Theory Gym
Weekly. Morning music theory workout. Included with residency.
Start your day at the gym with a morning music theory workout. Scales, chords, intervals, ear training exercises, and guided practice with fellow residents.
Recent Sessions
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We used Cat Stevens' "Wild World" as a case study to examine how a relatively simple chord progression built on the circle of fourths can generate strong harmonic momentum through cadences, dominant motion, and the interplay between relative major and minor. The session traced the song's movement between A minor and C major, covering concepts including the 2-5-1 progression, the Picardy third, chromatic mediants, plagal motion, and deceptive cadences. Arrangement and production elements — non-traditional drumming, rhythmic hooks, space in the mix, and the role of acoustic instruments — were analyzed alongside the harmony using a chord-tracking tool and AI stem separation.
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We used "Strawberry Fields Forever" as a full analysis vehicle, working through its unusual pitch center, the opening line cliché, and the chord-by-chord breakdown of the intro progression. Concepts covered included passing tones versus functional harmony, borrowed chords, chromatic median motion, secondary dominants, and the historical context of the Mellotron as an early sampler. We also discussed songwriting process — specifically whether melody or chords tend to come first, and how the song's harmonic choices serve its lyrical theme.
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We used "Hotel California" by the Eagles as a case study in harmonic minor usage, modal interchange, and cadential function. Covered the role of the raised seventh (G-sharp) in producing a dominant E chord over an A minor tonic, the distinction between functional and notational chord identity (e.g., the flat-six versus an inverted F chord), and how the song's chord progression generates a repeating sense of plagal motion. Also discussed the song's rhythmic feel and its relationship to reggae and the one-drop pattern.
All resident events are included with your Beat Kitchen Residency.
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