Uploaded August 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
Like this video? Thank my Patreon subscribers for sponsoring these lessons! They're the reason you don't see ads or sponsorships in the middle of my videos. You can join them here:
patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
READ BELOW!!! Get the jam track here and start applying the techniques signalsmusicstudio.com/a-dorian-funk-jam
signalsmusicstudio.com
twitter: @signals_music
FB: @signalsmusicstudio
![THE MARIO CADENCE - How To Use These 3 Majestic Chords [Modal Interchange - Music Theory - Writing]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jx7BcbS15tU/mqdefault.jpg "THE MARIO CADENCE - How To Use These 3 Majestic Chords [Modal Interchange - Music Theory - Writing]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
Tabs/Mp3 for the solo @ 06:32 at my Patreon: https://bit.ly/2MZxzlz
Thanks to my good friend Kerry Devine from https://rockstarroadshow.com/ for coming by and screaming insane notes for our benefit. This video is a lesson how to write music using the “Mario cadence”, aka the double backdoor cadence. It is thus called due its appearance in Super Mario Bros, upon completing the level and reaching the castle you are greeted to a I – bVI – bVII – I in the key of C.
These three chords can not fit into a major or minor key without the use of accidentals, so this video explores what can be done with those chords. They show up in a surprising amount of places, including the following songs that were not mentioned:
“I am the Walrus” – The Beatles
“Breath Your Name” – Sixpence None the Richer
“Losing Time” – Dream Theater
We also go over the modal mixture opportunities, perpetual Picardy thirds, and other composition techniques.
A few things to mention-
The name “Mario cadence” is not going to be found in theory text books but has been heard before – I did NOT invent it. Jazz players may refer to this progression as a “double backdoor resolution”, since a Backdoor Resolution is the movement to the tonic from the degree a whole step below (Bb to C). This resolution moves us up a whole step to that tone, Bb, from the note below, Ab, hence the double backdoor. .
There are MORE ways to think about this progression than I mentioned in the video, another common one would be to consider the C and the Bb to be both diatonic to C Mixolydian while just the Ab comes from C minor. The b7 is quite tasty over the C major tonic.
At 05:04 I mention that the sequence _ is NOT A SCALE*. In this case I mean that it is not a major scale or minor scale- certainly, any grouping of notes can be called a scale. Whether it is a recognizable or usable one is our concern for this video though.
At 08:24 I am playing the C Blues scale but using other notes as well, including the major 2nd and 7th as passing tones. It mainly focuses on the notes of C Pentatonic Minor though, until the Picardy third.
Please check out GUIM’s video on these chords here!
https://youtu.be/UJ_Y8EQqerM
My friend Moog Lee, who always helps when I need/want synths: https://bit.ly/32YnAlZ
And seriously, listen to this song, learn the chords by ear (its all mario except the modulation and the key reveal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Yh6rnOchs
This video, like all of mine, are sponsored by the amazing folks who have subscribed to my Patreon. We owe them a huge thanks, especially the following folks!
Linas Orentas
Joe Buote
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Christopher Swanson
John Arnold
Jon Reddish
Brandon Combs
Sebastian
Morgan M.
Lord of the Chords
Billyshes
Phillip Sharp
Don Watters
Bradley Bower
Marek Pawlowski
BuzzWasHere
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Theyre the reason you dont see ads or sponsorships in the middle of my videos. You can join them here: www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:50 Song Examples
03:08 Using And Abusing The Mario Cadence
04:52 Analyzing The Mario Cadence
06:55 A Different Approach
08:44 Seal - Kissed By A Rose
10:36 Soloing With Pentatonic Minor
11:33 Wrapping Up")
![5 Easy Ways to Use and Write with Diminished Chords [MUSIC THEORY - CHORD PROGRESSIONS]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/koulaYcijEE/mqdefault.jpg "5 Easy Ways to Use and Write with Diminished Chords [MUSIC THEORY - CHORD PROGRESSIONS]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
These lessons are sponsored by my Patreon subscribers: https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
This video is about diminished chords and where you can use them and fit them into your chord progressions.
IMPORTANT! READ! Diminished chords come in two main flavors- diminshed seventh (aka full diminished) and half diminished (aka m7b5). In this video I exclusively use FULL diminished chords, but nearly every example can be used with a half diminished as well, to varying degrees of success.
It is also important to note that I am a big fan of learning backwards. That is, do the stuff first- make the noise, use the chord, solo with the scale, regardless if it makes sense to you or not. Then later on you are more likely to learn the inner workings and theory because you actually recognize its useful application.
This strategy doesnt work for things like heart surgery - for that you should probably learn the details first before doing hands-on experience. But with music, Im totally okay with skipping many steps along the way as long as they get us to playing and writing quicker.
The following videos are referenced and very important to understanding everything here:
Chords of Major: https://youtu.be/M8eItITv8QA
Chords of Minor: https://youtu.be/j-j4g0ktPGw
Diminshed Chords: https://youtu.be/HQ2pg7D1aks
Diminished Chord Portals: https://youtu.be/olSSi6GOKZ8
Dim7 Arpeggios: https://youtu.be/0VJHqvtz12c
Chords of Harmonic Minor: https://youtu.be/xu2ylGI_Gp8
Orcastra Studio - Common Diminished Chord: https://youtu.be/DiX0BFe3aAE
These lessons are sponsored by my Patreon subscribers: https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
A very big thank you to the following Patrons!!!:
Linas Orentas
Marek Pawlowski
John Arnold
Christopher Swanson
Marc Bulandr
Bradley Bower
Alvaro Begue-Aguado
Don Watters
Don Dachenhousen III
Patrick Ryan
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Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Between Whole Steps
03:17 Two Chord Jams
04:45 ii° - V - I
06:18 Pivot to New Keys
07:17 Making the Tonic Diminished
08:04 Wrapping Up")
![RELATIVE MODES - How C Major and A Minor are Same but Different [MODES - MUSIC THEORY]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lPDVo-7Ua28/mqdefault.jpg "RELATIVE MODES - How C Major and A Minor are Same but Different [MODES - MUSIC THEORY]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
Please use headphones or good speakers for this. It wont work if youre listening on your phone (you need bass!)
