Can someone please give this man an award for being so sharing, caring and lovely?...Rick, your service to us music types is unreal...i hope you get some recognition for all of your hard work x
Rick, write a simple song that is missing most of your rules. Show us how you analyze, then apply some of your rules, slowly, step by step, showing how they make it better. Could be a whole training course!
Flashback 1984 ... my Berklee songwriting teacher having me transcribe the #1 songs on the charts...and answer 20 questions about each song. You just summed up in 30 minutes, 80% of what I learned over 3 months of that process. Rick, I hope people realize and appreciate what a freakin' gold mine of knowledge you're sharing.
@devi dasa, I'm wondering if you and I ever crossed paths at Berklee. I was also in the pop songwriting class the year prior (I double checked, and all the songs I analyzed were on the '83 charts). Was that with John Aldrich or Craig Najjar? I took the class with John and studied privately with Craig.
yeah but figuring out these items by spending the time and effort is also worth it. hard to apply cocnetps from a lecture without any practical experiements
When writing a melody, sing it instead of figuring it out on an instrument. That way, unless you have perfect pitch (or great relative pitch like Rick), you will focus on what sounds good. My hunch is most of the songs we love were written by the composer working out the melody with his/her voice while accompanying themselves on guitar or piano.
Agreed, I more or less write all the heavy riffs for my band and even I find myself singing out chords and riffs before trying to figure them out on the guitar... I’m sure the stuff I’m singing sounds nothing like the actual part (because I am not a great vocalist) but it always somehow helps me translate the riff in my head to real life
For real! I actually realized that recently. It seems when I wrote melodies they don’t work well together cause I was sticking them together instead of singing off of each melody into the next section to see how it sounds. Very nice
Hey Rick - 64 year old who used to play in a serious garage band. I stopped playing 30 years ago but picked up an acoustic a few months ago. I just want to play pretty things, and I don't want a lot of influences anymore. Your videos about chords and scales have been a huge help to me. Thank you and God bless you!
I was do blessed that my son gave me THE BEATO BOOK for my b-day. I spent 3 years in a top college program and know a good amount of theory and application. I have had great teachers in my 40 years playing. What you are giving to us all is more valuable than I think people understand. You are a true blessing my friend. I hope to meet you one day. Peace and many more blessings my friend 🙏
Great tips, Rick! I'd use these maybe to review a melody that doesn't sound good enough when writing a song, but maybe not from the start, because inspiration sometimes just strikes you and the feeling is right, even though is not perfect theory-wise. A really important part of songwriting to me is to develop a taste, an ear to recognize what you like, what works for the music you make. Internalizing these principles and applying them by ear, by using your musical taste, to me just sounds like a much better way to use them than starting with a blank page and trying to write "perfectly", just by theory. Feeling is the most important part of music, in my opinion.
I can't understand how or why 83 people give this a thumbs down Rick!! It's FREE, it's educational, informative, well presented, and extremely helpful. Keep on doing what you do, and I wish you and your family a healthy, happy, prosperous new year in 2021 from Ireland.
After watching this I went through a few of my tunes and spotted some places where I was using the root in the melody. Funny cause I always felt a little less than excited about those spots in the songs but didn’t know exactly why. You’re a treasure, Rick. Thank you.
I just got your book!! I had... let's call it an "event" in my life that made money tight, but I finally got enough to buy it! Your Christmas sale really helped! Thank you! I am so excited for this!!
You know Rick, I’ve been watching your videos for a couple of years now. I mainly watch them because of your enthousiasm for music in general, and rock and roll in particular. But honestly, every time you spoke about music theory it was like you were speaking alien man! Another tongue completely. This year, global pandemic obliging, I tried to pick up home accessible hobbies. So, at 50, for the first time of my life I picked up a guitar and seriously started learning how to play it. With it, I started to learn how to put those melodies I hear in my head in the morning on paper. Today, I think I’m finally starting to understand your language. Not entirely, not in depth, but along the outskirts. All of this is to say, very inarticulate, thank you and I’m glad I stuck listening to your videos. Keep up the good work!
Hey Rick, it would be cool you hear to talk about headphones and audio reference gear. I LOVE the music theory content. But being that you talk about guitar tone and you’re a producer. I would really like to hear your opinions/experience with reference speakers/headphones and audio quality in general for consumers and professionals.
Good idea. So far I've been reading the specs on headphones etc. Usually only look at their Range like from 20 to 20,000 Hz. I prefer lower than 20 Hertz and higher than 20 kHz (like 16 to 22K Hz ) . But not sure if paying 80+ dollars for pair of Apple headphone is the right thing?
@@USAMehdi They are ok, certainly better than a lot of what you get elsewhere for the price, Bluetooth headphones and high-end headphones have been two separate worlds, but they are starting to converge.
@@purposeinpresence4494 I believe Sony is the best bang for your buck if you don't want to spend over $150 and they have all of their "professional" grade bluetooth headphones on sale at the moment and I've recently purchased a pair that is normally $200 on sale for $88 (all of their headphones were on sale for over 50% off.) I've always preferred wired headphones but the 710N model which is the one I bought are extremely high quality for the price and their Hz range puts them into professional grade in my opinion. The battery life lasting for 35 hours is extremely convenient, they also included a cable in case you want to use it with bluetooth off or if the battery is dead to the wireless function which is something these bluetooth headphones haven't been including which is a huge upgrade.
Small-but-important point for your producers: "We can't hear the 'echo' that you were talking about." (By the time it makes it it through to us, such nuances have been utterly compressed-away.) But, it is MUCH easier for us to see intervals on the keyboard-display, especially if we don't play guitar. We only care about the material, not how good it sounds. [WHICH LEADS ME TO ...] P.S.: An idea for a new video ... "the 'jargon' of music theory." Things like, "tension note," "borrowed chord," even a refresher of what exactly we mean when we refer to "11ths" when there are only 8 (7?) notes in the octave. All of these technical terms, while easily explained, are a potential obstacle to understanding - yet, while conducting a video of course you can't necessarily "stop and explain" without entirely disrupting your narrative. Hence the notion of new episode(s), which you can thereafter refer-to and encourage folks to bookmark. The "trade vernacular" of any "trade" necessarily includes "certain terms," the implicit understanding of which are essential to "fluid understanding" of the presentation or the text. But, if you don't know them already, any of them can throw you entirely off the track. There might only be a few dozen terms (if that many) which would qualify in a discussion of music-theory topics. The replies to "your first pitch" would very quickly point out the rest of them, as seen by your actual worldwide audience. HTH!
