sentiment - you sir, are at the top of the theory teaching game!! I fully agree, which is why I am taking the time to add my accolades to the mix. I have trolled CZcams for several months now, seeking clear explanations of basic music theory foundations. I don’t need to look any further. You are it my good man. Thank you for your brilliant efforts (which you make seem effortless for you).
I subscribed to your channel a while back and I rarely comment on your vids. I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that hands down you put out some of the most helpful composition content available and it's available for free. So cool man. Thanks a million, Jake. Your ideas are extremely valuable. Thank you so much for doing what you do.
I can’t express how much I’m happy I found this channel I’m right at the point in my guitar learning where writing my own stuff is more interesting then doing other people stuff note for note and in combination with everything else on this channel you’re basically learning everything you need to start your own music catalog
Fantastic...thank you for being so put together.great delivery made it easy to watch and understand.
Keep up the dope content!
I just found your channel today… and the fact that you teach and show examples of really good music that people WANT to make.. vs some example that no one would actually make.
Thank you so much dude!!
You are the best music teacher I’ve ever seen... you really make me actually get it straight away.. without sounding pretentious and complicated I subbed for sure 🔥🔥🔥
great lecture. no commercial bullshit going on, just compressed tight good information. despite the amount of information, the way you present it is actually very easy to understand. thank you!
watched this and immediately subbed thank you so much for making everything so simple :)
This was so incredibly helpful thank you so much! I've only been playing two weeks and this has actually helped me loads! You're amazing!
I like your delivery, informative, not using huge terms to explain simple concepts, keeping it simple. Awesome. And relaxed
I think that you could do a video on filing your taxes, and it would still be awesome.
Seriously, thank you for all of the hard work and time that you put into these videos. I have learned a ton.
Yeah...with that voice...ever reading the supermarket list will be inspiring and instructional....the problem is I don t know if an onion is minor or major...
100% agree. Seriously, I need help with my taxes.
You are an incredible teacher! Probably the clearest, most concise chord progression guitar video I’ve stumbled upon. Thank you so much!
You make it very sensible. This is amazing actually. Thank you!
The more I continue to learn about music, the more I return to your videos for reminders of things I’ve forgotten. And I can take those tidbits and apply them like I couldn’t the first time I’d watched the video.
Thank you for all the work you’ve done!
This is exactly what I have been looking for, for years
Same! 😁
Damn! This guy is GOOD! Not everyone can teach! HE CAN!
Your videos are incredible! Thank you!!
I just stumbled on to your account and every video Ive seen so far has been absolutely amazing... I learn about this stuff and it just gets me more amped to practice
Thumbnail Says Minor is more Fun, nope that's a crime
🤣
Kirby’s calling the police
Whenever i get in a rut i go back to this channel and get more songwriting motivation. Love this channel.
How may I express my respect for you and this lesson.
Just the exact trigger I needed to unblock the way of writing my own song.
Jake, your videos are the best, let me tell you straight. You're the clearest and your way of explaining is organic, logical and well organized. The best channel for learning new stuff on YT. Period.
12:38 Anyone else thinkin' wedding march?
Thanks for this! Honestly, this really helped.
I'm 35 and have played guitar since I was 20...and I write songs and am obsessed with music theory _and_ getting to the point where I can just absorb all that, not think about it, and intuitively write. But........I've always had one major hang up, and that is....writing in a minor key.
I don't know what it is...but I've always found it kinda daunting and UN-intuitive. So this helped a lot actually. Thanks! You got a great thing going on this channel. I'm a recent subscriber, and I'm really loving your content.
A nice mind hack to consider is to think of it as a major key but with the tonic on the vi scale degree.
I think thats the problem. When you see minor scale that way your choice of chords tend to go to major and it is "UN-intuitive". I think the best way (if you play piano) is to play C major scale then C minor scale and compare how some chord change. The III become major and the IV become minor and other sutff.
Exactly the video i needed. To the point, clear, informative. No gimmicks and filler. Thanks man, you're a great tutor
As usual, your videos are like gold, thank you mr Lizzio
Can we get a “How to Djent in Major” video ?
Jose C. Check out Vola. They already did it.
Jose C. Fuck off
StoneFree 2110 no u
go nuts Same
Phrygian dominant is the best way. It's a major scale with a flat 2 for your 0000001 fun
Little outa tune today? GREAT VIDEO as always.
Really good video! I like the way you quickly move away from theory on to intelligible and doable music making in as simple a way as is needed for a beginner guitarist. My favourite guitar channel so far and I look forward to looking at more vids from you. Cheers!
This is FANTASTIC! Just came across this channel a couple of days ago. Thank you so, so much, Jake! I'm a complete beginner and the insight you provided is invaluable! I listened to the outro 5 times in a row, it is mindblowing!👏👏👏👏
Mans out here talking about ii-V-i’s without mentioning jazz
That E minor to B7 reminds me of Hotel California. Anyone else? And thanks for this, I've been wondering how to pick chords in minor keys. Thanks!
yes
Yeah it’s actually the root (Em) and leading chord (B7) in the acoustic arpeggiated section!
also reminds me of baby one more time
Hotel California is in the key of Bm though. Don Felder later explained that he wrote the chord progression in Em but that was too high for Don Henley's singing. So they used a lower key to fit his vocal tessiture.
Some of the best content on CZcams. Thank you for taking the time to make these vids.
