Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 6: Advanced Harmony from Udemy

Welcome to Advanced Harmony, the sixth installment in the Music Theory for Electronic Musicians series. If you've mastered the fundamentals from Parts 1-5, you're ready to expand your harmonic spice rack with the sophisticated flavors that make contemporary electronic music truly distinctive.

Think of this course as your advanced cookbook for harmony. We'll move beyond the salt-and-pepper basics of major and minor chords into a rich world of extended harmonies, exploring how modern producers use 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths to create those ear-catching moments in nu-disco, advanced EDM, and contemporary electronic genres.

As the author of "Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers" and instructor to over 1 million students worldwide, I'll guide you through:

A comprehensive encyclopedia of "weird chords" - from the iconic Hendrix chord to contemporary classics
Advanced voicing techniques that add sophistication to your productions
Practical applications of extended harmony in modern electronic genres
The "when and why" of complex harmony - understanding the emotional impact
Professional-level harmony techniques used in nu-disco and contemporary production

This course includes hands-on demonstrations in the MIDI grid, real-world musical examples, and practical applications for:

Extended chord vocabulary (9ths, 11ths, 13ths)
Voice leading and chord voicing
Tension and resolution in complex harmony
Creative chord substitutions
Advanced harmonic progressions

Each concept is demonstrated in context, showing you exactly how these advanced techniques are used in contemporary electronic music production.

Remember: Just as a chef needs to understand basic cooking before creating complex dishes, you'll need the foundational knowledge from Parts 1-5 to fully benefit from these advanced concepts. This course builds directly on that knowledge to elevate your production skills to professional levels.

Join me for this deep dive into advanced harmony, and discover how to create those sophisticated, emotionally compelling moments that set professional productions apart.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Craft sophisticated harmonies using 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths - the spices that make modern tracks pop
Master an encyclopedia of "weird chords" from the hendrix chord to the "nu-disco special"
Understand when and why to use complex harmony in electronic music production

Learn voice leading and chord voicing techniques that add professional polish
Apply advanced harmony concepts to create distinctive, emotion-rich productions

Craft sophisticated harmonies using 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths - the spices that make modern tracks pop
Master an encyclopedia of "weird chords" from the hendrix chord to the "nu-disco special"
Understand when and why to use complex harmony in electronic music production
Learn voice leading and chord voicing techniques that add professional polish
Apply advanced harmony concepts to create distinctive, emotion-rich productions

Syllabus

Welcome to Music Theory for Electronic Musicians, Part 6!

Introduction

Tools We Will Use

How Best to Use this Class

We've talked about these before, but now we want to really dive in on how they work and how we use them.

Characteristics of a 9th Chord

The Minor Ninth

The Major Ninth

The Dominant Ninth

The Dominant Minor Ninth

The Dominant 7th (Sharp 9)

The 6/9 & Minor 6/9 Chords

The Major & Minor add9 Chords

Have you Found the Pattern?

As we move up the "density scale" in terms of chords, we next get to the often under appreciated 11th chords.

Characteristics of the 11th Chord

The Minor 11th Chord

The Major 11th Chord

The Dominant 11th Chord

The Dominant (Sharp 11) Chord

The Major 9 (Sharp 11) Chord

Next we get to the big, fun, 13th chords!

Characteristics of 13th Chords

The Minor 13th Chord

The Major 13th Chord

The Dominant 13th Chord

Lots of Variations on 13th Chords

Can we go Higher? We about 15ths, 17ths, and 19ths?

Let's Listen and Study These Chords

[DOWNLOAD] Here is that file full of chords.

Next we want to talk a little deeper about some techniques for using these chords.

First, Some Definitions

Avoiding Root Voicings

How Many Notes do you Need in a Chord?

The Chord Voicing Challenge

Playing with Voicings

{DOWNLOAD] MIDI File of these Voicings

In this section I'm going to give you an encyclopedia of some of the more mysterious chords that we have.

Warning: These Chords don't Follow the Rules

Fractional Chords

Can you have two Chords at Once?