A nice thumb rule is: 'SUBTRACT SEVEN!' 9 - 7 = 2 11 - 7 = 4 13 - 7 = 6 The idea is that the basic notes of a chord are in the first octave. The fancy stuff is an octave higher.
Rick is amazing and his content is always top notch, but it seems odd to have "rules" for melodies. "Still Crazy After All These Years" is one of my favorites, and the fourth note of the song is a sustained E over a G major chord (when he sings "old"); which is a sixth (or thirteenth) over a major chord. Also, "Something" by the Beatles is widely acclaimed, but there are several points in that song where Harrison's melody is literally just the root, and Paul's bass plays the root as well (albeit different rhythms and octaves), but nevertheless it "breaks" these rules of melody in one way or another. Pat Metheny said in his interview with Rick that melody is the one pillar of music (as opposed to rhythm and harmony) that can't be taught in 4 years at music school. All my favorite composers all say things along the lines of melody being a magical entity, and it all ultimately coming down to what sounds good or not. It seems the rules can easily be broken as long as it works. What makes it work is unquantifiable in my mind, though.
@@someoneonyoutube1993 Beato will be enshrined as a great diety presiding with his twin brother and sister upon their birthplace, the great Mount Cynthus.
That flat 6 in Eleanor Rigby is because it has harmonic implications: it "tonicizes" a C chord to root E: E-G-B-C (EGC). The regular 6 is a "scale" note. Thank you "Mister Ear" Rick Beato!
Im in bed with a high fever and a Covid-19 positive test watching this. Might as well use the next weeks wisely and immerse myself in quality Biato tutorials!
Thanks Rick, there is a growing trend with me, I listen to your videos, get inspired and compose music. Don’t take everything word for word, but as a kick starter, or even to just get into a good mood. Hey what ever works. By the way bought your Beato Book, what a gem. So far found it best to read it with a piano keyboard plugged in to try things out. Many thanks.
I would point out that, in Eleanor Rigby, the melody goes to an A note on the C chord on the word "been". A 6th on a major chord has a certain emotional quality that I like. Should be done sparingly though IMO.
I’ve always found Eleanor Rigby to be a vary irritating song. I never gave much thought as to why, but he might be on to something. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with breaking the rules to keep things interesting. And I doubt The Beatles are going to send back the royalty checks now.
Thanks Rick! Wow! You never cease to amaze. I have loved Beatle songs all my life and now I actually know Why. Love it! Please stay safe during the holidays.👊🏼
Who watches a video like this and then dislikes it? This is incredibly generous knowledge-sharing. Anybody who doesn't appreciate the info presented here must've wandered into Rick's channel by accident. That, or the content was just over their heads. Either way, no reason to dislike it. Thanks Rick, for continuing to share these videos with all of us.
As someone with literally zero music theory and a relatively new found inspiration for song writing, technically, I don't even know my ninth's from my elbow, that was inspiring. When you played Nirvana and sang the melody, suddenly it made sense. Many thanks.
I agree with Rick's advice here. Another way of thinking about composing a vocal or instrumental melody is just to think about notes that are not in the major or minor chord (triad). I do this all the time. I never think about the numbers until after the fact because it needs to come instinctively. Also, I am not composing on piano and probably pianists are looking at the notes of their melody in a way that most self-taught guitarists aren't. Just try it. Try making up a melody over your chord progressions avoiding the triad notes as much as possible (wouldn't be advisable to avoid them completely). I would also add the 6 (though Rick warns against it) in certain types of music such as swing especially as a passing tone going to the 5th. Just try it, see for yourself. Another thing I suggest is "peddling" a note over a chord change (or two). Obviously this is a note that works in both chords but it needn't be in the triad of at least one of the chords. But the main thing is that you need to hear it /feel it and not theorize about it. The theory just acts as a kind of rule to keep in mind as your INSTINCT is at work.
As far as the 6th is concerned, they are actually very useful as passing tones in old blues, boogie-woogie and swing. Use them deliberately in the right genre and they fit like they belong.
Eleanor Rigby is an extraordinary song. It can be used to demonstrate a sixth (and a flat sixth) with a minor chord, which is positive, and also a sixth with a major chord, which is negative. :)
Great video Rick. This is the one I've been waiting for in didn't even know it. I have your book but I probably won't be able to delve deeply into it till I retire soon. Givers get rewarded.
You deserve much more then 30k view in 17 hours... I agree that from Romania, Europe. You are the best couch for applying music theory on the guitar and other instruments. God bless you good man. I wish you wealthness, healthness and happiness.. You deserve all of that.
One of the best teaching videos I've ever seen on music or any other subject. Even a slow minded strummer such as myself can start to see some of the light through it!
This changes fundamentally what I knew about music so far. It makes a lot of sense. Hardest part would be to find singer that can sing extensions in a chord progressions as most people go for 5th or the Root of the chord. The way I see this is, record melody/singer with basic chord progression, than go back and rearrange chord notes and bass guitar.
Very useful tips for Melody writing. My ears have always told me what to avoid and what doesn't sound good, but now I understand why that is and the theory behind these rules. Thanks Rick!
This is a well put together video and gets to the point. Too many videos on you tube with this topic are very wordy and you wonder if the expert really knows what they are talking about.
great lessons here !!! i've written about 30 songs by ears only and now i have to hunt those 6th notes and learn music theories ! your method of teaching is simply inspiring.
Hi @RickBeato - Good to hear you mention Paul Simon! NYC muso, Steve Conte here...among other things I was Paul Simon’s “stunt-singer” during tour rehearsals for 10 years and lemme tell ya - that man can write some CRAZY melodies! And not only that - the RHYTHMS! Because he’s channeling African, Brazilian, Cuban, PR & South American music...they fall in weird parts of the beat sometimes. He’d be a stickler too if came off a note too soon or once I did the “ laugh” that he does on one song, but in my own rhythm - NO! 😎 It was a amazing experience being in the room - singing or listening - for 8 hours a day with Paul, Steve Gadd or Keltner, his African players and all the other top shelf cats. Like schoolin’! Anyway I dig your posts man - I’m a guitarist, singer & songwriter, myself...
