Music Theory Iceberg Lecture

Introduction

• Iceberg Meme: Categorizes topics from well-known to obscure ideas.
• Music Theory Iceberg: Starting from basics to lesser-known concepts.

Tip of the Iceberg (Basic Concepts)

Concert Pitch

• A = 440 Hertz: Standard pitch for tuning in music.

Time Signatures

• 4/4 Time: Common in popular music.
• Other Common Time Signatures: 3/4 and 6/8.

12-Tone Equal Temperament

• Defines tuning of notes in harmony.

Musical Notations

• Accidentals: Natural, sharp, and flat.
• Clefs: Treble and bass.
• Scales: Pentatonic, major, and minor.
• Chords: Power chords (root and fifth).

Level Two (Intermediate Concepts)

Chords & Scales

• Harmonic Minor: Raises the 7th note for harmony.
• Blues Scale: Minor pentatonic with a "blue note" (flat fifth).

Circle of Fifths

• Tool for understanding keys and key changes.

Melodic Elements

• Sequence: Repeating phrases at different pitches.
• Cadences: Perfect (V-I) and plagal (IV-I) resolutions.

Entering the Water (Advanced Concepts)

Time Signatures & Meters

• Odd Time Signatures: Unusual sound to Western listeners.
• Mixed Meter: Switching between different time signatures.

Modes & Scales

• Diatonic Modes: Treat different notes as root (e.g., Mixolydian).
• Melodic Minor Variants: Raise 6th and 7th for smoother melody.

Chords

• Upper Chord Extensions: 9th, 11th, 13th additions to chords.
• Neapolitan Chord: Major chord on flat second degree.
• Augmented Sixth: Requires specific voice leading.

Clefs

• C Clefs: Variable placement of note C on lines.

Jazz & Rock Elements

• Hendrix Chord: E7#9, used prominently by Jimi Hendrix.
• Altered Chords: Changes to 5th and/or 9th in jazz.
• Polyrhythm: Multiple pulses simultaneously.

Depths of the Ocean (Complex Concepts)

Modulations & Harmony

• Metric Modulation: Mathematical relationship between time signatures.
• Polymeter: Different time signatures simultaneously.

Scales

• Octatonic Scale: Symmetrical pattern of tones and semitones.
• Double Harmonic Scales: Flattened or raised specific degrees.

Advanced Jazz Concepts

• Tritone Substitution: Substitution with chord a tritone away.

Deep Ocean (Expert Concepts)

Extreme Scales & Modulation

• Zen Harmonic Music: Divides octave into different numbers.
• Microtonal Modulation: Key change by microtonal interval.

Harmony & Rhythm Insights

• Negative Harmony: Chords with same tension/resolution level.
• Pitch = Rhythm: Frequency as pulse; notes and rhythms are similar.

Auditory Illusions

• Shepherd Tone: Perception of indefinitely ascending pitch.
• Deutsch's Scale Illusion: Hearing composite melodies from separate inputs.

Irrational & Nested Concepts

• Irrational Time Signatures: Uses unconventional subdivisions.
• Nested Tuplets: Tuplet within a tuplet structure.

Conclusion

• Learning Path: Iceberg as a guide for learning music theory progressively.