Music Theory for People who Hate Music Theory
J. Anthony Allen, Music Producer, Composer, PhD, Professor
Ve esta clase y miles más
Ve esta clase y miles más
Lecciones en esta clase
-
-
1.
Introduction
2:25
-
2.
My Approach to Music Theory
2:48
-
3.
What is Music Theory, anyway?
3:06
-
4.
What we Will Cover in This Class
3:31
-
5.
Tools You Will Need
4:13
-
6.
Do we Need to Read Music?
2:27
-
7.
Lead Sheets
2:29
-
8.
Clefs
3:14
-
9.
Languages
2:31
-
10.
Pitch Names
4:01
-
11.
Octaves
3:12
-
12.
Worksheets!
2:03
-
13.
Accidentals
1:36
-
14.
Sharps
2:25
-
15.
Flats
4:18
-
16.
Accidental Behavior and Naturals
6:06
-
17.
Dynamics, Key Signatures, and Repeats
5:46
-
18.
Practicing
2:20
-
19.
Languages
3:09
-
20.
Rhythmic Divisions
2:46
-
21.
Time Signatures
3:30
-
22.
Divisions of the Beat
3:26
-
23.
Dots
4:16
-
24.
Ties
4:22
-
25.
Rests
2:01
-
26.
Triplets and other Tuplets
3:20
-
27.
Places to Find Scores Online
3:39
-
28.
Tips for Practicing
3:39
-
29.
A Reminder about Why Reading Music is Important
2:43
-
30.
What are Scales?
2:34
-
31.
Definitions: Chromatic and Diatonic
3:27
-
32.
"Ordered Pitch Class Collections"
2:37
-
33.
Chromatic Scales
1:46
-
34.
Whole Steps and Half Steps
4:17
-
35.
The Whole & Half Pattern
7:18
-
36.
Tonic
4:48
-
37.
Practice
1:27
-
38.
Using Major Scales
4:30
-
39.
Steps, Skips, and Leaps
2:42
-
40.
Melody Analysis
1:52
-
41.
What Does it Mean to be "In Key"?
3:29
-
42.
Why We Care About Keys
2:22
-
43.
Identifying Key Signatures
6:46
-
44.
Other Ways of Finding the Key
4:05
-
45.
What Key Should I be Writing in, Anyway?
6:26
-
46.
What are Chords?
5:36
-
47.
Building Triads
3:29
-
48.
Roots
2:20
-
49.
The Diatonic Chord Progression
6:06
-
50.
The Pattern
3:55
-
51.
Roman Numerals
5:18
-
52.
Analysis: Piano Man, Billy Joel
6:30
-
53.
Analysis: All Too Well, Taylor Swift
2:06
-
54.
The Different Types of Triads
5:02
-
55.
The Anatomy of a Triad
6:38
-
56.
The Third Holds the Power!
1:37
-
57.
Diminished Triads
3:43
-
58.
Octaves and Inversions
4:11
-
59.
Chords on the Guitar
2:46
-
60.
What is the Circle of Fifths?
1:46
-
61.
Using the Circle of Fifths to Find Chords
4:26
-
62.
Using the Circle of Fifths to Find Interesting Chords
6:10
-
63.
Verse Chord Progression
6:11
-
64.
Chorus Chord Progression
4:03
-
65.
Verse Melody
5:01
-
66.
Chorus Melody
6:18
-
67.
Full Song
4:47
-
68.
What are 7th Chords?
3:56
-
69.
The Diatonic Chord Progression and 7ths
5:39
-
70.
Major 7th Chords
1:07
-
71.
Minor 7th Chords
2:04
-
72.
Dominant 7th Chords
4:10
-
73.
Blues and the Dominant 7th Chord
1:19
-
74.
The "Psycho Chord"
1:54
-
75.
The Minor Mode
3:14
-
76.
Finding Minor by Alterations to Major
1:32
-
77.
Finding Minor by the Whole/Half Pattern
1:44
-
78.
Finding Minor by the Relative Major
7:36
-
79.
Finding Minor by the Parallel Major
1:34
-
80.
The 3 Types of Minor Scales
7:02
-
81.
Key Signatures in Minor
2:40
-
82.
The Pattern
4:07
-
83.
The V Chord and the Leading Tone
3:17
-
84.
7th Chords in Minor
3:03
-
85.
Minor Keys and the Circle of Fifths
1:49
-
86.
New Options for Closely Related Keys
1:55
-
87.
Reading "All Too Well" by Taylor Swift
1:21
-
88.
Reading "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye
1:46
-
89.
Real Books and Fake Books
5:07
-
90.
Verse Chord Progression
7:44
-
91.
Chorus Chord Progression
6:06
-
92.
Verse Melody
3:05
-
93.