Thank you for mentioning Paul Simon. One of my favorite songwriters that I haven't heard you discuss much on the channel. And, perhaps the one that most got me interested in why music theory matters.
Awesome lesson! This really expands my understanding of melody writing, why I love certain melodies and how to maximise my own melodies. Much appreciated Mr. B
Hey Rick- was actually writing and producing a new tune this morning and ran across this video. Great stuff! I was stuck on a melody part and this jogged my brain loose! Thanks!
Brother, I just want to say I’m truly grateful that you are able to articulate your knowledge the way you do. I am relatively untrained as a guitar player other than a couple of jazz courses i took. I purchased your ear training course and the music theory book. I’m looking forward to see where my understanding of music is and how it progresses with these tools over the next year.
Thanks Mr Beato, this is without question THE most valuable information available for free online on this topic. Your information delivery rate here was perfect for me too. I'm inspired to write, and to go back to the Beato book and dig these things in a deeper way. Can we get you registered with UNESCO as world cultural heritage?
I like your stuff because it really makes me think. For example; we are in the key of G. So the melody is in the key of G, right? You (correctly) identify the first 2 notes of the melody as being B (3rd) and D (5th). Then you obscure the next note by playing the chord Bm. Then you further muddy things by selecting different octaves on the piano but you do reveal the next melody note as being E. You refer to it as being an 11th in the Key of B (which I submit is correct depending on where you start the octave; it could just as easily be the 4th). Also when did we modulate to the key of B? You then further confuse me by asking Billie about the piano echo and after saying you know what that problem is you continue on guitar. Rick, 'fess up and admit that the E note in the melody is the 6th note in the G scale and however 'weak' it may be it works pretty well in this song. Otherwise, I learnt a lot
I've watched so many of Rick's videos and im still able to learn so much. Very grateful. I'd love to see a more formal video with your top 10 songwriting rules.
Love this. For those of us who are not beattles fans for their melodies, can you do this for bands like The Paper Kites, War on Drugs, or The Sundays? I'm a huge fan of Chris Cornell and would love to see your opinions on those song writing styles.
Awesome tutorial! In Eleanor Rigby the example of the sixth over the major chord is a good example of where it does work: it’s on the 4th degree, so by adding a 6th it essentially becomes an inversion of a II7 (you could also do the same on the 6th degree in a minor key)
Laughed when, just after the "No 6th on major chords!!" section, he played Eleanor Rigby, where the melody pauses on an [A] note ("...floor where a wedding has [BEEN]") over top of a C chord. It's the forbidden 6th! Anyway, there are exceptions to everything, and the Beatles rule, so does Rick, and this vid was awesome. I am pretty uncreative with melodies and this is helpful.
I must say I was surprised at that as well. I LOVE Django Reinhardt and 1930s music in general, where the Maj 6th chord is a staple, and the use of the 6th in melodies is frequent and, in fact, provides the color of the era. I think Rick is awesome and I can't emphasize enough how much I keep learning from him but this was the first thing he ever said that gave me pause
My songwriting has certainly improved recently thanks to Rick Beato’s channel and Guy M’s. I just watched this video for the first time today and realize it’s one I’ll be rewatching, studying and applying. To me, a more descriptive title would be something along the lines of “Songwriting: Music Theory for Melodies”. Or “echo-y piano” ;)
I love your stuff Rick. I love what you give us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I listened to this, and there's a lot that is technically correct and you know it more than I do. For certain types of songs, avoiding root in chords (inversions) is good, others obviously not. When you got to the part with no 6ths on a major chord, I started to convulse a little. You went on. You're not necessarily wrong. I thought. I thought some more. I thought about rules and how composers think. I'm pretty sure this stuff is useful, unless you let it get in the way of actually creating something. When you create, initially you shouldn't be throwing up a bunch of hurdles (list of rules) on the road to creation. It's a uniquely awesome ability to either hear what's wrong and fix it from the start, or for the rest of us mortals to fix stuff later as we move along with a composition. We should all work towards that. Thanks again.
This has helped me a lot with writing my baselines. At first I was confused about not using 6ths over major chords. But than I realized Beato is talking about the 6th of the chords not the key. The 6th of key sounds great over the 4 chord it is the third of the 4 chord in Ionian.
Excellent set of "rules", really well presented. Enjoyed watching this video! Would love to see Rick's take on the Coltrane Circle at some point. Hats off for making the book available with a "solo deal", definitely had me jumping to buy such a great book! Thanks Rick Beato!
I have Beato Book and Love it. I think this is a great lesson. I was wondering if you could teach a series on writing in a four part chorale and using all the part writing rules, but take us through your method of turning it into a rock song or other style song. Does that make sense? It’s amazing how the rules of writing actually make cool songs but I get stuck trying to use the four parts to create a modern song. Thank You Rick.
Dude! Thanks for inspiring me to take the plunge. I am now the proud owner of my very own Yamaha PSR EW300! I just love playing the hell out of that thing! I haven't even discovered everything it can do and I'm totally in love with it. So far my favorite is the default organ voice. Animals, ELP, Van der Graaf. I'm thinking of all that stuff when I play. And all of these music theory videos and The Beato Book (I got already) and the Ear Training (got that too) I'm going to enjoy all of that soooo much more now that I got my own keyboard to apply that to. So thanks again. Greatest toy I EVER got for Christmas for damn sure! lol
I woke up this morning and pulled out some notes / charts I had made from a previous Professor Beato instructional lecture concerning a similar aspect of musical progressions as this video with the intent of studying on it / them a bit more . To me at one time this would have been Greek to me, but now I am BEGINNING to grasp these concepts at least theoretically, now if I can just get these fingers to ......P.S. Thanks Rick!
Thank you Rick... it's true it should be obvious but well... at least now I feel, thanks to you, more "thinking" going on in addition to experimentation... as Satch would say, knowledge is power (and GI Joe) and it's awesome to apply what you've learned and add more to your playing and writing.
