Music Basics

Music Basics

An understanding of the foundations of music can go a long way in your enjoyment of music.

12 lessons in the Music Basics LessonSERIES :

1
Glossary of Music Terms
A glossary of common music terms. Common and not so common music terms. Knowing the language and terms used with music aides in your own understanding when exploring your music potential.
2
Whole Steps and Half Steps Explained
The distance between any two notes can be defined by steps - half steps, whole steps, semi-tones, whole tones. From this series of steps you can get the names of the notes of ANY of the fifteen major scales.
3
The Chromatic Scale
The only scale in music with ALL twelve notes of one octave. Not much use for improvisation or solos – but a great scale for learning the notes of the ukulele fingerboard, figuring out scales, chords and more...
4
Enharmonic Equivalents
An Enharmonic Equivalent is where a musical pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# produces the same pitch as Ab.
5
The Major Scale
Called the learning scale for a reason. The major scale is a great scale for learning how music and chords work. It’s a core scale from which a majority of your core, essential scales can be derived.
6
Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths
Traditional Key Signatures provide a wealth of information that can enhance our understanding of music and its underlying principles.
7
Ear Training - Pitch Recognition
Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally. This includes the ability to recognize melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chord progressions, rhythm, melody, and harmony.
8
Chord Spelling - Triads
This lesson presents the traditional approach for learning the chord tones of chords with a little twist to make it a bit easier.
9
Chord Spelling - An Alternate Approach
The quickest and most directly way to determine the chord tones of any chord are to use the scale degrees of its corresponding major scale.
10
Playing in Time
Playing in time is an essential skill that every musician must possess. There are no shortcuts or alternatives when it comes to this aspect of music. Keeping your place while playing is a crucial lesson that focuses on honing your ability to maintain a consistent tempo and rhythm throughout your performance.
11
Demystifying Cut Time by Chuck Anderson
Cut Time is a source of confusion for many musicians. What exactly does it mean and how do you apply it? Here is a guest lesson by internationally renowned jazz guitarist and educator Chuck Anderson
12
Practice, Play and Rules (Theory) - The Three Words
Chuck Anderson wrote a great blog entry about the three words Play, Practice and Theory that send the wrong message to players and the general public.