Welcome to Chordmaps.com, home of Music Theory for Songwriters, and also home of "How Much Music Can A Mouse Make?" which introduces the Chordmaps.com/YoursToPlayIt/ interactive chord maps. If you arrived here looking for the interactive chord maps, please follow this link.
(Chordmaps.com/YoursToPlayIt/)
If you are looking for the music theory lessons written for beginning songwriters, just read on.
So there you are... walking along, when suddenly you come to a big wall... and written all over it are ideas... ideas for songwriters.
Along the way, most songwriters have some questions. Many of the questions have easy answers, but sometimes you meet one that looks like a mountain in your path.
One of the biggest mountains can be described this way. Let's say we're writing a song. First we choose a key. Now here comes the mountain. Which chords are available in this key... and how do they flow from one to another in ways that sound good?
These questions are very easy to ask, but it took me years to understand what I wanted to know. Now I can explain some of what seemed mysterious to me then. If you are asking questions like these, this web site may help you to understand more quickly. Have fun!
Part One - Scales, Note Numbers, Roman Numerals
Part Two - I, IV, and V chords, Keys, Chords in D
Part Three - ii, iii, and vi chords, The Simple Map
Part Four - Chord Variations, Complex Chords
Part Five - Secondary Chords and The Big Map
Chord Charts and Maps - All 12 Maps plus 24 pages
of keyboard chord diagrams.
Part Six - Major Scales - I
Part Seven - Major Scales - II
Part Eight - Major Scales - III
Part Nine - The Circle Of Fifths
1st Steps in Keyboard - Keyboard Basics
Part Ten - Understanding Modes
Part Eleven - Minor Keys - I
Part Twelve - Minor Keys - II
Part Thirteen - Have You Heard About NotionWow?
Part Fourteen - Note Positions On The Grand Staff
... this is an on-going project
Imagine investing your time, your energy, and your talents to create
something new for people. What if your invention was really cool,
but many people hadn't heard about it?There's a music program called Notion, developed by Dr. Jack M. Jarrett.
I really like the program, and I've decided to help spread the word.
NotionWow.com is my way of letting people know about Notion,
as well as demonstrating how an individual songwriter might use it.
If you have musical friends, especially songwriters,
would you invite them to visit?Thank you.
Other topics at Mugglinworks.com
Aviation Cartoons
...the aviation humor of Joel MugglinSunshine Studios
...songs and storiesNotionWow
Your Orchestra. Your Music.Fractal Backgrounds
...for artists and designersA Pennywhistle for Christmas
...learn to play Christmas songsThe Chemistry Song
...a fun way to learn a bunch of ions.Chess
...chess sets for web illustrationSunshine Studios Soundfonts
...from my instrument collectionFestival Shekeres!
...percussion projectCool Little Sax
...the portable "island" woodwind
Copyright 1999-2006 Steve Mugglin
Permission is given to make not-for-profit copies
of this material.
The following links point to other places on the web. Please note
that listings here do not imply endorsement of all ideas presented
at all sites. May each "surfer" find the waves, and miss the rocks.
Many songwriter links can be found at...
Jeff Mallett's Songwriter Site
One of my favorite organizations...
Songs Of Love
A helpful place for web site submission...
Submit your page to 34 popular sites for free, using one form!
Music Theory For Songwriters is part of...
