Music

Music Theory for Songwriters

by Erol Oz

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Latest episodes

Episode 20: Plagal Cadences: Concluding on a IV chord

September 19, 2022 · 4 min

Not all songs have chord progressions that end on a V chord, and often songs will end with a IV resolving to I, known as the plagal cadence.
Episode 19: Why Chord Progressions Work

September 17, 2022 · 14 min

In a previous episode, we analyzed "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. This episode discusses the "why" of the I-vi-IV-V chord progression and explain the basics of the 4-chord phrase structure. We cover Tonic, Chords with common tones…
Episode 18: Diminished 7th Chords

September 13, 2021 · 9 min

For the half-diminished 7th chord, we take the minor 7th chord and flat the 5th, which is why these chords are often called m7(b5). Fully diminished 7th chords also flat the 7th. When we flat a minor 7th, we get an interval called a…
Episode 14: Triads, Chord Voicing, and Intervals

March 17, 2021 · 11 min

In this episode we talk about the pattern used to construct major and minor chords or TRIADS. We also discuss how to use this information to create different VOICING of a chord. We also build on our previous discussion of intervals by…
Episode 13: Diatonic Chords in Major, Natural Minor, and Harmonic Minor Keys

March 10, 2021 · 8 min

This episode outlines the Diatonic chords–the ones that fit with no added sharps or flats–within a key. In a Major key we have 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5, 6m, 7dim. In a Minor key we have 1m, 2dim, 3, 4m, 5m, 6, 7. In Harmonic Minor we raise the…

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Episode 12: Artist Spotlight - Bella Garland

March 4, 2021 · 11 min

This episode dissects Bella Garland's song "Mama Raised Me". She discusses her writing process, tuning the guitar down a half step, capo transpositions, and her use of the chords 1, 4, 5, and 6m from the Nashville Number System. Follow her…
Episode 10: Circle of Fifths, Flats, Invertible intervals, and Intro to Capo Transposition.

February 10, 2021 · 10 min

In this episode we discuss the remaining sharp keys in the Circle of Fifths as well as moving into the flat keys. The order of flats is BEADGCF or simply the order of sharps backwards. And always remember your order of sharps…
Episode 9: Key of D Major & B minor, Notes on the Treble Staff, Order of Sharps

February 3, 2021 · 9 min

This episodes dissects the order of sharps and the keys of D Major and B minor at 2 o'clock on the Circle of Fifths, as well as the letter names of the notes on the treble staff.
Episode 8: Sharps, Circle of Fifths, Key of G Major & E minor

January 27, 2021 · 9 min

I recommend using a guitar or keyboard and a diagram of the Circle of Fifths while you're listening to this episode.
Episode 7: Minor Scales, Circle of Fifths, Relative Keys

October 21, 2020 · 5 min

In this episode we will discuss major scales, scale degree numbers, minor scales, relative keys, and an introduction to the Circle of Fifths. You will also hear guest appearances from my two chocolate lab mutts.
Episode 6: Scale Degree Numbers, Nashville Number System, and Intervals

October 7, 2020 · 6 min

Last episode we discussed Whole Steps and Half Steps and the pattern of steps to create a C Major Scale. In this episode, we shift the perspective to refer to each note of the scale (scale degree) as a number, rather than a letter. Sort of…
Episode 5: Whole Steps, Half Steps, and the C Major Scale.

October 1, 2020 · 5 min

Whole Steps, Half Steps, and the C Major Scale. We use a pattern of Whole and Half steps to build a C major Scale. C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. W-W-H-W-W-W-H. Note the half steps between E-F and B-C.