A woman plays piano, hypothetically working out major and minor modal scales.

Music Modes: Major and Minor Modal Scales in Music Theory

As we remember Paul Schmeling, the author of the first Berklee Online course, we share this insightful lesson on mastering the major and minor music modes with this excerpt from his course, Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm.

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A young music listener puts on his headphones and prepares an intense session of ear training, which we can surmise from his huge cup of coffee.

Ear Training Exercises to Help You Become a Better Musician

In these ear training videos, we uncover key exercises to help you develop your inner hearing: conducting in 6/8, singing the root, and identifying chords.

musician working at their computer and keyboard on a music composition

Music Composition Techniques and Resources

Learn various music composition techniques and resources that will help you get started as you write your own piece of music.

Jazz guitar improvisation

Jazz Scales You Need to Know for Improvisation

Learn the 10 scales that cover 95 percent of all jazz improvisation situations with the help of Gary Burton.

5 Skills You Need to Become a Music Arranger

Berklee Online music arrangement course instructor and author Jerry Gates shares five tips to help you become a music arranger.

Tony Trischka on Banjo, Pete Seeger, Steve Martin, and Springsteen

Tony Trischka’s list of collaborators includes Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs, and Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, so it’s no surprise that he has been called “perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world.” 

Counterpoint in Music with Beth Denisch

Beth Denisch’s new book presents practical ways to use counterpoint in today’s musical industry, whether you’re writing rock songs, film scores, EDM tracks, or any type of music.

Chord Substitution and Reharmonization

In order to use chord substitution as a reharmonization technique, you must understand the division of the seven diatonic chords.

Modal Harmony in Jazz Composition

The modes have provided fertile musical soil for jazz composers since the late 1950s. In effect, modes can be viewed as displacements of the major scale.

Guitarist learning how to voice lead on acoustic guitar.

Voice Leading for Guitar

In jazz, you will encounter only seven kinds of diatonic seventh chords (from major, melodic minor, or harmonic minor keys). This article will show you how to voice lead smoothly and easily between these chords and their variations.