Composing With Music Theory | Scales (Patreon)

Welcome to week 2 of the composing with music theory series. This week we'll be using the Phrygian Dominant scale to write some wicked riffs and licks muhahaha! The objective of this class is to channel your emotions with music theory and systematize the composition process. (full tabs below)

1. WHAT IS A SCALE?

A scale is a series of notes that connects an octave. Scales form the fundamental building blocks of music and are a crucial aspect of developing your writing chops. The E Phrygian Dominant scale is spelled E-F-G#-A-B-C and D. It has a erotic/exotic character, stirring up primal emotions and conjuring up images of the pyramids and evil pharaoh's muhahaha

2. SCALE EXERCISES 

Once you learn a new scale, immediately put it into practice with musical exercises. In this lesson we'll learn how to improvise with a drone, some delicious string skipping licks, the flamenco chords (E-F) and counterpoint exercises to generate riff ideas. 

3. COMPOSING WITH SCALES 

In the final segment, we'll put it all together with my original riff "Pharaoh's Curse." This is an excerpt from my Ultimate Guitar Workout #2 (available in the pinned post). Follow along as I breakdown the melody, harmony, counterpoint and rhythm used in this cursed riff muhahaha

🛑 YOUR TURN!

I need your feedback on this class! Did you find it helpful? The point of these lessons is to get you making your own music. Compose your own phrygian dominant riff and post a link to your youtube video in the comments below. You can also post your creation on Discord!