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MTM | 12

MTM | 12

Blues Tonality

In this lesson I dig into the essence of what makes the 12 bar blues so bluesy: using dominant chords for the I - IV and V chord instead of just for the V chord as in traditional music theory. This is the first time I’ve dug into the blues on Patreon so I spend a bit of time talking about the tonality of the turn around, how the 12 bars typically lay out, and how to think about soloing over the progression depending if you want to sound like a traditional bendy blues player as well as some other ways to approach the chord progression. We also talk about a #9 chord, which makes me think it’s about time to start on a Rubik’s cube series for 9 chords.

Music Theory MondayScott JohnsonSeptember 7, 2020MTM 01-30

Song Analysis | 03

Song Analysis | 03

Hotel California

In this video I'm breaking down Hotel California. First, we'll talk about how the chord progression is an excellent example of Melodic Minor. Then, we'll talk about how the melody fits over the top of the progression.

Song AnalysisScott JohnsonSeptember 6, 2020Song Analysis | 03, Hotel California

Live Stream | 11

Live Stream | 11

Fun With Rhythm Guitar

In this stream I'm talking about the theme for September: Fun with Rhythm Guitar!

We take a basic I - IV chord progression in C and use music theory to play with "chord phrases" using maj6 and maj7 chords.

This is the jam track I used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBNDndQDlAA

You can also download a few audio versions below! Normal, Slow, and Slower

Live Stream ArchiveScott JohnsonSeptember 2, 2020Live Stream | 11, Live Streams 1-30

MTM | 11

MTM | 11

Mixolydian Mode

n this lesson, I discuss the two ways to think about modes - specifically Mixolydian mode. One way to think of it is as a Major Scale with a flat 7, and another way to think of it is if we create a new scale starting on the 5th note of a major scale. There are some fun chord progressions to be made in mixolydian mode, but we can also borrow mixolydian progressions for our major key progressions. I demonstrate what mixolydian sounds like and show examples of a few popular songs that use mixolydian mode. This is also related to the blues in some sense, while also distinctly being its own thing.

Music Theory MondayScott JohnsonAugust 31, 2020MTM 01-30

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (1)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (1)

C Shape

If you've been following my CAGED Soloing series, you know whats going on. In this installment, we'll be working through how to solo over a I-IV progression using all five CAGED shapes. The idea here is to give you a few bite-sized ways to practice soloing over chord progressions.

This is the first in the I-IV series and we're focused on the C shape.

Soloing LessonsScott JohnsonAugust 26, 2020CAGED Soloing | I-IV Progression (1), I - IV Progression

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (2)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (2)

A Shape

If you've been following my CAGED Soloing series, you know whats going on. In this installment, we'll be working through how to solo over a I-IV progression using all five CAGED shapes. The idea here is to give you a few bite-sized ways to think about and practice soloing over chord progressions.

This is the second lesson in the I-IV series and we're focused on the A shape.

Soloing LessonsScott JohnsonAugust 26, 2020CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression, I - IV Progression

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (3)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (3)

G Shape

If you've been following my CAGED Soloing series, you know whats going on. In this installment, we'll be working through how to solo over a I-IV progression using all five CAGED shapes. The idea here is to give you a few bite-sized ways to think about and practice soloing over chord progressions.

This is the third lesson in the I-IV series and we're focused on the G shape.

Soloing LessonsScott JohnsonAugust 26, 2020I - IV Progression, CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (4)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (4)

E Shape

If you've been following my CAGED Soloing series, you know whats going on. In this installment, we'll be working through how to solo over a I-IV progression using all five CAGED shapes. The idea here is to give you a few bite-sized ways to think about and practice soloing over chord progressions.

This is the fourth lesson in the I-IV series and we're focused on the E shape.

Soloing LessonsScott JohnsonAugust 26, 2020I - IV Progression, CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (4)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (5)

CAGED Soloing | I - IV Progression (5)

D Shape

If you've been following my CAGED Soloing series, you know whats going on. In this installment, we'll be working through how to solo over a I-IV progression using all five CAGED shapes. The idea here is to give you a few bite-sized ways to think about and practice soloing over chord progressions.

This is the fifth lesson in the I-IV series and we're focused on the D shape.

Soloing LessonsScott JohnsonAugust 26, 2020I - IV Progression, CAGED Soloing | I -IV Progression (5)

MTM | 10

MTM | 10

Dominant Chords (So Important!)

I had intended to release a lesson about Mixolydian Mode today, but I think this lesson will be awesome to watch beforehand. It may clear up some confusion about how dominant 7 chord can function AND give you some fun things to play around with before next weeks MTM kind of throws a wrench in the whole concept of Dominant 7 chords.