Thanks, Rick! I'm writing a song right now that's kicking my ass - the melody is just too simple and I'm stuck. This is just the content I need! So many good ideas here. I'll have this song finished by Christmas.
Hey Rick. Sorry off topic - missed your Dweez interview when it happened. Saw it now. You both are great guys and something should come out of it. Take a FZ song into pieces, explain the complexity, the tounge-in-cheek stuff, the secret chords, what have you. And talk about Dweez own metal, Holdsworth, etc THaNKz from Stockholm (remember - in December so far - we’ve had ZERO ours of sunlight)
A Day In The Life. I hear the note 'e' in chord #6. I wouldn't be surprised if it were an E minor over B rather than a G over B. The next chord I've always taken for an A major -- rather than an A minor -- and I think I've been right : if you listen carefully, you'll hear an indistinct C sharp. Thanks a bunch for this vid and the ones before and the ones yet to come.
Huge fan of Rick Beato as is my son., you’re the best channel on YT. So I humbly ask you, Rick, if you would please spell out Christmas next time. It would mean a lot to many of us. Thanks.
I subscribed when you were at a mere 400,000 people (no small feat on its own) congratulations on your well deserves success. I predict 3 million will come quickly.
I don't get it. Bill Withers "Lean on Me" has a C chord with C in the bass and C as the melody note. But this video says to avoid doubling the bass and melody note.
Rick must hate Light My Fire by The Doors. It violates nearly every one of these rules. The verse bass on the Am chord plays a C note when Morrison sings C. Not using Rick's color notes. Then the chorus is the best. I imagine Rick has a panic attack when he hears it. The G chord he is singing the Root note, G. The A chord, he's singing the 6th, F#, then he's resolving into the D chord on a D note. And on the G and D chords he's doubling the bass using the root, and he's not using Rule 2 whatsoever. Hilarious. Same thing with Touch Me. LMAO I'd love to see a What Makes This Song Great by The Doors.
they also ignored the 3:30 minute song length rule... but as to the melody there is quite a lot of stuff going on in the background with organ and guitar, complementing Morrisons line
I don't get it. Bill Withers "Lean on Me" has a C chord with C in the bass and C as the melody note. The melody feels STRONG to me but Rick says it is weak.
there are always exceptions to these guidelines. (there are no actual rules for music, just observed principles of success.) but just like Ursula LeGuin said, you have to know and understand the "rules" before you can get away with breaking them. OR... you can just be Jim Morrison or Bill Withers or Modest Mussorgsky. good luck with that.
@@MemphiStig Withers did not even know how to play the piano. He just played the basic C Major scale in the melody and a bass note of C. He followed the rules -- Did not break the rules as he barely knew how to play... I am not buying this guideline of "Never double up the bass and melody note". It sounds fine on "Lean on Me" and that was the biggest hit in the history of music. People LOVE that melody -- it follows the rule rather than breaking it.
What software do you use to display the piano? I teach a piano class at my school and when we are remote learning like we are now I would love to use this software program in class.
As a guitar composer for book trailers about comics I love theory & Rick's points especially about avoiding too many roots which is what I do since it makes the music less bland and have more color as Rick notes. Great tips about writing out the melody and progressions to analyze if there's too many roots and figuring out how to replace them. Cheers!
This was one of your best white board lectures. I always enjoy these and learn something from them. The pace and organization were great. Thank you Rick. I do find that sometimes when you discuss modes that you sometimes race ahead with the concepts faster than I can absorb or make sense of, but not today. Have you considered referencing the page numbers or sections of your book when doing these? I would find that helpful, and you might also sell more books!
Rick #4, no doubling bass!!! You talked about melody. Specifically are you addressing the vocal melody? Can you give me a link to a song or show me what exactly you’re talking about? And then an example of when it’s done right?
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
Can someone please give this man an award for being so sharing, caring and lovely?...Rick, your service to us music types is unreal...i hope you get some recognition for all of your hard work x
Yes yes yes
Rick you have helped ME change my musical life more than any other individual... PERIOD. Thank you SIR!!!!
And fire Billy
Rick, write a simple song that is missing most of your rules. Show us how you analyze, then apply some of your rules, slowly, step by step, showing how they make it better. Could be a whole training course!
Huh you buy the book
Great idea
YES
Great idea
@@daniellebrogden For sure
Flashback 1984 ... my Berklee songwriting teacher having me transcribe the #1 songs on the charts...and answer 20 questions about each song. You just summed up in 30 minutes, 80% of what I learned over 3 months of that process. Rick, I hope people realize and appreciate what a freakin' gold mine of knowledge you're sharing.
@devi dasa, I'm wondering if you and I ever crossed paths at Berklee. I was also in the pop songwriting class the year prior (I double checked, and all the songs I analyzed were on the '83 charts). Was that with John Aldrich or Craig Najjar? I took the class with John and studied privately with Craig.
Some of us are!! Lolz. Rock on jazz on
yeah but figuring out these items by spending the time and effort is also worth it. hard to apply cocnetps from a lecture without any practical experiements
Best lesson ever: Took one of my crap melodies and improved it big time!
Post how you changed it.
XD
Nice!!
Major achievement, man!
Awesome!
When writing a melody, sing it instead of figuring it out on an instrument. That way, unless you have perfect pitch (or great relative pitch like Rick), you will focus on what sounds good. My hunch is most of the songs we love were written by the composer working out the melody with his/her voice while accompanying themselves on guitar or piano.
Agreed, I more or less write all the heavy riffs for my band and even I find myself singing out chords and riffs before trying to figure them out on the guitar... I’m sure the stuff I’m singing sounds nothing like the actual part (because I am not a great vocalist) but it always somehow helps me translate the riff in my head to real life
For real! I actually realized that recently. It seems when I wrote melodies they don’t work well together cause I was sticking them together instead of singing off of each melody into the next section to see how it sounds. Very nice
Check out the test/demo version of Violent Crimes by Kanye West for a perspective on how this works
Hey Rick - 64 year old who used to play in a serious garage band. I stopped playing 30 years ago but picked up an acoustic a few months ago. I just want to play pretty things, and I don't want a lot of influences anymore. Your videos about chords and scales have been a huge help to me. Thank you and God bless you!
