Introduction

The new version of Music Theory For Songwriters
is located at Chordmaps.com. The links on this page
will take you to the new home page.

So there you are... walking along, when suddenly you come to a big wall... and written all over it are ideas... ideas for songwriters.

Along the way, most songwriters have some questions. Many of the questions have easy answers, but sometimes you meet one that looks like a mountain in your path.

One of the biggest mountains can be described this way. Let's say we're writing a song. First we choose a key. Now here comes the mountain. Which chords are available in this key... and how do they flow from one to another in ways that sound good?

These questions are very easy to ask, but it took me years to understand what I wanted to know. Now I can explain some of what seemed mysterious to me then. If you are asking questions like these, this web site may help you to understand more quickly. Have fun!

Part One - Scales, Note Numbers, Roman Numerals
Part Two - I, IV, and V chords, Keys, Chords in D
Part Three - ii, iii, and vi chords, The Simple Map
Part Four - Chord Variations, Complex Chords
Part Five - Secondary Chords and The Big Map
Chord Charts and Maps - All 12 Maps plus 24 pages
                             of keyboard chord diagrams.
Part Six - Major Scales - I
Part Seven - Major Scales - II
Part Eight - Major Scales - III
Part Nine - The Circle Of Fifths
1st Steps in Keyboard - Keyboard Basics
Part Ten - Understanding Modes
Part Eleven - Minor Keys - I
Part Twelve - Minor Keys - II
Part Thirteen - Have You Heard About NotionWow?
Part Fourteen - Note Positions On The Grand Staff

Copyright 1999, 2000 Steve Mugglin
Permission is given to make not-for-profit copies
of this material.

Resources On The Web

The following links point to other places on the web. Please note
that listings here do not imply endorsement of all ideas presented
at all sites. May each "surfer" find the waves, and miss the rocks.