![43 Music Theory Concepts That EVERY Modern Composer Should Master [The Music Theory Map] @SignalsMusicStudio](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qeS8txkoUH4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Get the course: tinyurl.com/yv7uxjre
Download the PDF: bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Check out NODA! noda.io
This is a tour of music theory for the modern composer. I think these concepts are very important to learn, and in this order specifically! This doesn't encapsulate all of music, but it is a very solid foundation. Knowing these topics will enable a songwriter to easily approach new advanced music theory topics with ease.
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - I was working all day shifts to finish this course. I started it last year actually but gave up since it was so much work. Fortunately I found the motivation after my last video to wrap it up - I honestly think it's the greatest course available on the internet, and I think the price is great for the amount of content you get compared to actual guitar lessons.
Now that my course is done, I can start working on YT again. Expect the Locrian video soon, along with some surprises....
THANK YOU TO MY PATREON SUPPORTERS. Without them, there would be no YT channel or course!
patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table of Contents:
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Begin the Tour
25:33 - "Composers"
Get the course: tinyurl.com/yv7uxjre
Download the PDF: bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Check out NODA! noda.io
This is a tour of music theory for the modern composer. I think these concepts are very important to learn, and in this order specifically! This doesn't encapsulate all of music, but it is a very solid foundation. Knowing these topics will enable a songwriter to easily approach new advanced music theory topics with ease.
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - I was working all day shifts to finish this course. I started it last year actually but gave up since it was so much work. Fortunately I found the motivation after my last video to wrap it up - I honestly think it's the greatest course available on the internet, and I think the price is great for the amount of content you get compared to actual guitar lessons.
Now that my course is done, I can start working on YT again. Expect the Locrian video soon, along with some surprises....
THANK YOU TO MY PATREON SUPPORTERS. Without them, there would be no YT channel or course!
patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table of Contents:
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Begin the Tour
25:33 - "Composers"
![43 Music Theory Concepts That EVERY Modern Composer Should Master [The Music Theory Map]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qeS8txkoUH4/mqdefault.jpg "43 Music Theory Concepts That EVERY Modern Composer Should Master [The Music Theory Map]
Get the course: https://tinyurl.com/yv7uxjre
Download the PDF: https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Check out NODA! http://noda.io/
This is a tour of music theory for the modern composer. I think these concepts are very important to learn, and in this order specifically! This doesnt encapsulate all of music, but it is a very solid foundation. Knowing these topics will enable a songwriter to easily approach new advanced music theory topics with ease.
Sorry its been so long since Ive posted - I was working all day shifts to finish this course. I started it last year actually but gave up since it was so much work. Fortunately I found the motivation after my last video to wrap it up - I honestly think its the greatest course available on the internet, and I think the price is great for the amount of content you get compared to actual guitar lessons.
Now that my course is done, I can start working on YT again. Expect the Locrian video soon, along with some surprises....
THANK YOU TO MY PATREON SUPPORTERS. Without them, there would be no YT channel or course!
www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table of Contents:
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Begin the Tour
25:33 - Composers")
![Demonstrating The Modes of Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY / SCALES]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qk8uobP4uJE/mqdefault.jpg "Demonstrating The Modes of Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY / SCALES]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://signalsmusic.studio/courses/codex
My pro theory + songwriting course: https://signalsmusic.studio/courses/songwriting-course
GET THE FREE CHARTS AND MP3s: https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/harmonic-minor-modes
The modes of harmonic minor are seldom explored and often misunderstood, but they contain an entire universe of abstract harmonies. Although the 1st and 5th modes are fairly common, I think more attention should be given to some of the others as they can create truly unique sounds.
If you want my new Harmonic Minor Poster you can click this link - there are versions in A and in C. https://signals-shop.creator-spring.com/
MOST USEFUL, RANKED (in my opinion)
Harmonic Minor (mode 1)
Phrygian Dominant (mode 5)
Dorian #4 (mode 4)
Ionain #5 (mode 3)
Lydian #2 (mode 6)
Locrian Natural 6 (mode 2)
Ultralocrian (mode 7)
Jens Larsens channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jenslarsen02
NOTE- Quist does a good job of jamming with Ultralocrian in his jam track! I wish I had listened to his solo first, it would have given me some good ideas lol. Heres his track: https://youtu.be/ufif3rob_Vo
At 8:00 I forgot to include the flat signs after the Es when talking about A Dim chords
At 10:18 I should have said A Augmented Major Seventh, not A Augmented Seventh.