Your explanations are second to none. Thank you. After watching so many videos on modes and becoming more mystified by them, yours clarified it in such simple terms and examples. This has now given me a much better understanding song structure and minor keys. 🙏🏻
8:30 "Foule Sentimentale" - Alain Souchon
Me reading the thumbnail🤨📸
?
I just can't believe that you actually do the work you do. This is SO well explained, so clear, you even take the time to write the timings in the comments. Wow. Just wow. Thank you so much
I’ve played a long time and I love finding videos that dive into fundamentals. This is exceptionally well done
You deserve 100 times more subscribers than you have...
When I hear Em - B7, I think of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, during the bridge.
I watched a few of your videos few months back, very confused since I was new to music theory, I had to stop. Came back now, suddenly it's clear and making sense. It's crazy and I thank you for these videos!
This has been SO very helpful. Thank you kindly!
That reminds me that if - in addition to subbing in a V - you also sub in a IV, you'll end up with a red door that you'll almost certainly want to paint black. Especially in E minor...
2:45
today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you
Thank you Jake for including tips for piano. That's why I watch your videos--You are one of the best teachers out there--seriously! Take care.
Thanks for these lessons Jake! They've been super helpful in giving me a method for conducting my own guitar lessons for students here in my hometown Waco, TX.
Gamma Ray and other power metal is mainly major scales.
No they are minor with lots of major chords in progression
I close my eyes and pretend that Mike Rowe is teaching me how to play guitar.
Dude, you're putting 1000's of dollars worth of knowledge for free! I mean, that is a proper legacy you're building there! And you explain things so beautifully - I have been trying really hard for many years to 'understand music theory', everything usually came to me "gutsy" and I never understood why things are the way they are.... but I'm finally able to understand a tonne of cool theory... Polyrhythms, polymeters, the 'cadence', the idea of 'creating tension to pull back to the home chord' and in fact, i am finally understanding what it really means to play a song in a certain key ! Thanks a lot! I'm definitely going to be your patreon!
Your lessons are fantastic, I love that you bring in so many real song examples that are easy to relate to. Thanks!
0:54 What he actually meant is "I'm a guitar player, I don't care what scale the song's in!"
Great video!
Altrucent Not really. Guitarists actually play E minor and A minor chords a lot. It's second nature.
Em11
In E with standard tuning we can get away without fretting 1st and 6th strings. A lot of Funk uses E9 at 1/16 notes, with the trick in muting...
Which type of editing software is this?
He uses Reason, but any DAW works.
Holy shit Marco Cirillo was here.
@@dakshkant3523
I just discovered Marco's channel recently. Very good stuff!
I wish I had this much information available to me back in the 80s when I first started playing. It would have made a world of difference.
Wtf you? Here?
Reason is amazing if you are into sound design
Thank you for getting right into the lesson and providing the accompanying notes. Very helpful.
Hey Jake, you are such an awesome teacher! Love all your videos. Thank you for simplifying music theory and keeping everything so engaging and fun!
So, you don't have to start on the root like your major key lesson?
You don't -have- to, but you will have to make sure that the root feels like the root. The best way to do that is to start on it, but you can also get away with progressions that just use lots of the i chord. VI-VII-i-i for example has enough of the i for it to feel like home, that progression doesn't really want to end on VI (though it could for an unresolved sort of ending).
Ultimately there are no rules here, these are just guidelines to help you get a good sound that you can enjoy. If it isn't actually in minor but it still sounds good, that's totally fine!
the moment I heard him say “E minor” I thought about Em Am D G.
Out of the dozens of guitar channels I have watched, This channel is the first channel I search when I want to explore a new topic. The videos are very well thought out. They are the best of both worlds, they give all the practical knowledge to put it to good use and a good fundamental understanding of the theory behind it. Some channels don't understand that the most impressive indicators of understanding the material is being able to distill it down to the essentials with context, not reciting textbook theory ad nauseam.
You are my new favorite you tuber. I have learnt so much from you. And honestly a simple thank you cannot justify it. I hope you get a lot more subscribers because it’s just straight up no bullshit. Again 🙏🏻 thank you
5:17 its just zombie
At 7:08, the F should be an F#?
And at 8:20
GAHHHH! Yes... cant believe that slipped past me. One day ill post a video with no errors in it
;) ... It was a great video, as always, thanks!!
Just the kinds of typos you can't pick up yourself (Like the odd V instead of V7, or 'Diminished Circle' instead of 'Half-diminished slash-circle'', especially when you want to get it OUT there!!
No substitute for a second pair of eyes/'editor'.
Absolutely true... I'm always in such a rush to get things posted that things like this often slip my attention. The reason for the error is that I have to put that # sign in there as a separate text box so it doesn't screw up the kerning of the letters of the scale. When i copy and pasted the bigger text box over, I guess I completely forgot to include the #.
Woooow this channel is amazing! Thank you man 👏🏾👏🏾
this was exactly what i needed, when i needed it. thanks man, amazing! thanks for keeping it so nice and clean!
the thumbnail is very sus
Another great video. BTW: The guitar is a little out of tune.
Great video, Jake. This is my second pass through this one - in the interim I've scoured up some pieces from all over, and it gelled better this time. Thanks much!
There are so many gems containef in this video that I lost count. Excellent job, great presentation. Thanks for putting it together