LEVEL 1

1.1 - Learn The Notes

Memorize the notes

A Piano is repeated in octaves

Octaves repeat every 12 notes

Notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Black Keys are names with a sharp or flat

Sharp means to move up one semitone

Flat means to move down one semitone

C5 - The number describes which octave the note is being played

1.2 - Intervals Made Easy

An interval is the distance between 2 pitches

There are 12 Intervals in total (the span of an octave)

Unison, Minor second, Major Second, Minor Third, Major Third,

Perfect 4th , Triton, Perfect Fifth, Minor Sixth, Major Sixth, Minor
Seventh, Major Seventh, Octave

Ear training is important

 LEVEL 2

2.1 - Basic Scales

The tonal center of your song

First note of the scale is the root note (R)

W = Whole Step, H = Half Step

Major Scale
R, W, W, H, W, W, W, H

Natural Minor Scale

R, W, H, W, W, H, W, W

Intervals

Major Scale
Root, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th,
Major 7th, Octave

Minor Scale
Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th Minor 6,
Minor 7th, Octave

2. 2 - Basic Chords
A Chord is a collection of Pitches Being played at the same time

A triad is a chord with 3 notes

Major Chord
Root note - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th

Minor Chord
Root Note - Minor 3rd - Perfect 5th
 LEVEL 2

2.4 - Basic Rhythm

Tempo is determined by BPM (Beats Per Minute)

Metronomes in most DAWS play in quarter notes

Whole Note - 4 Clicks

Half Note - 2 Clicks

Quarter Note - 1 Click

Eighth Notes - ½ Clicks

Vary up the tempo for more interesting rhythm

2.5 - Make Your First

Melody
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mc2xtojm8gxaihk/Module%202%20Exerc
ise.zip?dl=0
 LEVEL 3

3.1 - Scale Degrees: This

Trick Will Change
Your Life
Scale degrees are the location of a note in relation to the tonic

Simplifies music so that you don't have to rely on a specific key

Requires knowledge of the scale

Scale Degrees for notes

Notated as numbers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
The same for both major and minor scale
1 is the tonic
Useful for learning chord names (ex. Fmaj7)

Scale Degrees for chord progressions

Noted as roman numerals

Uppercase means Major chord
Lowercase Means Minor chord
- means diminished
Major Scale
I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii-
Minor Scale
I, ii-, III, iv, v, VI, VII
Used to write chord progressions
Ex I, V, vi, IV
 LEVEL 3

3.2 - Introduction to
Chord Progressions
The order that chords are played within the song

Unlimited combinations

Popular chord progressions in Major Scale

I, V, vi, IV
ii, V, I

Popular Chord Progressions in Minor Scale

VI, VII, i
i, iv, v
Experiment and reorder chord progressions

Practice only within the scale

On your own listen to chord progressions and note your

favourites

3.4 - Advanced Chords

Diminished Chord
1 - b3 - b5
Notated with a - (Ex. D-)

Augmented Chord
1 - 3 - #5
Notated with a + (Ex. G+)

Passing Chords
Chords you can put in between to transition between chords
 LEVEL 3
Harmonic Rhythm
The rhythm of your chord progressions
Implement different rhythms to make your progression more
interesting

3.6 - Advanced Melodies

Expand and Develop Melodies

Passing Notes
Notes you put in between
Good for transitioning between big intervals

Ornamentation
Melodic decoration
Quick passing notes to make your melody interesting
Close intervals are most effective

Suspensions
Extending the length of the note over a strong beat

Note Lengths
Create variation with short and long notes

Grace notes
A very quick passing note (above or below)
 LEVEL 3

3.7 - Harmony And

Counter Melodies
Harmonies
Plays parallel to the melody
Best used in 3rd and 5ths
Try to keep a consistent melodic line (not too much jumping
around)

Counter melodies
Play independently of the melody
Use your ear to create melodies
Good to fill out spaces the main melody creates
Make sure to follow the chord progressions
Make sure it doesn't clash with the main melody

3.8 - Improve Your

Melody
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4e4xtbzdj1xkmak/Module%203%20Exe
rcise.zip?dl=0
 LEVEL 4
4.1 - Basic Kick, Clap,
And Hi Hat
Kick
Loud Boomy, Punchy
Plays on the first downbeat
Use syncopation is appropriate

Hi Hat
Hi end, Bright, Short
Eighth notes
brings a lot of energy

Snare/Clap
Hi mid Area, strong transient
Hit on the 2 and 4

Syncopation
Accenting of a weaker beat

Use the same principle if it is half time (for higher tempos)

4.2 - Basic 808s and

Baselines
Creating a Bassline
Follow the chord progression
Play the root note on strong down beats
Play along with kick drum for extra punch

Types of Bass
808
Synth Bass
Live Bass
All basses move differently
 LEVEL 4
4.3 - Finish Up Your Beat
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gce4xzjeyxneqko/Module%204%20Exerci
se.zip?dl=0