Chorus Melody
5:16
-
94.
Full Song
3:39
-
95.
What have we Learned?
2:13
-
96.
What Comes Next?
1:41
-
97.
Bonus Lecture
0:36
-
-
- --
- Nivel principiante
- Nivel intermedio
- Nivel avanzado
- Todos los niveles
Generado por la comunidad
El nivel se determina según la opinión de la mayoría de los estudiantes que han dejado reseñas en esta clase. La recomendación del profesor o de la profesora se muestra hasta que se recopilen al menos 5 reseñas de estudiantes.
15
Estudiantes
--
Proyectos
Acerca de esta clase
Finally! Music Theory That Doesn't Make You Want to Quit Music
Let's be honest—you've tried learning music theory before. Maybe you made it through a few lessons before your eyes glazed over. Maybe you hurled your textbook across the room. Or maybe you've been avoiding it entirely because you've heard how mind-numbing it can be.
I get it. Traditional music theory education SUCKS sometimes.
Hi, I'm J. Anthony Allen, and I've witnessed countless talented musicians give up on theory because of how it's typically taught. That's why I created this course—to take this bitter pill of musical medicine and coat it in enough chocolate that you'll actually enjoy taking it.
This Isn't Your Grandma's Music Theory Class
Forget dusty textbooks and pretentious terminology. I've designed this 6-hour masterclass specifically for people who:
-
Have tried learning theory before and gave up in frustration
-
Know they need theory but have been actively avoiding it
-
Are allergic to traditional academic approaches
-
Want practical applications, not abstract concepts
-
Need someone to explain it like they're a normal human being
Why This Course Is Different
-
No Pretentious BS: I explain everything in plain English, not academic jargon
-
Practical First, Theory Second: Every concept is immediately connected to making actual music
-
Built for Modern Musicians: Designed for today's producers, beatmakers, and songwriters—not 18th-century composers
-
Visual Learning: See concepts demonstrated on piano, guitar, and in DAWs
-
Humor Throughout: Because if we can't laugh while learning, what's the point?
What You'll Actually Learn
The Only Basics That Actually Matter
-
The building blocks every musician needs (without the fluff)
-
Why the Circle of Fifths isn't actually complicated
-
How to understand keys without wanting to stab yourself with a pencil
Chords That Don't Make You Snore
-
Building chords that sound good (without memorizing formulas)
-
The chord progressions behind 90% of hit songs
-
How to break chord "rules" and sound like a genius
Melody, Rhythm, and Arrangement
-
Creating melodies that stick without overthinking
-
How rhythm and harmony work together in the real world
-
Using scales effectively without memorizing dozens of patterns
Putting It All Together
-
Analyzing hit songs with your new theory knowledge
-
Creating your own music using what you've learned
-
Next steps that won't make you want to quit music
Why Learn From Me?
With over a million students taught and an average rating above 4.7, I've developed an approach that works for normal humans, not just music theory nerds. I'm a Ph.D. musician who speaks plain English, makes terrible jokes, and knows exactly where traditional theory education goes wrong.
My Promise To You
By the end of this course, you'll not only understand music theory—you might actually LIKE it.
This is the course I wish existed when I was learning theory. It's the sh*t sandwich of music education served with enough chocolate that you'll come back for seconds.
Let's transform music theory from your most hated subject to your secret weapon.
Ready to actually enjoy learning theory? Let's do this!
Conoce a tu profesor(a)
Dr. J. Anthony Allen is a distinguished composer, producer, educator, and innovator whose multifaceted career spans various musical disciplines. Born in Michigan and based in Minneapolis, Dr. Allen has composed orchestral works, produced acclaimed dance music, and through his entrepreneurship projects, he has educated over a million students worldwide in music theory and electronic music production.
Dr. Allen's musical influence is global, with compositions performed across Europe, North America, and Asia. His versatility is evident in works ranging from Minnesota Orchestra performances to Netflix soundtracks. Beyond creation, Dr. Allen is committed to revolutionizing music education for the 21st century. In 2011, he founded Slam Academy, an electronic music school aimed... Ver perfil completo
Proyecto de clase práctica
Let's write a song together!
In the class, we will write a short song using a 2 chord progressions (a verse and a chorus) and a melody for each of those. No it's your turn!
Things to remember:
- For your chord progression, remember the diatonic chord progression.
- Don't be afraid to reach "outside" of the key for a few different chords.
- For melodies, remember: Steps, Skips, and Leaps
Post your sheet music here - handwritten, musescore, or PDFs.
Have fun!
Valoración de la clase
¿Por qué unirse a Skillshare?
Mira las galardonadas Skillshare Originals
Cada clase tiene lecciones cortas y proyectos prácticos
Tu membresía apoya a los profesores de Skillshare