What you’ll learn in Hooktheory I

In Hooktheory I, you’ll learn the following skills:

• Composing music based around a scale.
• Understanding the six basic chords that underlie all great chord progressions.
• Writing chord progressions based on function (understanding which chords go together and which ones don’t)
• Making melodies “chord aware” → learn why certain melodies sound good with a chord progression and why others don't
• Controlling the natural tension and release in melodies over a chord progression

To sum it up

Hooktheory I will teach you the essential basic techniques for crafting effective and compelling chord progressions and melodies.

Hooktheory I Song List

Chapter 1: Building Blocks

1.1 The Building Blocks of Music

• The major scale
• Medley with the major scale
• C major scale
• D major scale

1.2 Relative Notation

• C major scale
• D major scale
• C major scale on relative staff
• G major scale on relative staff
• “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi (melody only)

1.3 Chords

• Formation of a I chord
• Variations of a I chord
• Formation of a ii chord
• Block representation of chords
• Scale degrees of basic chords

1.4 Combining Chords And Melody

• vi → IV → V → I → IV → V chord progression
• vi → IV → V → I → IV → V arrangement of scale degrees
• “Livin On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi (full)

1.5 "Wrap Up

• “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart

1.6 Check For Understanding

• Scale degrees of basic chords
• “U And Ur Hand” by P!nk

Chapter 2: Harmony I

2.1 The I Chord: Home Base

• Identify the location of the I chords (pt. 1)
• Identify the location of the I chords (pt. 2)

2.2 Basic Chord Function

• “Blowin’ In The Wind” by Bob Dylan (hidden chords)
• “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
• “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty (hidden chords)
• “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
• “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
• “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
• “Push” by Matchbox 20
• “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars

2.3 The vi Chord: A Minor Sound

• “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
• I → V → vi → IV Medley

2.4 Being Creative

• “Push” by Matchbox 20
• “Love Story” by Taylor Swift
• “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion (Verse)
• “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

2.5 Check For Understanding

• “Who Knew” by P!nk
• “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers

Chapter 3: Melody

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Meter

• “Wake Me Up” by Avicii
• Simple meter
• Compound meter
• “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

3.3 Stable vs. Unstable Scale Degrees

• “If We Hold On Together” by Diana Ross
• Melody A (Stable Scale Degrees)
• Melody B (Unstable Scale Degrees)
• “Home” by Daughtry
• Melody A (With Passing Notes)
• “Sun And Moon” from the musical Miss Saigon
• “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
• “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

3.4 Rhythmic Patterns

• “Umbrella” by Rihanna
• “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga

3.5 Melodic Themes

• “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
• “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5
• IV with unstable scale degree 5 vs. iii with unstable scale degree 4
• “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers
• “Friends Forever” by Vitamin C

3.6 Check For Understanding

• “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
• Passing Notes
• Compatible with a V chord
• Modified repition

Chapter 4: Harmony II

4.1 The iii Chord

• “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson
• “If We Hold On Together” by Diana Ross
• “So What” by P!nk
• “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry
• “Night Minds” by Missy Higgins
• “Basketcase” by Green Day
• “Canon In D” by Pachelbel

4.2 The ii Chord

• “Those Magic Changes” by Sha Na Na
• “Sherry” by The Four Seasons
• “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” by Bon Jovi
• “Halo” by Beyonce
• “Fireflies” by Owl City

Chapter 5: Inversions

5.1 Introduction

• Inversions of I

5.2 The I⁶ Chord

• “The Heart of Life” by John Mayer
• “The Road And The Radio” by Kenny Chesney
• “All American Girl” by Carrie Underwood

5.3 The V⁶ Chord

• “You Look Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
• “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John
• “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
• “Ever Ever After” by Carrie Underwood (from the motion picture Enchanted)

5.4 The Cadential ⁶₄ Chord

• “I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
• “Circle of Life” from the motion picture The Lion King
• “Let Your Hair Down” by MAGIC
• “Secrets” by One Republic

5.5 Pedal Harmony

• “I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
• “Eye of The Tiger” by Survivor

5.6 Final Thoughts

• Common inversions

Chapter 6: Conclusion

6.1 Closing Remarks

What you’ll learn in Hooktheory II

In Hooktheory II, you’ll learn the following skills [Required reading: Hooktheory I]:

• Using complex chord types (e.g. 7^th chords, extended chords, suspended chords, and “add” chords) to enrich your chord progressions.
• Using chord inversions (reordering chord tones) to create effective bass lines.
• Using secondary chords (chords based on a different key) to create tension.
• Composing chords and melody in minor and other scales.
• Combining melody and chords from multiple scales (modal mixture).
• Utilizing songwriting techniques like energy control, deception, and harmonic scope to control the expectations of listeners.

To sum it up

Hooktheory II will teach you the essential intermediate and advanced techniques for crafting effective and compelling chord progressions and melodies.

