shredmasterscott
patreon
Best Music Theory CHEAT CODE
🕑 Added 2024-05-13 15:00:13 +0000 UTCMusic theory was always confusing to me as a beginner guitarist. Can you relate, or does theory make sense to you? I remember reading this theory book I had over and over. Hoping it would just click at some point. I must have read that damn thing 69 times from age 15 to 16. I figured out later the problem was the C WORD....CONTEXT. The truth is, information is useless without practical application. I finally learned the ultimate cheat code when I signed for music school at age 17. In this lesson you'll learn how to apply the cheat code to musical intervals. Get the full tabs below!
1. Minor 2nd | Wherever I May Roam
The trick I learned at music school was to associate each interval with a popular song. This is like the greatest cheat code ever! Now you can just think of a song to identify any interval right away. Here's how it works. The smallest interval is the minor 2nd, containing one half step. The minor 2nd has a dark, ominous sound (drone). Listen to Metallica's wherever I May roam to hear it in action
2. Major 2nd | Breaking The Law
The major 2nd is two half steps and has a neutered, I mean neutral sound. One of the UK's biggest metal bands Judas Priest uses the major second interval in their track Breaking The Law.
3. Minor 3rd | Iron Man
The minor 3rd is 3 half steps and is the basis of all minor chords. So sad muwawawa. The first metal band Black Sabbath used the minor 3rd in their track Iron Man
4. Major 3rd | Number Of The Beast
The major 3rd is 4 half steps and is what makes a major chord major. Iron Maiden's Number Of The Beast highlights the major 3rd in a song about the devil muhahaha
5. Perfect 4th | Fear Of The Dark
The perfect 4th is 5 half steps and has neither a major or minor sound. Iron Maiden has an enchanting melody using this interval called, Fear Of The Dark
6. Tritone | Black Sabbath
The tritone is 6 half steps and has an alarming, dissonant sound. It's often used to evoke dark and sinister emotions, like in this track.
7. Perfect 5th | Star Wars Theme
The perfect 5th is 7 half steps and is what gives chords stability. Listen to the
triumphant Star Wars theme to hear this interval soar.
8. Minor 6th | Crazy Train
The minor 6th interval is 8 half steps and conjures up feelings of deep sadness. I love how Randy Rhoads uses the minor 6th in Crazy Train. I used to play this riff 666 times a day to make my mom go insane
9. Major 6th | Man In The Mirror
The major 6th is 9 half steps and has a rich sound. This is the best interval for spicing up your guitar solos. Listen to Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror to hear it.
10. Minor 7th | Man In A Box
The minor 7th is 10 half steps and is one of my favorite intervals. Its trance-like quality just hypnotizes me. Check out Man In A Box to hear it roar.
11. Major 7th | Take On Me
The major 7th is 11 half steps and has a slightly abrasive character. Sounds smooth as butter when you pair it with a standard major triad though. The classic 80's hit Take On Me uses the major 7th
12. Octave | Immigrant Song
Finally, we reached the octave at 12 half steps. This completes the musical scale, starting over at the pitch twice the frequency. One of my favorite examples of the octave is Led Zeppelin's pounding Immigrant Song
βοΈ GO DEEPER
If you're interested in learning more about music theory, check out my full course below. Keys, scales, chords, intervals, ear training and even how to read music!
π Music Theory For Guitarists
https://www.patreon.com/posts/music-theory-for-84584168
Comments
SHRED
It's so cool when you start recognizing intervals in songs right!!? Kinda like seeing in color when things used to be black and white
Dave Kogut
I just realized the first part of the solo for Talk Dirty To Me is Major 3rds in G! I was playing with intervals and recognized the pattern as being that Poisin solo.