The Oddly Powerful Half-Diminished Seven Chord

The Even More Oddly Powerful Fully-Diminished Seven Chord

The Neapolitan Chord

The Italian 6 Chord

The French 6 Chord

The German 6 Chord

The Elektra Chord

The Rite of Spring Chord

The Petrushka Chord

The Bridge Chord

The Hendrix Chord

Many, Many, more.

[DOWNLOAD] Here is that file!

How that we have all of these weird chords, what can we do with them?

How do I know when to use these?

If I'm using 7ths, do all of my chords have to be 7ths?

Chord Density

Transition Chords & Pivot Chords

Outer Voices and Inner Voices

Chord Rhythm

While sailing the arctic, I had a harmony epiphany.

How to Pick the Best Chord Every Time

[DOWNLOAD] Here is that Session!

Thanks for watching!

What Comes Next?

Thanks for Watching!

Bonus Content

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Expands the harmonic vocabulary of electronic musicians, enabling them to create more sophisticated and emotionally compelling productions, which is essential for professional-level work

Requires prior knowledge of music theory fundamentals, specifically from Parts 1-5 of the series, which may pose a barrier for musicians without that specific background

Offers a comprehensive exploration of extended harmonies like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, which are commonly used in contemporary electronic genres like nu-disco and advanced EDM

Provides hands-on demonstrations in the MIDI grid, allowing learners to directly apply advanced harmony concepts to their own electronic music productions, which is useful for skill development

Explores a wide range of 'weird chords,' including the iconic Hendrix chord, which can add unique and distinctive elements to electronic music compositions and arrangements

Belongs to a series of courses, suggesting a structured and in-depth approach to music theory for electronic musicians, which may be useful for learners seeking comprehensive training

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 6: Advanced Harmony with these activities:

Review Basic Chord Theory

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Solidify your understanding of basic chord construction and progressions. This will provide a strong foundation for understanding extended harmonies.

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Review major and minor scales and their corresponding chords.
Practice identifying basic chord qualities (major, minor, dominant).
Analyze simple chord progressions in popular songs.

Read 'The Jazz Theory Book'

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Explore jazz harmony concepts to broaden your understanding of complex chord voicings and progressions. This will enhance your ability to create sophisticated electronic music.

View The Jazz Theory Book on Amazon

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Read chapters on extended chords and altered dominants.
Analyze jazz standards, paying attention to chord substitutions.
Experiment with applying jazz harmony concepts to your electronic music productions.

Compose a Short Piece Using Only 9th Chords

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Practice using 9th chords in a musical context. This will help you internalize their sound and learn how to use them effectively.

Show steps

Choose a tempo and key.
Create a simple melody.
Harmonize the melody using only 9th chords.
Experiment with different voicings and inversions.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Read 'Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio'

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Learn how to mix your tracks effectively to showcase the advanced harmonies you've created. This will ensure that your productions sound professional and polished.

View Recording Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound... on Amazon

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Read chapters on EQ and compression.
Practice applying these techniques to your own mixes.
Analyze the mixes of professional electronic music producers.

Chord Voicing Exercises

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Refine your ability to create interesting and effective chord voicings. This will add depth and sophistication to your productions.

Show steps

Choose a chord progression.
Create multiple voicings for each chord, focusing on smooth voice leading.
Record and listen back to your voicings, analyzing their effectiveness.

Create a Cheat Sheet of 'Weird Chords'

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Compile a reference guide to the less common chords discussed in the course. This will serve as a handy tool for future productions.

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List each 'weird chord' from the course.
Include the formula for each chord (e.g., 1-3-5-b7-#9).
Provide an example of each chord in a common key.
Add notes on when and how to use each chord effectively.

Remix a Track Using Advanced Harmony

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course to a real-world musical project. This will solidify your understanding and demonstrate your ability to use advanced harmony effectively.

Show steps

Choose a track to remix.
Identify opportunities to incorporate advanced harmony techniques.
Experiment with extended chords, chord substitutions, and re-voicings.
Mix and master your remix.

