Music Theory Lecture - What Every Pro Musician Needs To Know 

0:12 Circle of Fifths 1:57 Scale Degrees 4:37 (7th)Chords/Modes 7:59 **** 10:01 Building Triads 13:13 Suspended Chords 15:18 Building 7th Dominant Chords 18:42 Upper Extensions 21:13 Inversions 24:18 (7th)Chords/Modes Melodic Minor Scale 26:35 (7th)Chords/Modes Harmonic Minor Scale 28:13 *Auxiliary Scales* 31:48 Common Chord Progressions

We all know the real title should be “60,000$ tuition for four years in under an hour” 😄 you’re an absolute gift to planet earth and for poor aspiring musicians like me. I play a portion of this every week and pause where I lose you and practice that all week then come back and repeat. thank you for all your efforts in spreading musical literacy🙏🏼

My theory teacher came up with "I-Do-Pot-Leave-Me-A-LOne" for the modes.

Everyone says great lesson. This isn't a lesson, it's a speech on what lessons you need. Made little sense when I first saw it, then I went all over and learned theory, now I'm back to see how far I've come, and I understand what you're telling us now. Feels great to finally understand this. Thanks for the Direction Rick!

I'd like to add one of the most important things about modes, and it is the thing that makes understanding them far easier: Each of the most commonly used modes - major, natural minor, lydian, mixolydian and dorian - is exactly the same as a related diatonic scale. So, very often, you DON"T NEED TO CHANGE what "mode" you are playing, the chord change accomplishes this for you. To go with the example in the video, to use Db Lydian against the IV chord in the key of Ab, you just keep playing in Ab major, because Db Lydian is the exact same notes as Ab major. To use Eb Mixolydian against the V chord in Ab, again, just keep playing in Ab major, because Eb Mixolydian is the same notes as Ab major. To use F minor mode against the VI chord in Ab, just keep playing in Ab major, because F minor is exactly the same notes as Ab major. Chord changes automatically change your mode for you. By the way, this explains why the I, IV, V and vi chords (in any order) are such a popular chord progression. Without changing your melodic note choices, using those 4 chords automatically gives you Major, Lydian, Mixolydian and Minor modality.

At 8:33 when talking about the modes of each chord what is never stated is that all those modes share the same notes....the notes of Ab Major.....after all F Aeolian is simply an Ab major scale starting on F.....Bb Dorian is an Ab Major scale starting on Bb.....etc......when the key changes to C major the same applies.....D Dorian, G Mixolydian and C Ionian all share the notes C,D,E,F,G,A & B...you just start on different scale degrees to get the corresponding mode.....just in case people thought they had to memorize 8 different scales.....it's only 2

39:00 “Don’t let this be overwhelming.” Um. Ok. Too late.

Woohoo! Look at him go!! Give a man a whiteboard....Keep it up, Rick! Great lesson!

I think I missed the first seven classes leading up to this

Music - The more I learn, the more I realize that there's a *LOT* more to learn!

Sharps: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle Flats: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charle's Father

Extremely good lesson Rick... most people would have to pay for this kind of quality teaching!! Looks like I also need to plug in some theory knowledge gaps

in less than an hour we have here months of studies.

I'm shocked this is free. Beato you're an angel.

Rick, I'm trying to get through your "Rick's Best Videos" playlist, the only problem is that all these video are so good and I want to watch them over and over again before I move on... You're great!!

I'm quite happy that I already know most all of this as a high school senior. That speaks worlds for my amazing teacher!

I watch your videos at 0.75 speed. Makes you look a bit drunk, but also makes me feel a bit less.

As someone who has a very basic understanding of music theory and wants to learn more this has been really helpful. A little overwhelming but manageable if taken a little at a time. Thanks for this

Like drinking from a fire hose.

Oh my gosh!! where have you been all my life!!! I needed this so much!!!! can't wait to learn more!!!!

Rick, you know I LOVE all your lessons, but this was just what the doctor ordered. Really inspired me to fill in some holes. I've been going through the circle of fifths and all chord/key spellings daily since first watching this video a few days ago.