I was do blessed that my son gave me THE BEATO BOOK for my b-day. I spent 3 years in a top college program and know a good amount of theory and application. I have had great teachers in my 40 years playing. What you are giving to us all is more valuable than I think people understand. You are a true blessing my friend. I hope to meet you one day. Peace and many more blessings my friend 🙏
This is like a "What Makes Most Great Songs Great" video.
Great tips, Rick! I'd use these maybe to review a melody that doesn't sound good enough when writing a song, but maybe not from the start, because inspiration sometimes just strikes you and the feeling is right, even though is not perfect theory-wise. A really important part of songwriting to me is to develop a taste, an ear to recognize what you like, what works for the music you make. Internalizing these principles and applying them by ear, by using your musical taste, to me just sounds like a much better way to use them than starting with a blank page and trying to write "perfectly", just by theory. Feeling is the most important part of music, in my opinion.
I can't understand how or why 83 people give this a thumbs down Rick!! It's FREE, it's educational, informative, well presented, and extremely helpful. Keep on doing what you do, and I wish you and your family a healthy, happy, prosperous new year in 2021 from Ireland.
After watching this I went through a few of my tunes and spotted some places where I was using the root in the melody.
Funny cause I always felt a little less than excited about those spots in the songs but didn’t know exactly why.
You’re a treasure, Rick. Thank you.
Great lesson. Here’s two songs I know that use a 6th over a major Chord well - 1. Harvest moon 2. Lakes of pontchartrain
I just got your book!! I had... let's call it an "event" in my life that made money tight, but I finally got enough to buy it! Your Christmas sale really helped! Thank you! I am so excited for this!!
You know Rick, I’ve been watching your videos for a couple of years now. I mainly watch them because of your enthousiasm for music in general, and rock and roll in particular. But honestly, every time you spoke about music theory it was like you were speaking alien man! Another tongue completely. This year, global pandemic obliging, I tried to pick up home accessible hobbies. So, at 50, for the first time of my life I picked up a guitar and seriously started learning how to play it. With it, I started to learn how to put those melodies I hear in my head in the morning on paper. Today, I think I’m finally starting to understand your language. Not entirely, not in depth, but along the outskirts. All of this is to say, very inarticulate, thank you and I’m glad I stuck listening to your videos. Keep up the good work!
Hey Rick, it would be cool you hear to talk about headphones and audio reference gear. I LOVE the music theory content. But being that you talk about guitar tone and you’re a producer. I would really like to hear your opinions/experience with reference speakers/headphones and audio quality in general for consumers and professionals.
great idea bro
Good idea. So far I've been reading the specs on headphones etc. Usually only look at their Range like from 20 to 20,000 Hz. I prefer lower than 20 Hertz and higher than 20 kHz (like 16 to 22K Hz ) .
But not sure if paying 80+ dollars for pair of Apple headphone is the right thing?
Agreed. Timely topic for me too.
@@USAMehdi They are ok, certainly better than a lot of what you get elsewhere for the price, Bluetooth headphones and high-end headphones have been two separate worlds, but they are starting to converge.
@@purposeinpresence4494 I believe Sony is the best bang for your buck if you don't want to spend over $150 and they have all of their "professional" grade bluetooth headphones on sale at the moment and I've recently purchased a pair that is normally $200 on sale for $88 (all of their headphones were on sale for over 50% off.) I've always preferred wired headphones but the 710N model which is the one I bought are extremely high quality for the price and their Hz range puts them into professional grade in my opinion. The battery life lasting for 35 hours is extremely convenient, they also included a cable in case you want to use it with bluetooth off or if the battery is dead to the wireless function which is something these bluetooth headphones haven't been including which is a huge upgrade.
Small-but-important point for your producers: "We can't hear the 'echo' that you were talking about." (By the time it makes it it through to us, such nuances have been utterly compressed-away.) But, it is MUCH easier for us to see intervals on the keyboard-display, especially if we don't play guitar. We only care about the material, not how good it sounds. [WHICH LEADS ME TO ...]
P.S.: An idea for a new video ... "the 'jargon' of music theory." Things like, "tension note," "borrowed chord," even a refresher of what exactly we mean when we refer to "11ths" when there are only 8 (7?) notes in the octave. All of these technical terms, while easily explained, are a potential obstacle to understanding - yet, while conducting a video of course you can't necessarily "stop and explain" without entirely disrupting your narrative. Hence the notion of new episode(s), which you can thereafter refer-to and encourage folks to bookmark.
The "trade vernacular" of any "trade" necessarily includes "certain terms," the implicit understanding of which are essential to "fluid understanding" of the presentation or the text. But, if you don't know them already, any of them can throw you entirely off the track. There might only be a few dozen terms (if that many) which would qualify in a discussion of music-theory topics. The replies to "your first pitch" would very quickly point out the rest of them, as seen by your actual worldwide audience.
HTH!
A nice thumb rule is: 'SUBTRACT SEVEN!'
9 - 7 = 2
11 - 7 = 4
13 - 7 = 6
The idea is that the basic notes of a chord are in the first octave. The fancy stuff is an octave higher.
Rick is amazing and his content is always top notch, but it seems odd to have "rules" for melodies. "Still Crazy After All These Years" is one of my favorites, and the fourth note of the song is a sustained E over a G major chord (when he sings "old"); which is a sixth (or thirteenth) over a major chord. Also, "Something" by the Beatles is widely acclaimed, but there are several points in that song where Harrison's melody is literally just the root, and Paul's bass plays the root as well (albeit different rhythms and octaves), but nevertheless it "breaks" these rules of melody in one way or another. Pat Metheny said in his interview with Rick that melody is the one pillar of music (as opposed to rhythm and harmony) that can't be taught in 4 years at music school. All my favorite composers all say things along the lines of melody being a magical entity, and it all ultimately coming down to what sounds good or not. It seems the rules can easily be broken as long as it works. What makes it work is unquantifiable in my mind, though.
There needs to be a “Beato Book For Dummies” lol.
😄 yeah, tha dudes damn good
@@someoneonyoutube1993
Beato will be enshrined as a great diety presiding with his twin brother and sister upon their birthplace, the great Mount Cynthus.
That was one of the most informative and concise 31m02s I’ve ever spent on TH-cam (or anywhere else for that matter)! 🙏
My comment was a non-Sequiter btw. I bought the BB. It’s just over my head and the others I’ve shared it with.
