Software & Plugins Used In This Course

Ableton Live, Ableton Live Intro,

Topics Covered In This Course

Chords, Music Theory,

 In the third of our Beginners Guide to Music Theory series we look at using chords. We show you how chords are constructed and how to use them effectively in a track. We use real world examples to demonstrate what we're talking about and show you how a number of the worlds best dance tracks we're put together. All this plus a resource pack featuring all the MIDI clips used and created in the course so you can start building your own dance classic!

Videos Overview

Tutorial 1 - Intro and Intervals

A quick introduction from Graham and then its down to business with an overview of how chords are made.

Tutorial 2 - Interval Examples

First up we take a look at a two note chord using real world examples.

Tutorial 3 - Triads

Moving on from a two note chord we add a third note, making a Triad or three note chord.

Tutorial 4 - Triad Scales

In this video we look at how to work out chords in any key.

Tutorial 5 - Triad Examples

Having looked at triad chords and scales now we use them in real world examples.

Tutorial 6 - Inversions

Looking at playing a simple triad chord but changing the octave of the notes to give us different variations.

Tutorial 7 - Borrowed Chords

In this video we look at how to borrow chord from the minor scales if using a major scale and vice versa.

Tutorial 8 - Borrowed and Chord Examples

Looking at an example of a classic track that uses both borrowed and inverted chords within it structure.

Tutorial 9 - Chord Progressions

Time to look at how to structure a chord progression.

Tutorial 10 - Chord Progressions and Basslines Part 1

Now that we have our chord progression in, time to extract a bassline from it in this first part.

Tutorial 11 - Chord Progression and Basslines Part 2

The second and Last part of Chord Progressions and Basslines.