I Didn't Know Where CHORDS Came From Until I Knew THIS

How is it that in 15 minutes you’ve been able to help me understand something I haven’t for the last 15 years.. thank you for this amazing video!

Isn't that sheet of paper aesthetically pleasing? A work of art. I'm going to make one for myself and put it on my wall.

Mathematically there is an isomorphism between scales. So I find it useful as a starting point just to remember: TTSTTTS, where T means tone and S semitone. The way I remember this is to visualize the piano keyboard starting with the interval between C and D. The chord construction demonstrated in this video I learned as "piling on thirds". If you also add the 7th, you construct the standard 4 note jazz chords. Because the diatonic scale has semitones, you can create different modes. You just move the starting point for the different modes in that particular key scale. The circle of thirds is a good idea. This has a cycle of 7 as does the circle of fifths. The interval between the circle of thirds is two and between the circle of fifths 4. However, if you look a little closely at the circle of fifths, you realize it does not actually exist. If you use it to find keys with sharps, it breaks down when you get to the key of B since the key with 6 sharps is the key F#. It is actually a circle of eighths where you have to think in semitones. I don't know why they don't teach that, since it would be much more logical.

Chords are a secondary effect of single lines moving at the same time. In the 1200s through to the 17th century music was mostly church music and it was single lines that were sung. There were strict rules about how those lines were allowed to move together and those rules became known as counterpoint. The preoccupation with the identity via the analysis of chords is an after-the-fact phenomenon.

I've taught this same material individually to thousands of students since 1979 - I like Ricky's approach, particularly the nemonic 'Every Good Band Deserves Fans And Cash' !

I've been playing the bass guitar and learning music theory for years, and this was the most well-explained version I've seen of why chord structures are the way that they are and how this builds into chord progression and cadence in a song.

40 years of learning guitar without lessons, this has been the BEST explanation I've ever seen. THANK YOU. Subscribed.

Okay this is awesome. For some reason you're instruction by writing on paper increased my understanding. I've been playing the guitar off and on for 15 years and I'm so used to personal instruction and regular books. Since you were writing on paper and explaining at the same time I really focused and paid attention:)

I can remember figuring out the pattern of notes to an octave that a scale was, all by myself jumping up and down in my room : "that's why its called a diminished chord!! That's how it works!! Oh my god!!!" I'll never forget that epiphany. Thought I was a genius lol

Dear Ricky, you deserve a medal for explaining thing so brilliantly that I could go on watching and listening you endless hours. I love your english humour which appreciate very much. Besides that you know how to make people understood you. À bientôt.

I'm home educating and trying to learn music theory to assist in teaching piano. I have to say that this explanation is the best I've found on YouTube for explaining chords and I thank you for it!

Wow... so those are the 3rds and 5ths everybody talks about... today I'm feeling one of those "enlightenment moments", if you know what I mean. Today is the first day of an exciting rest of my life. Thank you!

would be so helpful if someone had told me this at least 20 years earlier. Awesome explained. Suddenly its so easy to understand how it all fits together

A detailed breakdown of musical scales and chords, focusing on the relationships between different notes, chords, and their roles in music theory. Here’s a structured breakdown of the information presented: Scales (Ingredients) Major and Minor Scales: Major Scale (Maj3): Marked with intervals of 1 and 3, showing the whole and half-step patterns. Minor Scale (Min3): Similar to the major scale but with different intervals, emphasizing the third note being a minor third (3 semitones) away from the root (R). Triads Circle of Chords: C Major scale chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim, and C (octave). Primary Triads: Major (I), Minor (ii, iii, vi), and Diminished (vii°) chords. Secondary Triads: Extensions of the primary triads including more variations of major, minor, and diminished chords. Tertian Harmony Root, Third, and Fifth (R, 3, 5): Examples given in C Major: C-E-G, D-F-A, E-G-B, etc. Numbered from 1 to 7 indicating their position in the scale. Chord Types and Intervals Chords with Intervals: Major (Δ), Minor (-), and Diminished (o). Explanation of Symbols: I = Major, i = Minor, Δ = Major, - = Minor, o = Diminished. Cycle of Thirds Visual Representation: A circular diagram showing the cycle of thirds within a scale. Notes connected in thirds: E-G-B-D-F-A-C. Music Notation Treble Clef: Notation of the notes on a staff. Summary of Important Points: The image combines various music theory concepts: Construction and relationships of scales. Formation and function of triads. Tertian harmony and its application in building chords. The cycle of thirds as a method to understand chord progressions. This breakdown serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding how different chords and scales are related and how they function within the context of Western music theory.

This is such a great explanation and you've taught in 20 minutes patterns I haven't understood for 40+ years!!! Thank you so much for making this and explaining the concepts so clearly and memorably ❤

Completely relatable. I spend seemingly too much time over pen and paper, than the keys or fretboard. Music is mathematical and can be visualized as well as heard. Thanks

Wow! Just WOW! How easy and accessible you made music theory! It just said click in my head and I suddenly grasp the math and beauty in the relationships between the notes and chords.

On the piano the easiest method to play 12 chords using base note, plus 4, plus 3. With right hand place thumb on a note (C for example to play C chord), then count 4 notes to get second note of chord (E), now count 3 notes to get third note (G). Now you can play 12 chords! Turn chords into minors by simply moving middle finger 1/2 step back, now you have 12 additional chords! You want 12 more chords? Same as base note plus 4, plus 3 just add another plus 3 to get your 7ths! Now you know how to play 36 chords, which gives you tons of songs to have fun with! 😁

I've had the book for a while but have only just started working through it. Ricky has allowed me to fall back in love with playing the guitar. I'm like a big kid again. Thanks Ricky, you're rocking awesone

He has a real mastery in music. So well explained making it so easy. Thanks so much. 🎉