Definitely. I'd buy it.
That flat 6 in Eleanor Rigby is because it has harmonic implications: it "tonicizes" a C chord to root E: E-G-B-C (EGC). The regular 6 is a "scale" note. Thank you "Mister Ear" Rick Beato!
I hear it as the top note in a "passing" triplet in a descending figure.
@@koho In other words, you hear it melodically. I do too, but I also hear its harmonic implication.
Im in bed with a high fever and a Covid-19 positive test watching this. Might as well use the next weeks wisely and immerse myself in quality Biato tutorials!
I hope you get better.
rest well and recover!
That’s awful I’m so sorry to hear that :( I pray in Jesus’ name that you be completely healed right now ❤️
Find wim Hof breathing method.......
I hope you feel better!!! Take lots of vitamin C and D!
Thanks Rick, there is a growing trend with me, I listen to your videos, get inspired and compose music. Don’t take everything word for word, but as a kick starter, or even to just get into a good mood. Hey what ever works. By the way bought your Beato Book, what a gem. So far found it best to read it with a piano keyboard plugged in to try things out. Many thanks.
Hey Rick, the song “To Sir With Love” starts with the sixth over the major chord. I think that first note works well. I understand the point, though.
Rick woke up today and watched this with a fresh brain and a nice sunrise …
Thank you so much for your work baller 🏀
I would point out that, in Eleanor Rigby, the melody goes to an A note on the C chord on the word "been". A 6th on a major chord has a certain emotional quality that I like. Should be done sparingly though IMO.
Just goes to show some rules are made for breaking at least sometimes
I’ve always found Eleanor Rigby to be a vary irritating song. I never gave much thought as to why, but he might be on to something. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with breaking the rules to keep things interesting. And I doubt The Beatles are going to send back the royalty checks now.
Thanks Rick! Wow! You never cease to amaze. I have loved Beatle songs all my life and now I actually know Why. Love it! Please stay safe during the holidays.👊🏼
Who watches a video like this and then dislikes it? This is incredibly generous knowledge-sharing. Anybody who doesn't appreciate the info presented here must've wandered into Rick's channel by accident. That, or the content was just over their heads. Either way, no reason to dislike it. Thanks Rick, for continuing to share these videos with all of us.
As someone with literally zero music theory and a relatively new found inspiration for song writing, technically, I don't even know my ninth's from my elbow, that was inspiring. When you played Nirvana and sang the melody, suddenly it made sense. Many thanks.
Rick should recieve a nobel price for his channel, the knowledge he shares is amazing!
I agree with Rick's advice here.
Another way of thinking about composing a vocal or instrumental melody is just to think about notes that are not in the major or minor chord (triad). I do this all the time. I never think about the numbers until after the fact because it needs to come instinctively. Also, I am not composing on piano and probably pianists are looking at the notes of their melody in a way that most self-taught guitarists aren't. Just try it. Try making up a melody over your chord progressions avoiding the triad notes as much as possible (wouldn't be advisable to avoid them completely). I would also add the 6 (though Rick warns against it) in certain types of music such as swing especially as a passing tone going to the 5th. Just try it, see for yourself.
Another thing I suggest is "peddling" a note over a chord change (or two). Obviously this is a note that works in both chords but it needn't be in the triad of at least one of the chords. But the main thing is that you need to hear it /feel it and not theorize about it. The theory just acts as a kind of rule to keep in mind as your INSTINCT is at work.
As far as the 6th is concerned, they are actually very useful as passing tones in old blues, boogie-woogie and swing. Use them deliberately in the right genre and they fit like they belong.
This is the best video I ever saw for actually applying chords the notes.
Eleanor Rigby is an extraordinary song. It can be used to demonstrate a sixth (and a flat sixth) with a minor chord, which is positive, and also a sixth with a major chord, which is negative. :)
It is in C, the Bm like a minor 7 without the 5b . Em 3rd F 4th Am relative 6th
Great video Rick. This is the one I've been waiting for in didn't even know it. I have your book but I probably won't be able to delve deeply into it till I retire soon. Givers get rewarded.
You deserve much more then 30k view in 17 hours... I agree that from Romania, Europe. You are the best couch for applying music theory on the guitar and other instruments. God bless you good man. I wish you wealthness, healthness and happiness.. You deserve all of that.
One of the best teaching videos I've ever seen on music or any other subject. Even a slow minded strummer such as myself can start to see some of the light through it!
This changes fundamentally what I knew about music so far. It makes a lot of sense. Hardest part would be to find singer that can sing extensions in a chord progressions as most people go for 5th or the Root of the chord. The way I see this is, record melody/singer with basic chord progression, than go back and rearrange chord notes and bass guitar.
Composition Class that revolves around Day in the Life. I love this so much Rick. Thanks thanks and thanks again
I love half step bends and releases on the natural 6th while playing in the dorian/blues rock sound. Also the ninth. Magic intervals indeed
That static versus moving comment for melody, blew my mind. Thanks Rick!
Thanks for the XMAS promo Rick. I just picked up the Beato Book and the Ear Training Program. Been looking to pull the trigger for awhile! Here we go!
Very useful tips for Melody writing. My ears have always told me what to avoid and what doesn't sound good, but now I understand why that is and the theory behind these rules. Thanks Rick!
Hello Bruce, how are you doing. I'm Patti from Long Beach California, just looking for new friend and i saw your pic here. Merry Christmas to you.
you are the man!!!!!!! I've done the 6th on a major chord, I've changed to a 7th and it improved big time!!!!
This is a well put together video and gets to the point. Too many videos on you tube with this topic are very wordy and you wonder if the expert really knows what they are talking about.
great lessons here !!! i've written about 30 songs by ears only and now i have to hunt those 6th notes and learn music theories ! your method of teaching is simply inspiring.
Hi @RickBeato - Good to hear you mention Paul Simon!
NYC muso, Steve Conte here...among other things I was Paul Simon’s “stunt-singer” during tour rehearsals for 10 years and lemme tell ya - that man can write some CRAZY melodies!
