CHORD CONTROL:
Music Theory for Composing In The Piano Roll
Write Chords, Melodies & Sketches from Scratch
- 85 follow-along video lessons
- "Purposeful Progressions" MIDI pack
- Chord progression database
- Direct message for questions
I made this course because for years I struggled with music theory.
I would sit down and just not know how to write chord progressions or melodies that felt good.
When I transitioned into professional work, this skill issue became a glaring obstacle.
If I couldn't make chords, melodies and clear sketches with reliability, I couldn't do the work.
So I took studying it very seriously. I hired instructors. I took classes. I practiced every day.
And over time, chords & melodies not only became easy - they became the most fun part of the entire production process.
Today I often sit down to write ideas because it's just so enjoyable.
It's similar to how an instrumentalist can just play - it's not about finishing a song. It's just about flowing with your own ideas and finding what feels good.
And that's the core of why I made Chord Control.
To help "music theory" become inspiring.
So chords & melodies feel not just easier - but fun. Like you can sit down and flow in the piano roll.
If you have any questions as you go through - or anything you'd like to ask in general - just send me a message.
Included:
Purposeful Progressions MIDI pack
I built this pack of roughly 90 progressions to start my own tracks from a proven starting place.
Each progression is organized by type and named with emotion. It helps you think about the stories you tell with your chords.
Included:
Chord Progression Database
This database is part of my personal practice. Every progression here has earned its place - I’ve heard it in the world, used it in a song, and found it worth exploring.
Full course outline (85 lessons)
-
THE SKETCH TO PRODUCTION WORKFLOW
1 lesson- Sketch to Production Workflow
-
THEORY FUNDAMENTALS
6 lessons- Chords In The Major Scale & Intro to Roman Numerals System
- Chords In The Minor Scale & Roman Numerals
- Major vs Minor: It's Just Perspective!
- How to Get the Chords In ANY Scale (Featuring Double Harmonic Minor Scale)
- How to "Hear" Emotion in Scales
- Rhythm Fundamentals & "Feeling" Groove
-
HOW TO WRITE CHORD PROGRESSIONS
17 lessons- DOWNLOADS: MIDI Pack & Chord Progression Database
- How to Use Tonic, Subdominant & Dominant Functions
- Tip: Start from I vi or IV
- How to use "Substitute Chords"
- Substitute Chords In Action
- Writing Longer Progressions With Substitutes
- Writing Progressions In Minor
- Substitutions In Minor
- How To Use "Bass Inversions"
- How to Use Chord "Voicing" for Storytelling
- A Few Practical Voicings
- The Magic of I V vi IV
- The Magic of the i III VI VII
- "Diads" - How to Make Less into More
- STUDENT RECORDING: What are "passing chords?"
- Hooktheory
- Google Search for Chords
-
HOW TO ADD COLOR WITH CHORD EXTENSIONS
7 lessons- Building 7th Chords
- Building Extended Chords
- Sharp and Flat Extended Chords
- Writing Progressions With 7th Extended and Suspended
- Playing on the Keyboard
- 7th and Extensions under an Ostinato Examples
- Quick Tip: Suspended Chords vs Add Chords
-
HOW TO USE MODES: THE DOORWAY TO NEW WORLDS
10 lessons- Mode Chord Chart PDFs & Lesson
- Introduction to Modes
- Major vs Minor Modes
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Modal Interchange
- Major Minor Interchange
-
HOW TO CREATE ADVANCED CHORDS & JAZZ-INFLUENCED MOVEMENT
12 lessons- IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE WE START
- Intro to Secondary Dominant Chords
- Secondary Dominants In Action
- The Most Common Secondary Dominant Major V in Minor Progressions
- Instant Soul - Minor 7 9 Major 7 9 Trick
- Tritone Substitution
- Passing Diminished Chords
- Augmented b9 Dominant Chords
- Comparing SD TS PD
- Soul Progressions
- Chords In 5 Levels
- Tweaking a I vi IV V
-
HOW TO WRITE MELODIES: FRAMEWORKS & FORMULAS
15 lessons- Setup Repeat Vary Destroy
- Magic of the Pentatonic Scale
- How to Hear the "Personality" of Notes
- STUDENT RECORDING: Emotion of Notes
- How to write "Rhythm Melodies"
- How to Write Melodies on Chords
- What is an Ostinato & How to Build Them
- Ostinatos PDF
- What is an Arpeggio & How to Build Them
- What is a Riff & Tips to Build Them
- How to Evolve a Melodic Idea
- Live 10 Minute Sketch Mindset Walkthrough
- STUDENT RECORDING: Melody Critique & Writing with Intention
- STUDENT RECORDING: Demonstration to help see "chords" as "melodies"
- STUDENT RECORDING: "Sky Full of Stars" - Coldplay (Theory & Recomposition)
-
THE ART OF SKETCHING IDEAS
11 lessons- What is a Sketch & Elements of an Effective Sketch
- The Piano Sketch - An Unlimited Canvas
- Sketches in Strings & Guitar + Thinking About Sound Choices
- Quick Start Guide: How to Sketch with Synths
- Sketch Sessions: Where Idea Generation Meets Practice
- Sketch Session: Going From a Voice Memo to Developed Sketch
- Sketch Session: Sketching to a Drum Loop
- Sketch Session: Setting a Target (EDM Melody Writing Example)
- Sketch Session: VST Practice (East Asia Example)
- Sketch Session: "Sketching" An Album (Epic Orchestral Hybrid Example)
- Case Study: From Sketching to Exported Professional Track
-
INTENTIONALITY TIPS
6 lessons- How to Analyze a Reference Track to Give Yourself a Template for Music Making
- How to Prepare Your Project for Efficiency & Workflow
- Song Recomposition to Learn From Your Favorite Music
- How to Setup Custom Drum Kits for Fast Workflow
- The Upsidedown Triangle
- Avery's Ultimate Popular Music Writing Cheatsheet
CHORD CONTROL:
Music Theory for Composing In The Piano Roll
Feel Unlocked In The Piano Roll - Or Your Money Back
- 85 immediately useable lessons
- "Purposeful Progressions" MIDI pack
- Chord progression database
- Direct message for questions
Consider my course bundle to get all courses for a discount.
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