LEVEL 5

5.1 - Advanced Scales

Harmonic Minor
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Scale Degrees
I , ii-, III+, iv, V, VI, vii-

Popular Progressions
i, vii-, ii-, V, i
i, iv, vii-, V, i

Ethnic Scale
Minor Hungarian Scale
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 7
Arabic Scale
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Major Pentatonic
1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Ethnic Scales dont focus on chord progressions
Use more melodically

Major Blues Scale

1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6

Minor Blues Scale

1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7
 LEVEL 5
5.2 - Voice Leading
Chord Inversions
Rearranging notes in a chord
1rst Inversion - 1 in the bottom
2nd inversion - 3 in the bottom
3rd inversion - 4 in the bottom
Continues on if there are more notes in the chord

Voice Leading
How individual voices move in between chords
Creates smooth chord progressions
Use inversions so chord progressions dont jump around as
much
Think melodically

5.3 - Chord Extensions

Adding extra voices on top of regular triads

Names are based on the scale degrees

Scale degrees go above the octave

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
The important ones are the 9, 11, and 13

Seventh chords
Major 7th
1-3-5-7
Dominant 7th
1-3-5-b7
Minor 7th
1-b3-5-b7
Major Minor 7th
1-b3-5-7
 LEVEL 5
Half Diminished 7th
1-b3-b5-b7
Full Diminished 7th
1-b3-b5-bb7

Ninth Chords
Major 9th
1-3-5-7-9
Minor 9th
1-b3-5-b7-9
Dominant 9th
1-3-5-b7-9

Eleventh Chords
Major 11th
Minor 11th
Dominant 11th

Thirteenth Chords
Major 13th
Minor 13th
Dominant 13th

Altered Chords
Indicated a note is being altered

Ex Dmin7b5
Indicated the 5 is being flat
D-F-Ab-C

Added Tone Chords

Additional notes being added
Ex Cmin(add11)
Add 11th scale degree
But exclude 7th and 9th
C-Eb-G-F

Use these to add color to your chord progression

 LEVEL 5
5.5 - Chord Suspensions
Removing the 3rd and replace with the 2nd or 4th

Sus 4
1-4-5

Sus 2
1-2-5

Great for building tension with notes close together

Good for creating movement in chord progression

Good for delaying the chord progression

5.6 - Leaving the Scale

Leave the scale for more interesting melodies and chords

Good for Lofi/Jazz/Rnb

Use closely related scales based on their key signature

Borrow chords from closely related scales

Ex C maj and F Maj

Borrow from parallel key

Ex C Maj to C Min

Melodies
Follow chords that leave the melody
Use it as passing notes (especially a weaker beat)
1 semitone away
 LEVEL 5

5.7 - Secondary Dominants

Great way to leave the scale

The dominant is the V

Use dominants that are not in the tonic

Noted V/?

5.8 - Advanced Passing

Chords
Chromatic Passing Chords

Diminished Passing Chords

5.10 - Create Your First Pro

Melody
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g0mx3rime584j7i/Module%205%20Exerci
se.zip?dl=0
 LEVEL 6
6.1 - Advanced Drums
Part 1
Triplets
When a beat is divided into 3 equal parts
Quarter note triplets, eight note triplets, sixteenth note triplets
Great for hi hats and fast drums

Rolls
Quick notes in succession

Panning

Pitching

Velocity for points of emphasis

Percussion
Syncopate

Open Hat
Layered or syncopated

6.2 - Advanced Drums

Part 2
Swing
Uneven subdivision of notes
Can be adjusted
Applies only to 16th notes
Works well with velocity
 LEVEL 6
Offset
Delaying sounds by milliseconds for more human feel
Less quantized
Good for layering drums, creates space

6.3 - FX (Risers, Crashes,

Swells, and Ambience)
Use to bring your arrangement to life

Ambience
Soundscapes to put in the background of song
Creates different mood
Easy way to fill up empty space

Risers/Crash/Swell
Put on the downbeat to create more emphasis
Risers
slowly increase volume
Use right before strong downbeat
Crash
Strong attack and long tail
Use on downbeat for energy
Swell
Swells up and down in volume
Line up on downbeat

Miscellaneous
Vox/sirens/downlifters
Anything applies
Trust your ear
 LEVEL 6

6.4 - Advanced Basslines

Part 1
Implement voice leading

Experiment with chord tones on strong beats

Use non chord tones on weaker beats

Try out different bass lengths

Apply complex rhythms

Slides
Starting note and ending note
Experiment with slide duration
Stick to notes in the scale
Better with long 808s

6.5- Advanced Basslines

Part 2
Use melodically
 LEVEL 6

6.6- Reharmonization
and Stem Chords
Reharmonization
Adding notes to a chord progression to create a new harmony
Great when using sample loops
Change the bass note

Stem chords
A chord over a bass note
Use chord inversions to create voice leading
Ex G/C
C-G-D-B

6.7- Finish Your Pro Level

Beat
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g0mx3rime584j7i/Module%205%20Exerci
se.zip?dl=0