And not only that - the RHYTHMS! Because he’s channeling African, Brazilian, Cuban, PR & South American music...they fall in weird parts of the beat sometimes. He’d be a stickler too if came off a note too soon or once I did the “ laugh” that he does on one song, but in my own rhythm - NO! 😎
It was a amazing experience being in the room - singing or listening - for 8 hours a day with Paul, Steve Gadd or Keltner, his African players and all the other top shelf cats. Like schoolin’!
Anyway I dig your posts man - I’m a guitarist, singer & songwriter, myself...
Thank you for mentioning Paul Simon. One of my favorite songwriters that I haven't heard you discuss much on the channel. And, perhaps the one that most got me interested in why music theory matters.
Oh, man, the value packed into this FREE lesson! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This changed my composition drastically, now it has more movement and it feels more like a song! Thank you Rick! ❤️
Awesome lesson! This really expands my understanding of melody writing, why I love certain melodies and how to maximise my own melodies. Much appreciated Mr. B
Hey Rick- was actually writing and producing a new tune this morning and ran across this video. Great stuff! I was stuck on a melody part and this jogged my brain loose! Thanks!
Brother, I just want to say I’m truly grateful that you are able to articulate your knowledge the way you do. I am relatively untrained as a guitar player other than a couple of jazz courses i took. I purchased your ear training course and the music theory book. I’m looking forward to see where my understanding of music is and how it progresses with these tools over the next year.
King In A Castle, and Cactus Tree...Joni ❤️ Some Say I Got Devil, -- Melanie ❤️ Thanks Rick! 😊
Thanks Mr Beato, this is without question THE most valuable information available for free online on this topic. Your information delivery rate here was perfect for me too. I'm inspired to write, and to go back to the Beato book and dig these things in a deeper way. Can we get you registered with UNESCO as world cultural heritage?
I like your stuff because it really makes me think. For example; we are in the key of G. So the melody is in the key of G, right? You (correctly) identify the first 2 notes of the melody as being B (3rd) and D (5th). Then you obscure the next note by playing the chord Bm. Then you further muddy things by selecting different octaves on the piano but you do reveal the next melody note as being E. You refer to it as being an 11th in the Key of B (which I submit is correct depending on where you start the octave; it could just as easily be the 4th). Also when did we modulate to the key of B? You then further confuse me by asking Billie about the piano echo and after saying you know what that problem is you continue on guitar. Rick, 'fess up and admit that the E note in the melody is the 6th note in the G scale and however 'weak' it may be it works pretty well in this song. Otherwise, I learnt a lot
I've watched so many of Rick's videos and im still able to learn so much. Very grateful. I'd love to see a more formal video with your top 10 songwriting rules.
Thank you, Mr. Beato. Much respect to you. You'll end up makin' musicians out of us old hacks yet!
Love this. For those of us who are not beattles fans for their melodies, can you do this for bands like The Paper Kites, War on Drugs, or The Sundays? I'm a huge fan of Chris Cornell and would love to see your opinions on those song writing styles.
Excellent lecture Rick. I think you just kicked my songwriting forward a decade.
Awesome tutorial! In Eleanor Rigby the example of the sixth over the major chord is a good example of where it does work: it’s on the 4th degree, so by adding a 6th it essentially becomes an inversion of a II7 (you could also do the same on the 6th degree in a minor key)
Laughed when, just after the "No 6th on major chords!!" section, he played Eleanor Rigby, where the melody pauses on an [A] note ("...floor where a wedding has [BEEN]") over top of a C chord. It's the forbidden 6th! Anyway, there are exceptions to everything, and the Beatles rule, so does Rick, and this vid was awesome. I am pretty uncreative with melodies and this is helpful.
I must say I was surprised at that as well. I LOVE Django Reinhardt and 1930s music in general, where the Maj 6th chord is a staple, and the use of the 6th in melodies is frequent and, in fact, provides the color of the era. I think Rick is awesome and I can't emphasize enough how much I keep learning from him but this was the first thing he ever said that gave me pause
Theodor Adorno was A MASTER MUSICIAN !
Eleanor Rigby- minor is okay- 6th and flat 6th.
@@GeorgeGrosman agree.
Third melody note in Happy Birthday is the 6th over a major I chord. It does sound kinda weak
My songwriting has certainly improved recently thanks to Rick Beato’s channel and Guy M’s.
I just watched this video for the first time today and realize it’s one I’ll be rewatching, studying and applying.
To me, a more descriptive title would be something along the lines of “Songwriting: Music Theory for Melodies”. Or “echo-y piano” ;)
I love your stuff Rick. I love what you give us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I listened to this, and there's a lot that is technically correct and you know it more than I do. For certain types of songs, avoiding root in chords (inversions) is good, others obviously not. When you got to the part with no 6ths on a major chord, I started to convulse a little. You went on. You're not necessarily wrong. I thought. I thought some more. I thought about rules and how composers think. I'm pretty sure this stuff is useful, unless you let it get in the way of actually creating something. When you create, initially you shouldn't be throwing up a bunch of hurdles (list of rules) on the road to creation. It's a uniquely awesome ability to either hear what's wrong and fix it from the start, or for the rest of us mortals to fix stuff later as we move along with a composition. We should all work towards that. Thanks again.
This has helped me a lot with writing my baselines. At first I was confused about not using 6ths over major chords. But than I realized Beato is talking about the 6th of the chords not the key. The 6th of key sounds great over the 4 chord it is the third of the 4 chord in Ionian.
These white boards lessons are the most useful videos on TH-cam!
way above my head. Thank you for posting Rick!
This is one of your best lessons for showing applied music theory. thanks for this -james
Excellent set of "rules", really well presented. Enjoyed watching this video!
Would love to see Rick's take on the Coltrane Circle at some point.
Hats off for making the book available with a "solo deal", definitely had me jumping to buy such a great book!
Thanks Rick Beato!
I have Beato Book and Love it. I think this is a great lesson. I was wondering if you could teach a series on writing in a four part chorale and using all the part writing rules, but take us through your method of turning it into a rock song or other style song. Does that make sense? It’s amazing how the rules of writing actually make cool songs but I get stuck trying to use the four parts to create a modern song. Thank You Rick.