Music Theory MondayScott JohnsonAugust 24, 2020MTM 01-30

Rubik's cube | 06

Rubik's cube | 06

Applying Shapes to Rhythm Guitar

This is less of a lesson and more of a demonstration. In this video, I'm messing around with a little groove on Logic Pro X (recording software) and walking through a few different ways to approach chord voicings for the rhythm part. Its a little more informal compared to my typical videos, but I think its important to get informal because making music is often an explorative, informal, creative process. Let's just have fun with rhythm parts.

Rubiks Cube SeriesScott JohnsonAugust 21, 2020Rubiks Cube | 06

Live Stream | 09

Live Stream | 09

Melody Making, Week 3

Last week was the second week of Melody Making lessons and WOW your submissions on the the SPJ Community have been awesome! Everyone (yes, everyone) should be proud of the melodies they are writing. This week we'll be diving a little deeper into melody making, so if you haven't watch the past two weeks of livestreams, I recommend that you catch up before watching this one.

Post your homework assignments here, on the patreon forum.

Live Stream ArchiveScott JohnsonAugust 19, 2020Live Stream | 09, Live Streams 1-30

MTM | 09

MTM | 09

Mode Clarifications

Last week I got a lot of comments to the effect of "don't move on, let's keep working on Dorian." So I decided to do another lesson clarifying how to think about modes in general and then the last bit is about Dorian specifically. I made some cool charts to help show my points and I made a fun little GIF which I'll post on the community forum. I hope you enjoy this lesson and keep in mind - if this is your first video of mine, definitely go back through the previous Music Theory Monday lessons.

Music Theory MondayScott JohnsonAugust 17, 2020MTM 01-30

Live Stream | 08

Live Stream | 08

Melody Making Week 2

Last week was the first week of melody making lessons! We went over some simple melody making "rules" and this week we'll be building on those foundational skills. Watch last week's live stream here if you'd like to get caught up!

Post your homework assignments here, on the patreon forum.

Live Stream ArchiveScott JohnsonAugust 11, 2020Live Stream | 08, melody making, homework, Live Streams 1-30

MTM | 08

MTM | 08

Dorian Mode

In this MTM, I talk about Dorian Mode - how to think of this mode as a kind of minor key and how to play around with the chord progressions that it gives you. We talk about a few songs that use Dorian mode and how to use it in your own songwriting.

Music Theory MondayScott JohnsonAugust 10, 2020MTM 01-30

Rubik's Cube | 05

Rubik's Cube | 05

G Shape

In this lesson we'll take the G shaped chord and move it through this order:

Major
Minor
Diminished
Maj7
Dom7
Min7
Half Diminished
Fully Diminished

From there we'll discuss how easy or difficult it is to use this chord as a movable shape and which forms work best. Sometimes they are easy to move around and easy to manipulate and sometimes they are just plain weird. In this case, the G shape is pretty weird.

Rubiks Cube SeriesScott JohnsonAugust 7, 2020Rubik's cube | 05, G Shape

Live Stream | 07

Live Stream | 07

Q&A/August Homework

I'll start the stream with exciting updates and talk a little bit about the homework from last month. Then I'll reveal the theme for this month, give a lesson on it, and pass out your homework assignment for the week! Next week we'll build on the skills you practice this week. After the lesson I'll be available for questions! First, questions about the homework, then whatever questions you have!

Live Stream ArchiveScott JohnsonAugust 4, 2020Live Stream | 07, Live Streams 1-30

Live Stream | 06

Live Stream | 06

Final Week of Chord Progression Homework

I uploaded a new version of this lesson with a message at the end because we had a technical issue with the audio at about the 1hr mark! This was a fun livestream talking about using movable chord shapes (ala Rubik's Cube) with the 7 chord progressions we came up with this month! If you need to catch up, check out the previous weeks:

Have fun watching this one and please submit homework and questions to the livestream discussion post.

Live Stream ArchiveScott JohnsonJuly 28, 2020Live Stream | 06, homework, Live Streams 1-30

Rubik's Cube | 04

Rubik's Cube | 04

E Shape

In this lesson well take the E shaped chord and move the chord through this order:

Major

Minor

Diminished

Maj7

Dom7

Min7

Half Diminished

Fully Diminished

From there we'll discuss how easy or difficult it is to use this chord as a movable shape and which forms work best. Sometimes they are easy to move around and easy to manipulate and sometimes they are just plain weird.

Rubiks Cube SeriesScott JohnsonJuly 27, 2020Rubiks Cube | 04, E Shape Rubiks Cube

Rubik's Cube | 03

Rubik's Cube | 03

A Shape

In this lesson well take the A shaped chord and move the chord through this order:

Major

Minor

Diminished

Maj7

Dom7

Min7

Half Diminished

Fully Diminished

From there we'll discuss how easy or difficult it is to use this chord as a movable shape and which forms work best. Sometimes they are easy to move around and easy to manipulate and sometimes they are just plain weird.

Rubiks Cube SeriesScott JohnsonJuly 23, 2020Rubiks Cube | 03, A Shape Rubik's cube