This is precisely what I’ve been searching for. Thanks a million for this lesson!

So much knowledge shared. Thank you for this Rick

INSANELY HELPFUL VIDEO!!!!!! Thank you very much for making this rick!

such an important lesson. should be shared with everyone so we can get deeper into referencing these for future lessons. maybe put into a playlist with other much more theoretical lessons for easy locating it later.

Stunning distillation of essential music knowledge. First time I've ever encountered this, now I know what I need to know - both humbling and inspiring. Thanks so much Rick.

You-are-great Rick! Great explanations for everything. I'm just loving every single video of yours

Brilliant and clear. Great offering Rick. Thanks!

Explained so well, even a drummer can understand it!

I lost him after "Hi Everybody...."

ok... so... i rlly must write a comment here. So, 10 years ago i finished primary music school, and had kept playing in a amateur orchestras/bands (as a saxophone/clarinet player). As life goes on my knowledge of muscih harmony was setteled on primary school and didnt upgrade. As years went by the gap from my knowledge and what i wanted/should known was higher and higher. I had a huge problem of noticing and recognizing chords/¨see colors¨ by ear ( the reason perhaps was cuz i played 1 note intrument all the time ). Few months ago, i decided to buy entry cheap keyboard just so i can upgrade my knowledge of harmony and help myself playing on saxophone. I continued working were i left way back, starting from scratch. Thank u Sir for this lecture, it was very helpfull !!

Rick this is such a fantastic all-in-one place reference! thanks so much for putting it together!

Basically you need to be able recite the chord progressions as fast as you can recite the alphabet. :) Always helpful, Rick.

I love theory! Personally, I like establishing the theory in my mind before I play it on piano. I can establish the concepts and sounds in my mind so then my fingers just know where to go to play it in any key. Fortunately I knew most of this which is good but I need more familiarity with modes from Melodic and Harmonic Minor scales. If I may, I'd like to request more videos like you've done recently with Aeolian Mode, Lydian Mode and Dorian♭2 Mode covering singled out modes and corresponding chords from the Melodic and Harmonic Minor scales. I can work on these myself but having a great teacher's guidance gives flow and eliminates searching for ideas. It's so much easier and so much more productive. Many thanks Rick!!

This is extremely helpful! I come back to this every now and then and everytime i understand it on a deeper level. Thanks, Rick!

Well done Rick. Very thorough. Great vid!

my head just exploded, I just want to play the blues in F

While I understood most of this, I really need to work on being able to call up the circle of 5ths/sharps and flats in a key more easily. I am primarily guitarist and normally think more in numbers/scale positions than in the actual notes I am playing. I also need to work on the melodic and harmonic minor scales. I know them but I don't know the names of their modes yet and haven't spend much time using them in a practical sense. Great and very informative video though Rick!

You have single handedly taught me so much and im so unbelievably appreciative for your videos. Thank you for helping us learn this stuff!

Rick, you've got so much wisdom with music theory! Such a deep dive into the definitions of theory.

Awesome Rick, thanks! It would be cool if you could go through some techniques around learning music theory in terms of mnemonics, associations, and other helpful cognitive shortcuts. For many it's helpful to just remember some mnemonics around the circle. One thing that helped me remember the sharps and flats in each key is that the circle has them right there for you. So if you memorized the circle already, just remember that the sharps start at F on the circle and go clockwise, and the flats start at B on the circle and go counter-clockwise. C has no sharps/flats, moving clockwise we have... G which has 1 sharp - that sharp is F# (sharps start at F on the circle and go clockwise), moving next on the circle we have... D which has 2 sharps - those sharps are F# and C# (again, starting the sharps on F and moving clockwise)... then it is A which has 3 sharps - F#, C#, G# .. and so on. Likewise for the 'spelling' of chords, if you break down why C E G is C E G then people will know to apply that same rule (1 - 3 - 5 notes of the scale) to other scales, and instead of trying to remember by pure force and rote learning, all you'll need to remember is that it's 1-3-5 for triads across the board. People can then just apply that 1-3-5 to know the chord spelling anywhere they need to.

