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Popular Lessons
My 20 most viewed videos, ranked by YouTube views. If you only watch a few lessons, watch these.
20 lessons
Playing In Every Mode with ONE Tiny Scale Shape
Instead of learning thousands of scale shapes, learn how to use the ones you already have! This lesson demonstrates how the minor pentatonic shape can be used to play in all 7 modes by simply changing your root note.
How to Write Chords and Songs in Minor
A crash course in writing with the minor scale. Learn the chords, progressions, and techniques for composing emotional and powerful music in minor keys.
Stairway To Heaven's Mysterious Measures - The Bridge Rhythm Explained
The bridge section in Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin is maybe the most mis-played section in classic rock history. This lesson breaks down the unusual time signature and rhythmic structure that makes this section so tricky.
Demonstrating All 7 Modes in Parallel
Building the modes in parallel (starting from the same root) allows you to see and hear the differences. Learn each mode's unique identity so you can easily identify it when you hear it and use it effectively in your own music.
How to Sound Like David Gilmour from Pink Floyd - Lead Guitar Lesson
Learn to play like David Gilmour from Pink Floyd by implementing these 5 easy tricks into your solos. Discover the techniques that give Gilmour his signature emotional and melodic sound.
How Voice Leading Creates Better Chord Progressions
Learn how voice leading transforms simple chord progressions into rich, professional-sounding arrangements. Discover parallel, similar, contrary, and oblique motion to write smoother harmonic movements.
Creating The Impossible Rhythm Illusion From "The Odyssey"
How to recreate the "Risset Rhythm" in the Odyssey, which sounds like it speeds up forever.
Master the 3:4 and 4:3 Polyrhythm
Learn how to play and understand the most common polyrhythm in music. This lesson covers both 3:4 and 4:3 polyrhythms with practical exercises and counting techniques.
The Music Theory of POWER CHORDS
Power chords are the building block of rock and metal. Their simplicity gives them unparalleled versatility — the ability to accommodate both major AND minor tonalities. Learn how they fit into your scale concepts and how to apply them.
Understanding and Using Odd Time Signatures
Learn the basics of odd time signatures with 6 real examples. Covers quarter note, eighth note, and sixteenth note odd meters including Mission Impossible (5/4), Money (7/4), and Here Comes The Sun (7/8).
How To Write Progressions With 7th Chords: maj7, m7, & 7
Learn how to use Major 7, minor 7, and dominant 7 chords in your progressions, adding more color and interest to your harmony.
The Bizarre World of Augmented Chords
Demystify augmented chords and learn how to use them musically. Covers aug triads, aug7 chords, voice leading, symmetry, Lydian Augmented, and minMaj7 relationships.
43 Music Theory Concepts Every Modern Composer Should Master
The complete music theory roadmap for self-taught musicians: 43 concepts in the exact order to learn them, from the musical alphabet to writing full songs.
Writing Progressions with Borrowed Chords
Learn about Modal Interchange, Borrowed Chords, and Modal Mixture — the concept of using parallel modes to expand your chord palette. Discover how to borrow chords from minor, Lydian, Phrygian and more to create unique and interesting progressions.
Using Modal Mixture for Dreamy and Epic Lead Guitar
Modal mixture lets you swap between parallel major and minor scales over the same chord progression. Learn how to layer A major and A minor over an E / A minor vamp for dreamy, epic lead lines.
How to Improvise Solos in Mixolydian Mode
A step-by-step guide to improvising guitar solos using Mixolydian. Learn the scale shape, add hammer-ons and slides, accent chord tones, and use the Mixolydian pentatonic for a unique flavor.
The Scariest + Creepiest Chords AND How to Use Them
Explore the spookiest chords in music theory and learn how to use them in your compositions. From minor add9 to the minMaj7, discover why minor triads skew toward the sinister.
Secondary Dominants: Write Better Chord Progressions!
Learn how secondary dominant chords add color and interest to your progressions. Understand how these non-diatonic chords create mini modulations and why V7/vi is so common in modern music.
Writing Exotic Music with Phrygian Dominant - 5th Mode of Harmonic Minor
Master Phrygian Dominant, the exotic-sounding fifth mode of harmonic minor. Learn how to write music with a Spanish, Middle Eastern, or metal flavor.
Phrygian: Understanding and Using the Third Mode of Major
Phrygian has a uniquely dark and exotic feel thanks to its flat 2nd scale degree. Learn how the scale is built, its characteristic chords, and several ways to compose your own music using the Phrygian mode.