Hooktheory II Song List

Chapter 1: Seventh Chords

1.1 Extending The Basic Chords

• “Lost Without U” by Robin Thicke
• “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire

1.2 Qualities of Seventh Chords

1.3 Seventh Chords In Music

• “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles
• “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
• “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars
• “Underneath The Stars” by Mariah Carey
• “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
• “Clarity” by John Mayer
• “Fallin’ For You” by Colbie Caillat
• “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles
• “Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake
• “Gimme All Your Love” by Alabama Shakes

1.4 Inversions of Seventh Chords

• “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
• “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John
• “Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles
• “Fellow Travellers” by Procol Harum
• “Theme of Love” by Nobuo Uematsu
• “I’ll Make Love To You” by Boyz II Men

1.5 Summary

Chapter 2: Secondary Chords

2.1 The “V of V” chord

• “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
• “We Are the Champions” by Queen
• “O Come All Ye Faithful”
• “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney
• “Dreamin’ With A Broken Heart” by John Mayer
• “Forget You” by Cee Lo
• “American Pie” by Don McLean

2.2 The “V of IV” and “V of vi” chords

• “Fallin’ for You” by Colbie Caillat
• “Desperado” by the Eagles
• “Something” by The Beatles
• “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
• “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
• “She’s Always a Woman” by Billy Joel
• “Imagine” by John Lennon
• “Hysteria” by Muse

2.3 Inversions of Secondary Chords

• “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
• “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John
• “In Your Atmosphere” by John Mayer
• “Baby Love” by The Supremes
• “Waterloo” by ABBA

2.4 Other Secondary Chords

• “Who Says” by John Mayer
• “Flaming Moe’s” from The Simpsons by Jeff Martin
• “Thnks fr th Mmrs” by Fall Out Boy
• “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel
• “Photograph” by Nickleback
• “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” from Cheers by Gary Portnoy

2.5 Summary

• “Life On Mars?” by David Bowie
• “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes

Chapter 3: Embellishments

3.1 Extended Chords

• “The Girl From Ipanema” by ‎Antônio Carlos Jobim

3.2 add9 chords

• “Nightminds” by Missy Higgins
• “Dreaming of You” by Selena
• “3AM” by Matchbox Twenty
• “In The Fields” by Doug Hammer
• “Nadia’s Theme” from The Young and the Restless by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
• “My Heart Will Go On” by James Horner

3.3 Suspensions

• “My Grown Up Christmas List” By Kelly Clarkson
• “Tearin’ Up My Heart” by NSYNC
• “Ka Nohona Pili Kai” by Keali’i Reichel
• “Domino” by Jessie J
• “Clarity” by Zedd

3.4 V¹¹

• “Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel
• “Valentine” by Martina McBride
• “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” by Michael Jackson
• “Desperado” by The Eagles

3.5 Summary

Chapter 4: Creative Techniques

4.1 Energy Control

• “Ever Ever After” by Carrie Underwood from the motion picture Enchanted
• “We Are the Champions” by Queen
• “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis

4.2 Deception

• “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
• “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz
• “That’s the Way it is” by Celine Dion
• “Wonderboy” by Tenacious D
• “Break Free” by Ariana Grande

4.3 Harmonic Scope

• “Out from Under” by Britney Spears
• “Take A Bow” by Rihanna
• “E.T.” by Katy Perry
• “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars

4.4 Summary

• “Beautiful Now” by Zedd

Chapter 5: Songs in Minor

5.1 A New Home Base

• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in major
• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in minor
• “Paradigm Shift” by Masashi Hamauzu

5.2 Chord Function in Minor Keys

• “Here Comes the Sun” By The Beatles
• “Mr. Saxobeat” by Alexandra Stan
• “Smooth Operator” by Sade
• “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez
• “Burn” by Ellie Goulding
• “Hello” by Adele
• “Sweet Dreams” by Beyoncé
• “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye
• “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye (in major)
• “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus

5.3 Relating Major and Minor

• “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix
• “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
• “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
• “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
• “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• “Thank You” by Dido

5.4 Summary

• Theme from motion picture The Rock by Hans Zimmer

Chapter 6: Modes and Modal Mixture

6.1 Dorian Mode

• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in the dorian mode
• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in the minor mode
• “Scarborough Fair” by Simon and Garfunkel
• “I See You” by Leona Lewis from the motion picture Avatar
• “I See You” by Leona Lewis in minor
• “Moondance” by Van Morrison
• “Mad World” by Tears For Fears
• “Mad World” by Tears For Fears transposed to minor

6.2 Mixolydian Mode

• “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in mixolydian
• “Clocks” by Coldplay
• “It’s My Life” by No Doubt
• “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
• “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “The Visitors” by ABBA
• “The Visitors” by ABBA (in major with B naturals)

6.3 Modal Mixture

• “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day
• “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
• “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele
• “You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson
• “Only Hope” by Mandy Moore
• “You Don’t Know Me” by Ariana Grande
• “Let it Go” by the Idina Menzel

6.4 Melody Over Borrowed Chords

• “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
• “Starman” by David Bowie
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
• “Take A Bow” by Madonna
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen (♭6 in melody replaced by 6)

6.5 Modal Mixture in Minor

• “Hold It Against Me” by Britney Spears
• “You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse
• “Ken’s Theme” from the video game Street Fighter II
• “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
• “Django” by Luis Bacalov from the motion picture Django Unchained
• “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal
• “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt
• Soundtrack from the television series Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi
• “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles
• “Let It Go” by Idina Menzel from the motion picture Frozen
• “Skyfall” by Adele from the motion picture Skyfall
• “James Bond Theme” by Monty Norman
• “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani

6.6 Other Modes

• “Twinkle Twinkle” in the locrian mode
• “The Simpsons Theme” by Danny Elfman from the television series The Simpsons
• “Lost Woods” from the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• “Yesterday” by The Beatles
• “Forget You” by CeeLo Green
• “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” by John Mayer
• “Lovely Rita” by The Beatles
• “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee
• “Turn Down For What” by DJ Snake featuring Lil Jon
• “Malagueña” composed by Ernesto Lecuona
• “Hava Nagila” composed by Abraham Zevi Idelsohn and Moshe Nathanson
• “Piano Sonata No. 14”, first movement, by Ludwig van Beethoven
• “Speak Softly, Love” by Andy Williams

6.7 Summary

• “History” by One Direction
• “The Only Exception” by Paramore
• “It’s My Life” by No Doubt
• “The Only Exception” by Paramore
• “Almost Is Never Enough” by Ariana Grande