You're such a great teacher. I wish i was watching your videos 5 years ago when I was in school. It would of helped a lot. I struggled a lot with music theory and would go to RU-vid for help as I am a visualize learner. I'm so happy these helpful videos exist now

Really great stuff! Thanks for sharing. Just purchased your book

THANK YOU!!! So grateful for this.

Wow, english subtitles call super locrian "Guerrilla Korean". I'm afraid that's the name I'll use from now on. Anyway, thanks Rick, people like you really make the world a better place.

Mr. Beato. I am blown away... without any formal training and being just a "chord strummer" on the guitar, I thought I knew a lot about music. Through your videos I have discovered I know NOTHING. And now I want to get closer to being a "real" musician. Is your book okay for beginners too and is it laid out in a progressive fashion? I would like to know more and how to get it. Thank you so much for all you do... even though a lot is way over my head Steve H.

This lesson is just a great summary! Rick is the best teacher I could find online. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge Mr. Beato! Greeting from Berlin

This is gold! I've been looking for a lesson like this, since i started playing. Thank you so much for this lecture!

The camera was NOT losing focus here, that was merely the observance of a collective mind melt :D~

My only critique on this video from the beginning through the first 8 bars of all things for people who don’t know theory is that I wish you noted that each mode is simply a major scale starting its own scale degree. For those reading this comment, A Dorian is simply a G major scale from the second note. Also, until the 2-5 in C, you could just play Ab major in the first 6 bars of all the things, because thinking of each mode separately would be impossible for a new person. Totally not calling you out! Because I think it’s important to note each individual mode for each chord! I was just saying that perhaps it would also be helpful to make that simpler connection for new learners. However, they may have already made these connections themselves! LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

Rick, thanks a lot for your sharing! All the Best! Cheers!

This video is incredible. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.

Playing bass lines is so much easier now that I memorize my chord progression. Thanks man, that was a top- notch tip!

Whoa! I understood EVERYTHING you talked about. However, I need to be able to have more fluidity with the theory. Thanks, Rick, for an awesome lesson!!!

Thank you RICK! Your lessons are absolutely great and mind opening! Keep on it!

A little trick I always use on the Circle is that, on the sharp/5th side, the seventh tone is sharpened in each (so F# in G, F#+C# in D, etc.) and the same for the flat/4th side -- but it's the fourth tone that is flattened (Bb in F, Bb+Eb in Bb, etc.) And the Circle can be used to temper the Modes as well; simply place the tonic note of the mode at 12:00 (where C/a) is. So, to temper the Dorian scale, place d (because Dorian is a minor scale variant) at 12:00 - F# for a dorian minor, F#+C# for e dorian minor, etc.

Wow that video was like a punch Tommorow I start learning that circle of fifth Thanks much !!

Memorizing sharps / flats in a key: Father Charles Goes Down and Ends Battle Battle Ends and Down Goes Charles' Father

you are the best! Keep doing this!!!! music need people like you!

Rick, you are an enlightened man! Thanks a lot for your passion and your goodwillingness!!!

Brilliant channel Still waiting for your view on Allan Holdsworth rhythm, chord progressions, and scale analysis. Hopefully a 10 part deep analysis ;) 37:03 ;)

Ok yea my head just exploded and I'm dizzy, but you're saying this is the *bare* minimum. Darn

wow MANY thanks Mr. Rick Beato!

This is the most informative cut-to-the-chase theory video I've found. Thanks for making it so simple.

(siri voice) Syntax Error. Information overload. Shutting down.... System failure... Self destruct mode active.

Why didn't any one ever tell me that the order of sharps was the reverse of the order of flats. NOBODY ever told me that before and I was too stupid to figure it out myself! DUH! Thanks, Rick!

Found your channel last month. Probably the highest quality musical education channel I've ever stumbled on. Thanks so much for all of these amazing videos!

This guy is great. Very good videos for recapping what I thought I knew (and/but didn't) and for pointing the way to new areas of study and inspiration. Thanks for your contributions, Rick.

