Chords
The Minor Triad
Minor has a reputation for being “sad” in relation to major’s “happy” mood. But the minor triad also shows up frequently in music of lots of different shades and characters.
October 4, 2021
Tag: music theory
Chords
The Major Triad
Perhaps the most widely-used chord around the world, the major triad emerges directly from the overtone series.
September 29, 2021
Chords
The Power Chord
This chord is the emblem of punk for so many reasons: it’s tonally open-ended (without a third, it’s neither major nor minor), it’s easy to play on guitar even while thrashing around, and, most importantly, it packs a punch.
September 27, 2021
Learning Music
5 Music Theory Band-Aids and How to Rip Them Off
There’s a quick fix for every problem, but when it comes to growing as a musician, a band-aid approach to learning can cost you in the long run.
September 10, 2021
How-To
How to Read the Keyring
The Keyring is a powerful way to visualize chords and scales. Here’s how to read it.
August 23, 2021
Isn't Music Theory
Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open:” Ultimate Chord Breakdown
Here’s what makes the Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak song tick.
August 23, 2021
Isn't Music Theory
What Does It Mean to Be a Vocal Learner?
What do bats, elephants, whales, seals, and humans all have in common? What does this have to do with music notation? The first in a two-part series on vocal learning.
January 13, 2021
Isn't Music Theory
Introducing “Isn’t Music Theory”
Synthase founder Nate May has a brand-new series on YouTube.
December 18, 2020