Music Theory for Songwriters

Sep 19 2022 16 ep. 7 mins 29

Music Theory for Songwriters Podcast artwork

Dive into western music theory from a songwriter's perspective with Dr. Erol Oz.

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Episode 20: Plagal Cadences: Concluding on a IV chord

Sep 19 2022 4 mins

Not all songs have chord progressions that end on a V chord, and often songs will end with a IV resolving to I, known as the plagal cadence.

Episode 19: Why Chord Progressions Work

Sep 17 2022 13 mins

In a previous episode, we analyzed "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. This episode discusses the "why" of the I-vi-IV-V chord progression and explain the basics of the 4-chord phrase structure. We cover Tonic, Chords with common tones, Pre-Dominant, and Dominant Chords containing a leading tone.

Episode 18: Diminished 7th Chords

Sep 13 2021 9 mins

For the half-diminished 7th chord, we take the minor 7th chord and flat the 5th, which is why these chords are often called m7(b5). Fully diminished 7th chords also flat the 7th. When we flat a minor 7th, we get an interval called a diminished 7th chord.

Episode 14: Triads, Chord Voicing, and Intervals

Mar 17 2021 10 mins

In this episode we talk about the pattern used to construct major and minor chords or TRIADS. We also discuss how to use this information to create different VOICING of a chord. We also build on our previous discussion of intervals by introducing three new ones: Major 3rds, Minor 3rds, and Perfect 5ths.

Episode 13: Diatonic Chords in Major, Natural Minor, and Harmonic Minor Keys

Mar 10 2021 8 mins

This episode outlines the Diatonic chords–the ones that fit with no added sharps or flats–within a key. In a Major key we have 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5, 6m, 7dim. In a Minor key we have 1m, 2dim, 3, 4m, 5m, 6, 7. In Harmonic Minor we raise the 7th note of the key by a half step creating a LEADING TONE: 1m, 2dim, 3, 4m, 5*, 6, #7dim.

Episode 12: Artist Spotlight - Bella Garland

Mar 04 2021 11 mins

This episode dissects Bella Garland's song "Mama Raised Me". She discusses her writing process, tuning the guitar down a half step, capo transpositions, and her use of the chords 1, 4, 5, and 6m from the Nashville Number System. Follow her on Instagram and Spotify.

Episode 10: Circle of Fifths, Flats, Invertible intervals, and Intro to Capo Transposition.

Feb 10 2021 10 mins

In this episode we discuss the remaining sharp keys in the Circle of Fifths as well as moving into the flat keys. The order of flats is BEADGCF or simply the order of sharps backwards. And always remember your order of sharps: Fat-Cats-Go-Down-Alleys-Eating-Birds. We also introduce the idea of using a capo to help guitarists transpose our songs to some of the less common keys.

Episode 9: Key of D Major & B minor, Notes on the Treble Staff, Order of Sharps

Feb 03 2021 9 mins

This episodes dissects the order of sharps and the keys of D Major and B minor at 2 o'clock on the Circle of Fifths, as well as the letter names of the notes on the treble staff.

Episode 8: Sharps, Circle of Fifths, Key of G Major & E minor

Jan 27 2021 9 mins

I recommend using a guitar or keyboard and a diagram of the Circle of Fifths while you're listening to this episode.

Episode 7: Minor Scales, Circle of Fifths, Relative Keys

Oct 21 2020 4 mins

In this episode we will discuss major scales, scale degree numbers, minor scales, relative keys, and an introduction to the Circle of Fifths. You will also hear guest appearances from my two chocolate lab mutts.