At one point, I just yelled while crying... "none of these really matters!"

Is the how Curt Kobane wrote 'Teem Spirit?

I love how fast you move through the material. You really waste no time explaining things and I really appreciate that.

This was the best video I've watched so far. Thank you sir. I'm not close to the stuff later in the video but it opened my eyes to a lot. Also just purchased your book. Thank you

The only thing that saves me is that I know we are only dealing with twelve notes in Western music.That concept I can handle

b: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father #: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

I sure wish I had had you for music theory, Rick. I'm so grateful for your videos.

Thank you very much for your time and for all the lessons, Master Beato!

Knowing the dates of classical music pieces expectations: 38:23 Reality: St. Anger came out on June 5, 2003

Hey Rick! Let me be the first to thank you for this.. Been waiting on something like this for many moons! Wanted to ask, is this in order of how you should learn? .. Or should you focus on many of these at once?

Thank you so much! We need more videos like this ♥️

Excellent. I love your videos - please keep them coming!

So THAT'S what I've been doing all my sixty years of playing by my ears. I'm a friggin genius.

16:40 "this begins to get tricky".. so what was the first 16 minutes 40 seconds?

God damn Rick. That was a lot of info for one video. Thank you so much. I needed a kick in the ass with my knowledge base.

Booom. This is hell of an Information in one lesson. Great! Love and appreciate your work. Gotta buy your book for sure.

Hey Rick, I thought my music theory was quite reasonable until I saw your rant. Now I realise that I don't know very much. I could follow most of what you were saying but was confused by the way that certain things were explained. Like I know that the melodic minor scale has an ascending and a descending part but you never mentioned this. You can hear this scale in Bach's Bouree. So I think of the ascending melodic minor scale as being the major scale with a b3 and the descending is just the descending natural minor scale ie b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1. Am I missing something here ?. Also, I thought of modes as being scales rather than a mode being associated with a particular chord. For example, the Dorian scale has intervals of TSTTTST so I've never heard the ii chord say in C, being described as dm7 Dorian. Maybe I don't get out enough. Anyway, great lesson Rick and I was really impressed with your ability to reel off chords at speed. You sounded like an auctioneer.

The one and only thing that makes my head explode is not being able to function full speed in every key. And this, is a massive shortcoming as an aspiring musician, but its hard as it can get. Other than that... I have no problem with the rest of stuff, but oh boy, do I have work to do...

I have been watching your videos and you are a gift from the RU-vid gods. Thank you for the effort. Your lessons and videos have helped my production work and bass playing tremendously.

Thank you Rick! Great lesson!

Gracias por traducir a Español...

#: Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Bugs b: Blanket Exploded And Dad Got Cold Feet

Excellent Rick! Thank you for all the help. You are very rare as a great guitar teacher and great guitar player! I love all your videos and interviews! Don't stop, keep going!

Rick I’m serious when I say this, you’ve helped inspire me. Thank you for your dedication to these videos and sharing your knowledge.

I was lost within the first few seconds. But, I'm not a professional!

I need a basic simple way to drive this stuff into my head. Like, very basic. When I was taking Jazz guitar lessons for 4 years in the 80s this is where my learning stalled, and now 30 years later, it all gets confused just like when I was a teen. I have a mathematical learning deficiency where numbers and memory of stuff like this just goes in one ear and out the other. I can't get through an algebra class either. I'm a decent songwriter and musician, but this area just escapes me. It's frustrating. I want more complexity in my compositions without just borrowing things other people did. Whenever a teacher talks about this stuff it always feels way to fast for me to grab onto anything. Makes me feel dumb.

Holy cow!! This is a great lesson for us that a familiar with the basics. The rapid fire is proof that there a lot more practice. Forever.

I had studied these once and this video brought back all of it! Thanks

Wait, this is the basics?

Being a drummer... Rick: And how fast can reference the circle of fifths on your instrument? Me: ...

Thank you Rick. Your material is absolute gold. I wish you I had you as a Professor while at Berklee. Keep up the great work.

This is GOLD!! Thanks Rick. Love the channel!!