Join Julian Velard for an in-depth discussion in this video Intervals: Minor, augmented, and diminished, part of Music Theory for Songwriters: The Fundamentals.
Intervals are the building blocks of chords,…melodies, and harmonies.…For example, every song's melody is simply…a series of intervals.…Understanding intervals and how they sound…is a key technique for writing better songs.…So far, we've discussed major and perfect intervals.…Here, we'll discuss the other types of intervals;…minor, diminished, and augmented.…A minor interval occurs when a major interval…is lowered by a semitone or flattened.…For example, if we take a major 3rd of C to E...…
And lower the E to E flat by playing a black key,…it's a minor 3rd.…Also if we take a major 2nd of C to D...…And lower the D to D flat,…it becomes a minor 2nd.…
If we take a major 6th of C to A...…And lower the A to A flat is it a minor 6th.…And if we take a major 7th of C to B...…And lower it a half step,…it becomes C to B flat, or a minor 7th.…
Only 2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths…can be considered either major or minor.…A diminished interval occurs when a perfect…or minor interval is lowered by a semitone.…For example, if we take a perfect 5th C to G...…
Professional musician Julian Velard starts the course with the building blocks of harmony: notes, scales, intervals, chords, inversions, and basic chord progressions. He then goes into voice leading—showing how to move from one chord to another by changing just one or two notes—and reviews common song forms, from the familiar verse/chorus/verse of pop to the simple verse of the blues. At the end of each chapter, Julian explains the songwriting techniques shown in the chapter within the context of his own original commercially released songs.
- Understanding scales, intervals, and keys
- Triads or three-note chords
- Triad inversions
- Common major-scale chord progressions and cadences
- Voice leading
- Song form elements such as verse, chorus, bridge, hook, and more
- Using common song forms in songwriting
Skill Level Beginner
Music Theory for Songwriters: Rhythmwith David Franz1h 35m Beginner
Songwriting Techniques with Chordswith Julian Velard2h Intermediate
1. The Building Blocks of Harmony
2. Triads and Chord Progressions
3. Chord Progressions and Voice Leading
4. Song Forms
Next steps1m 16s
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