From the course: Introduction to Songwriting
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Music theory and notation
From the course: Introduction to Songwriting
Music theory and notation
- [Instructor] Let's start with a definition of music theory. Music theory is the codification of the elements of music including pitch, rhythm, melody, and harmony, and provides a standardized way of communicating them by use of notation. To me, an understanding of music theory gives me the power of knowing what possibilities are available when I make my songwriting decisions. For example, music theory helps me to know which chords work with a specific melody or which melody notes work best over a certain chord or even what rhythms create the most effective way of communicating my song's message. Music theory is a language used to communicate musical ideas among musicians. For example, when I demo songs in my recording studio, I'm better able to explain my musical vision to the session musicians and the vocalist since we all speak the same musical language. For example, I could ask my guitarist to play something darker, to change the mood of a particular part of the song, but that…
Contents
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What is songwriting?4m 50s
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Skills needed to be a songwriter3m 43s
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The fundamentals of songwriting3m 54s
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Music theory and notation2m 58s
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Copyrighting and publishing3m 58s
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Recording, record labels, and promotion3m 54s
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Music law2m 39s
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Jobs in songwriting3m 48s
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