If youre confused, youll want to watch my videos on Harmonic Minor here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTR7Cy9Sv2845ykqmNpmeGFq_v9yKZ_3A
Special thanks to my Patreon Supporters for sponsoring these videos. This one took a while. If you enjoy the charts, you should thank them :)
www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table Of Contents
00:00 Intro
01:18 Harmonic Minor Chords
05:40 DEMO Harmonic Minor
06:24 The Second Mode
08:41 DEMO Locrian Natural Six
09:10 The Third Mode
10:20 DEMO Ionian Sharp Five
10:56 The Fourth Mode
12:10 DEMO Dorian Sharp Four
13:44 The Fifth Mode
15:12 DEMO Phyrgian Dominant
15:57 The Sixth Mode
17:37 DEMO Lydian Sharp Two
18:21 The Seventh Mode
19:28 DEMO ULTRA LOCRIAN DO NOT LISTEN")
![Live Quarantine Lessons - Blues Guitar Day 3 [Lead Playing]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/roVM2n2BX14/mqdefault.jpg "Live Quarantine Lessons - Blues Guitar Day 3 [Lead Playing]
Download the lesson resources for free (many pdfs, and mp3s) at my website
https://signalsmusicstudio.com/courses/5-day-blues/
This lesson was livestreamed on 3/25/2020. Every day this week Ill be live streaming the remainder of this course at 2PM CST, and then will upload the video afterwards.
Thank my Patreon supporters for making this free course possible!
www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio")
![Demonstrating 7 Ways that Composers Make Music Using Modes [SONGWRITING / THEORY]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sC2qXLnVU3A/mqdefault.jpg "Demonstrating 7 Ways that Composers Make Music Using Modes [SONGWRITING / THEORY]
Master Chords + Progressions with The Chord Progression Codex: https://tinyurl.com/yytbhyvh
Or Check Out My COMPLETE Songwriting + Theory Course: https://tinyurl.com/yv7uxjre
In this video we explore 7 different ways that the musical modes of major actually get used in modern sounding music, starting with some simple tips and ending with some more advanced concepts.
Heres the video I made for my Patreon subscribers showing how I wrote the Dorian melody. I did a poor job of describing this though - its 15 minutes (not 20) and isnt primarily about melody. I do think itll still be enlightening though! https://youtu.be/YqZkNw3hI5g Ill be posting more frequently on that channel as well with less polished content that is hopefully just as helpful as Signals videos.
If youre having trouble following along with this video, Id recommend these other videos I did - they should fill in any gaps.
Modes and Tonal Center: https://youtu.be/lPDVo-7Ua28?si=aesvmtp5NwNU-r3c
Meet The Modes: https://youtu.be/bwaeBUYcO5o?si=TgX0yJxxkzCXYQNX
Modes on Guitar: https://youtu.be/96cydVB4w-A?si=Ek1iAXpmYldLp_ok
7th Chords: https://youtu.be/3JizNRwHYNY?si=zIHAOk5pP37_vZv9
Chords of Minor: https://youtu.be/j-j4g0ktPGw?si=zeiiaUaRIBcpGIhp
The chart Im using is my Ultimate Modal Poster and can be purchased here: https://shorturl.at/rET34
My patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:42 Writing exclusively in a mode
03:23 Demonstrating a piece in 100% Dorian
04:10 Writing in a mode but breaking it
07:15 Demonstrating Dorian mixed with natural 7ths
07:48 Modulating between relative modes
10:10 Demonstrating Phyrgian moving to Aeolian
11:21 Modulating between parallel modes
13:36 Demonstrating Major moving to Lydian
14:18 Writing in major and borrowing chords from anywhere
15:37 Demonstrating modal mixture in major
16:27 Modal Mixture in Minor
19:27 Using Modes or Scales to Play Over Chords
21:12 Demonstrating a New Scale for Each Chord")