Career center

Learners who complete Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 6: Advanced Harmony will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Electronic Music Producer

An electronic music producer creates original music tracks using electronic instruments and software. This role requires a deep understanding of music theory, arrangement, and sound design. This course on advanced harmony is particularly useful in that it expands a producer's ability to create sophisticated, emotionally rich productions. The detailed exploration of extended chords like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, as well as advanced voicing techniques, directly contribute to a producer's capacity for crafting professional level tracks, incorporating the kind of harmonic complexity found in nu-disco and advanced EDM. Specifically, this course provides a practical guide to using these complex harmonic concepts within modern electronic genres.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronic Music Producer

Composer

A composer writes original musical pieces for various purposes, including film, television, video games, and live performance. This role requires a mastery of music theory, including advanced harmony techniques. This course, teaching complex chords and voicings, helps a composer add sophistication and emotional depth to their compositions. The study of tension and resolution in complex harmony, and creative chord substitutions directly equips a composer with advanced harmonic tools to elevate their work. The course's focus on practical applications in modern electronic genres is particularly valuable for composers working in those styles, but can also be applied more broadly. The course will greatly enhance the composer's vocabulary.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Music Arranger

A music arranger takes existing musical material and adapts it for different instruments, ensembles, or performance styles. An arranger needs detailed skills in music theory, especially harmony, to reconstruct and re-imagine existing compositions. This course, concentrating on extended harmonies and voicing techniques, helps an arranger create new textures and interest within their work, expanding their ability to create sophisticated arrangements. The exploration of complex chords, such as 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, gives the arranger more options for harmonic variation and embellishment. The detailed study of voice leading and chord voicing as covered in this course, is essential for crafting effective arrangements which maintain musical interest.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Arranger

Songwriter

A songwriter creates original songs, often focusing on both melody and lyrics. A strong understanding of music theory and harmony can greatly enhance a songwriter's ability to write catchy and unique songs. This course, focusing on advanced harmonic techniques, will give a songwriter a deeper understanding of chord structure, and add new layers of musical complexity to their work. The ability to use extended chords, voice leading, and sophisticated harmonic progressions opens new doors when writing songs. The songwriter can use this knowledge to craft songs that are both harmonically interesting as well as emotionally affecting. This course provides the songwriter with a more diverse toolset.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Sound Designer

A sound designer crafts and manipulates audio to create specific effects and atmospheres for various media like film, games, and music. The role benefits greatly from an understanding of music theory, especially harmony, since many sound design tasks relate to the creation of soundscapes and textures. This course, focusing on advanced harmony, helps a sound designer expand their toolkit by teaching a range of sophisticated harmonic techniques, such as extended chords, voice leading, and creative chord substitutions. Such skills would allow the sound designer to creatively weave complex harmonic structures into sound design work, and explore how tension and resolution can create certain sonic effects. This knowledge is especially beneficial for sound designers working on music-centric or abstract projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Remixer

A remixer takes an existing recording and reinterprets it, often altering the structure, arrangement, and instrumentation. This role requires a deep understanding of music theory and a creative approach to sound manipulation. This course focusing on extended harmony, directly addresses this need and enhances a remixer's ability to add depth and complexity to their creations. The study of chord substitutions and advanced harmonic progressions offers a greater palette of options when re-imagining a song. The course's focus on voice leading and chord voicing techniques provides the remixer with tools to craft seamless and sophisticated arrangements. This knowledge is very helpful when making stylistic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Remixer

Film Score Composer

A film score composer creates music for films, working closely with directors to enhance the emotional impact of the storytelling. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of music theory, including advanced harmony. This course, centered on complex harmonic techniques, gives the film composer tools to create sophisticated and emotionally resonant scores. The course's exploration of advanced voicing techniques and chord substitutions help to create a broader range of emotional colors. The knowledge of how harmony affects tension and resolution as detailed within this course is directly applicable to the film score context. This course will help create scores that are both harmonically rich and emotionally affecting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Score Composer

Video Game Music Composer

A video game music composer creates the music and soundscapes that accompany video games. This role benefits greatly from a strong understanding of music theory and its applications. This course, exploring advanced harmony, helps a video game composer create more complex, dynamic, and engaging soundtracks. The study of extended chords and their emotional implications adds an important tool to the game composer's palette. The techniques concerning tension and resolution in complex harmony as taught in this course are especially useful for creating interactive soundtracks that adapt to in-game situations, creating a more immersive soundscape. This course is particularly beneficial when scoring action, adventure, or more complex games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Music Composer

