Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/musicianship-chords

Introduction

### Course Review: Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys If you're looking to deepen your understanding of music theory and enhance your musicianship, I highly recommend the course **Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys** offered by Berklee Online on Coursera. This course, part of the **Developing Your Musicianship** specialization, builds upon foundational concepts in music theory, making it an ideal choice for those who have either completed the first course in the series or possess a basic knowledge of music theory. #### Overview Led by esteemed Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., this course is designed for aspiring musicians who want to gain competence in contemporary music creation and performance. The course invites you to explore various essential concepts that will shape your understanding of composition and improvisation, allowing you to play with confidence and creativity. #### Detailed Course Breakdown The course is structured into four comprehensive lessons, each designed to progressively build on the previous one. - **Lesson 1: Foundations and Ear Training** In this opening lesson, the course revisits key concepts from the first installment. You will delve into the **Key of F Major** and its related minor key, **D minor**. Additionally, a focus on ear training will have you recognizing minor 2nd and 3rd intervals, as well as major and minor 7th chords. This foundational knowledge is crucial for developing a robust musical ear. - **Lesson 2: Diatonic 7th Chords** As you transition to the second lesson, you will explore **diatonic 7th chords** across both the **G Major** and **F Major** keys. Here, you’ll learn four popular chord progressions built on diatonic triads. This lesson is designed not only to expand your chord vocabulary but also to enhance your listening skills by adding minor 6th and 7th intervals and dominant 7th chords to your repertoire. - **Lesson 3: Chord Progressions and Tritone Exploration** The third lesson takes you deeper into the **Key of G Major**. You will revisit and modify the chord progressions learned in the previous lesson, this time incorporating 7th chords. The introduction of the **tritone** and the **half-diminished chord** (minor 7 flat 5) will broaden your harmonic understanding, allowing for more sophisticated chord progressions in your music. - **Lesson 4: The Major Pentatonic Scale and Chord Chart Writing** In the final lesson, you will explore the **major pentatonic scale**, a staple in various music genres. You’ll learn how to write effective chord charts using the popular progressions covered throughout the course, solidifying your knowledge and ensuring you can apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings. Ear training also continues, as you solidify your understanding of intervals and chords. #### Final Thoughts Overall, **Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys** is a well-structured and dynamic course that offers a fantastic opportunity for musicians at any level. The mix of theoretical knowledge and practical application makes it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their musical skills. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to all aspiring musicians. Whether you're a songwriter, performer, or someone exploring the intricacies of music, this course is a stepping stone to mastering your craft. With engaging instruction from Professor Russell and a clear, progressive syllabus, learners are sure to find this course accommodating and beneficial. For anyone serious about advancing their musicianship, this course is not to be missed! Enroll today and unlock the potential to create and perform contemporary music with confidence.

Syllabus

Welcome to Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys!

Welcome to Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys (also known as Developing Your Musicianship II)! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your course experience.

In this lesson, we will spend a little time reviewing the material from Developing Your Musicianship I. We will learn about the Key of F Major and its related minor key, D minor. We will also practice training our ears to hear minor 2nd and 3rd intervals and major and minor 7th chords.

In this lesson, we will explore diatonic 7th chords in the key of G major and F major. We will learn four new popular chord progression using diatonic triads. We will continue to train our ears, reviewing the intervals and chords from the previous lesson while adding minor 6th and 7th intervals and the dominant 7th chord.

In this lesson, we will learn about the key of G major. We will play with the popular chord progressions from the last lesson by adding the 7th. We will continue to train our ears, reviewing the intervals and chords from the previous two lessons while adding the tritone and the half diminished (or the minor 7 flat 5) chord.

In this final lesson, we will explore the major pentatonic scale. We will also learn how to write a chord chart using the popular chord progressions from this course. We will continue to train our ears, reviewing all of the intervals and chords from the course.