Dude! Thanks for inspiring me to take the plunge. I am now the proud owner of my very own Yamaha PSR EW300! I just love playing the hell out of that thing! I haven't even discovered everything it can do and I'm totally in love with it. So far my favorite is the default organ voice. Animals, ELP, Van der Graaf. I'm thinking of all that stuff when I play. And all of these music theory videos and The Beato Book (I got already) and the Ear Training (got that too) I'm going to enjoy all of that soooo much more now that I got my own keyboard to apply that to. So thanks again. Greatest toy I EVER got for Christmas for damn sure! lol
I woke up this morning and pulled out some notes / charts I had made from a previous Professor Beato instructional lecture concerning a similar aspect of musical progressions as this video with the intent of studying on it / them a bit more . To me at one time this would have been Greek to me, but now I am BEGINNING to grasp these concepts at least theoretically, now if I can just get these fingers to ......P.S. Thanks Rick!
What would we do without you Rick. Merry Xmas to you and your Fam Bam.
oh man Rick, that was one of my favourite videos you've ever made. Thanks! Such great stuff!! :)
Fantastic episode, Rick! Love the breakdown here...
Thank you Mr Beato. It's really pleasing to watch you teaching things with passion and energy. 😁
Thank you Rick... it's true it should be obvious but well... at least now I feel, thanks to you, more "thinking" going on in addition to experimentation... as Satch would say, knowledge is power (and GI Joe) and it's awesome to apply what you've learned and add more to your playing and writing.
And “I Believe In Father Christmas” by Greg Lake also starts on the 6th.
Thanks, Rick! I'm writing a song right now that's kicking my ass - the melody is just too simple and I'm stuck. This is just the content I need! So many good ideas here. I'll have this song finished by Christmas.
Please more like this in depth. I've been lookin for this type of info forever
Hey Rick. Sorry off topic - missed your Dweez interview when it happened. Saw it now. You both are great guys and something should come out of it. Take a FZ song into pieces, explain the complexity, the tounge-in-cheek stuff, the secret chords, what have you. And talk about Dweez own metal, Holdsworth, etc THaNKz from Stockholm (remember - in December so far - we’ve had ZERO ours of sunlight)
Wish you'd use the piano roll more :)
A Day In The Life. I hear the note 'e' in chord #6. I wouldn't be surprised if it were an E minor over B rather than a G over B. The next chord I've always taken for an A major -- rather than an A minor -- and I think I've been right : if you listen carefully, you'll hear an indistinct C sharp. Thanks a bunch for this vid and the ones before and the ones yet to come.
Thanks, Rick. Happy holidays to you and your family!
The intervals between voices and the rythm modes on it also makes a very interesting theme there ... Merry Christmas and happy new year ...
Huge fan of Rick Beato as is my son., you’re the best channel on YT. So I humbly ask you, Rick, if you would please spell out Christmas next time. It would mean a lot to many of us. Thanks.
I like the 6th in the last chord of "She Love You" by the Beatles. Great lesson compadre Rick! Gracias
You never stop surprising me with your knowledge.
I learned more in this video than I have in the past year trying to write good songs. Thanks Rick, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
I subscribed when you were at a mere 400,000 people (no small feat on its own) congratulations on your well deserves success. I predict 3 million will come quickly.
I don't get it. Bill Withers "Lean on Me" has a C chord with C in the bass and C as the melody note. But this video says to avoid doubling the bass and melody note.
Rick, you should do a collab live stream with Warren Huart from Produce Like a Pro where you review and give feedback on songs/mixes
Best idea ever!
Warren and Rick have chatted before & it was VERY good!
Rick must hate Light My Fire by The Doors. It violates nearly every one of these rules. The verse bass on the Am chord plays a C note when Morrison sings C. Not using Rick's color notes. Then the chorus is the best. I imagine Rick has a panic attack when he hears it. The G chord he is singing the Root note, G. The A chord, he's singing the 6th, F#, then he's resolving into the D chord on a D note. And on the G and D chords he's doubling the bass using the root, and he's not using Rule 2 whatsoever. Hilarious. Same thing with Touch Me. LMAO I'd love to see a What Makes This Song Great by The Doors.
they also ignored the 3:30 minute song length rule...
but as to the melody there is quite a lot of stuff going on in the background with organ and guitar, complementing Morrisons line
I don't get it. Bill Withers "Lean on Me" has a C chord with C in the bass and C as the melody note. The melody feels STRONG to me but Rick says it is weak.
there are always exceptions to these guidelines. (there are no actual rules for music, just observed principles of success.) but just like Ursula LeGuin said, you have to know and understand the "rules" before you can get away with breaking them. OR... you can just be Jim Morrison or Bill Withers or Modest Mussorgsky. good luck with that.
@@MemphiStig Withers did not even know how to play the piano. He just played the basic C Major scale in the melody and a bass note of C. He followed the rules -- Did not break the rules as he barely knew how to play... I am not buying this guideline of "Never double up the bass and melody note". It sounds fine on "Lean on Me" and that was the biggest hit in the history of music. People LOVE that melody -- it follows the rule rather than breaking it.
Thanks for the explanation - now I know why I've always hated that song
Just downloaded the Beato Book (trying to teach my kid), thanks Rick, and have a great Xmas!
seriously grateful for your dedication to educating. thank you so much for sharing what you've learned
What software do you use to display the piano? I teach a piano class at my school and when we are remote learning like we are now I would love to use this software program in class.
This is gold. I’m going to binge watch all of your videos tomorrow
As a guitar composer for book trailers about comics I love theory & Rick's points especially about avoiding too many roots which is what I do since it makes the music less bland and have more color as Rick notes. Great tips about writing out the melody and progressions to analyze if there's too many roots and figuring out how to replace them. Cheers!
Thank you for your generosity, after years of me asking people who give me bs for answers
This was one of your best white board lectures. I always enjoy these and learn something from them. The pace and organization were great. Thank you Rick. I do find that sometimes when you discuss modes that you sometimes race ahead with the concepts faster than I can absorb or make sense of, but not today.
Have you considered referencing the page numbers or sections of your book when doing these? I would find that helpful, and you might also sell more books!
Rick #4, no doubling bass!!!
You talked about melody. Specifically are you addressing the vocal melody? Can you give me a link to a song or show me what exactly you’re talking about? And then an example of when it’s done right?