Musical Theater Composer

A musical theater composer creates the music for stage productions, working within a collaborative environment to weave songs and themes into the story. A strong understanding of musical theory and harmony is crucial in this role. This course, with its focus on advanced harmonic concepts, aids the musical theater composer in writing more sophisticated and emotionally impactful songs. Knowledge of extended chords, voice leading, and complex harmony allows a composer to create nuanced, engaging, and professional level arrangements that add depth to the musical aspects of the theater. These skills can also apply to the instrumental portions of a production. The composer may also use these techniques to create motifs, and underscore scenes. This course helps them create the aural world of a musical.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musical Theater Composer

A DJ selects and plays recorded music for an audience, often blending tracks together to create a seamless performance. While this role often focuses on mixing and energy, understanding music theory and harmony can greatly enhance a DJ's creativity. This course, which provides an advanced harmonic vocabulary, will help a DJ understand the structures they are working with, allowing for smoother transitions, more creative set construction, and the ability to make more informed stylistic decisions. The knowledge of extended chords and voice leading covered in the course can be used in a producer/DJ's own musical productions which are used in performance. The course enhances a DJ's artistic capability.

See salaries and explore the career path for DJ

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with sound, often in a studio setting, handling tasks like recording, mixing, and mastering. While this is largely a technical role, an understanding of music theory, especially harmony, will help an engineer understand the musicality of what they are working with, leading to better mixing decisions. This course concentrating on extended chords and advanced voicing techniques, provides a better understanding of the musical aspects of a production, allowing for more informed decisions when manipulating recorded sound. The study of complex harmonic techniques helps an audio engineer identify and address potential issues in a mix, leading to a more refined final product. The engineer can also communicate more effectively with producers and musicians. This course helps create understanding from both a technical and artistic perspective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Music Educator

A music educator teaches music theory, history, or performance to students of varying ages and skill levels. While a music educator might teach general music concepts, a deeper understanding of harmony and music production can be a great asset. This course, focusing on advanced harmony techniques, provides the educator with high-level knowledge and a fresh perspective when teaching. The comprehensive overview of complex chords, voice leading, and unique chords such as the Hendrix chord, gives the educator teaching tools and new examples. The educator can then pass this specialized knowledge on to their students. This is particularly true when teaching electronic music production.

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Jingle Writer

A jingle writer creates short, catchy musical pieces for advertising purposes. Although jingles tend to be simple, an understanding of music theory and harmony can enhance the quality of the composition. This course, expanding on harmonic techniques, helps a jingle writer add sophistication to compositions. The knowledge of extended chords and their emotional implications allows for greater range even in a brief piece of music. The course's exploration of voice leading and chord voicing encourages good arrangements that are catchy, yet harmonically interesting. This course helps develop skills for a more diverse harmonic palette.

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Performance Artist

A performance artist uses their body, voice, or other means to express artistic ideas, often incorporating music or sound. While performance art can vary greatly, a deep understanding of music and harmony can add another dimension to it. This course, with its focus on advanced techniques, helps a performance artist use harmony in a more sophisticated and intentional manner. Knowledge of complex chord structures, voice leading, and how harmony contributes to emotional impact enables a performance artist to craft a sound design element that complements and enhances the performance. The artist can use this to create unique expressions. This is particularly true of performance art that is music centric.

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Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. While the primary focus is on the therapeutic application of music, an understanding of music theory and harmony can help a therapist to both create and select music that resonates with patients. This course, concentrating on advanced harmony, helps a music therapist to both understand the complexities of music and also to have additional knowledge of the emotional impact various harmonic structures can have. The course's exploration of complex chords, voicings, and chord substitutions can allow the therapist to craft or select musical environments that can induce certain emotional states or facilitate emotional processing. This course may be particularly useful to those planning to use electronic instruments in their practice.

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Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 6

Advanced Harmony

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