MUSICAL EDUCATION 4. The Seven Related Keys Earlier in my first blog (UNDERSTANDING BASIC HARMONY) I presented all the twelve keys in major and in minor. We will first look at the key of “C” major and “A” minor once again.  In C major the other related keys must as well have the note C […]

MUSICAL EDUCATION 3. Voice-Leading from chord to chord The basic principle of “voice-leading” is to blend one chord to another without a radical spring. This gives a wished effect especially for accompanying because a melody should come forward and the chords should move smoothly and support the melody. In the first blog (UNDERSTANDING BASIC HARMONY) […]

MUSIC EDUCATION 2. The Usage of the Dominant Seventh Chord In the previous blog (Understanding Basic Harmony) we worked with three-note chords (triads). Now we will venture into the world of four-note chords. However in this blog we will start with the fifth (V) step of each scale. In C major our fifth step is […]

MUSICAL EDUCATION 1.  UNDERSTANDING BASIC HARMONY (Playing by ear) One very clear idea is to take a look at any keyboard. We have the white keys and the black keys. The white keys represent a collection of tones which we call diatonic. These pitches came to be through the playing of music stretching back to […]