This video demonstrates all 7 relative modes of the major scale, and how simply changing the tonal center can create modal harmony. Combine this perspective with this video https://youtu.be/bwaeBUYcO5o and youll have two different but effective ways to think about modes.
Thank you to Linas Orentas for his generous support on my Patreon page! https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
https://www.twitter.com/signals_music
https://www.facebook.com/signalsmusicstudio
https://www.signalsmusicstudio.com
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:41 Minor Tonality
01:30 Lydian Tonality
02:25 Dorian Tonality
03:16 Phrygian Tonality
03:36 Mixolydian Tonality
03:54 Locrian Tonality
04:23 Major Tonality")
![6 Ways To Solo Over 4 Simple Chords [Dorian + Minor Modal Mixture]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m0zLzVhTPYU/mqdefault.jpg "6 Ways To Solo Over 4 Simple Chords [Dorian + Minor Modal Mixture]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course: https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
Get the PDF + MP3 here: https://bit.ly/2BD1E7m
This lesson explores modal interchange AKA modal mixture between Dorian and Minor. Specifically with the tonal center of E. The four chords we are working with are Em – G – A and C, and these do not fit conveniently into a single mode of major. Therefore switching between scales is a valid and helpful approach to writing melodies or leads over these chords.
We explore several different varieties of scale-blending, arpeggios, and voice leading to discover new ways to solo over a set of chords without just repeating the same licks over and over.
If you’re interested in recording/production, you can watch my 1 hour tutorial on how I mixed and made the backing track for this video: https://youtu.be/OaXcTchsmss
If you’re confused about this lesson I recommend you watch the following videos:
Minor Scale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-j4g0ktPGw
Dorian Scale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v r6ftqp1bkA
Modal Mixture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyR98UEtt18
Arpeggio Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnwCnkYHv9U&t=232s
Special thanks to my Patreon subscribers who sponsor these videos. I post special goodies there for all members, including mp3s, pdfs, and lesson videos.
A big shoutout to the following folks:
Adam Granger
Billyshes
Bradley Bower
Brandon Combs
BuzzWasHere
Christopher Swanson
CrippleMonkey
Daniel Danciu
Darrin Goren
Donal Botkin
Don Dachenhausen III
Don Watters
Erik Lange
Joe Buote
John Arnold
jon reddish
Kip Ingram
Linas Orentas
Lord of the Chords Live on Indiegogo Now!
Marc Bulandr
Marek Pawlowski
Markos Zouganelis
Martin
Morgan M.
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Philip Sharp
Stephen Marz
Tyler Sherkin
You can join them here: www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:45 Method #1: Pentatonic Minor Scale
02:11 Method #2: Using the Minor Scale While Borrowing from Dorian
04:10 Method #3: Pentatonic Minor + Natural Sixth
05:19 Method #4: Using the Dorian Scale While Borrowing From Minor
06:41 Method #5: Using Arpeggios
09:19 Method #6.1: Finding and Highlighting Harmonic Movement
10:45 Method #6.1: Using Harmonic Movement Inside Licks and Phrases
11:59 Wrap-Up")
![Explaining Musical Intervals As CLEARLY As I Possibly Can [MUSIC THEORY FUNDAMENTALS]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m9GlB8tanNE/mqdefault.jpg "Explaining Musical Intervals As CLEARLY As I Possibly Can [MUSIC THEORY FUNDAMENTALS]
Read the entire chapter for free here (from the Chord Progression Codex): https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/courses/codex/ch2
If you want the printable PDF instead, just ask me over at my Patreon page!
www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
This lesson is about the absolute fundamentals of western music theory: naming musical intervals. Its not the most exciting topic, I admit, but honestly youll need to learn most of this stuff at least once. If you do it correctly, it will make your future studies MUCH EASIER and will help you avoid stupid internet arguments about augmented seconds versus minor thirds.
I designed this lesson to quickly teach intervals as quickly as possible, so if youre taking classes on the topic (and are regretting your decisions), youll be able to use this video and the linked chapter as a reference. But also, if youre self taught, just keep in mind this is the kind of stuff they start music students with, so do pity them when you see them!
Just note - this is the kind of lesson I feel obligated to make because its the kind of lesson I wish someone had sat me down and made me watch. But trust me that its not what I consider to be fun theory. SORRY! Hope its helpful regardless. Also note - most everyday musicians wont be aware of the stuff after 6:54, and you probably wont really need to know those things unless you plan on doing some serious academic study into theory or are taking classes on the subject.
00:00 Intro
01:00 Intervals that EVERYONE should know
03:09 Letter Classes and Major/Minor Intervals
05:14 Perfect Intervals
06:54 Diminished and Augmented Intervals
08:47 Rare Intervals
09:55 What You Should Learn Next")
