Songs to help you recognise scale degrees

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Check out Use Your Ear's free 3-hour workshop: www.useyourear.com/a/2147506341/trLF4M8k 👂

[@unsightedmetal6857]

I am very disappointed with that workshop. I watched with almost my full attention for 2 hours and 42 minutes, and then they try to make me spend 280 or so US dollars. NO THANKS! Massive waste of time. The speaker took forever to go from point to point, repeating the same things over and over just with different wording, and I didn't learn anything new. I usually don't express my anger online, but this is an exception.

[@ShaharHarshuv]

@@unsightedmetal6857 The workshop is an ad to a paid course. While the instructor is not the best, the course itself is quite well-structured and very effective. I did a massive jump on my level of ear training after starting it. It's a bit expensive but in my opinion worth it. The guy really did his research.

[@Ana_crusis]

@@unsightedmetal6857 you should know people are trying to sell you something when they label it with crap like " _learn the _*_SECRETS_*_ great musicians use_ " etc . Great musicians don't have secrets. They have talent and as for any training, ear training, interval recognition etc they do the same stuff we all do so whenever anybody says shit like that you hit the delete button.

[@SousSherpa]

The verse to Come as you are (Nirvana) starts on the 5th degree.

[@pjmorley5785]

That site looks about as reputable as a used snake-oil salesman! And after 2 year of COVID I refuse to do any more real-time webinars or presentations, for any reason. There is no reason whatsoever to waste people's time doing this live.

[@TheDudefromLebowski]

Great content as always! I hope you'll make a video on 9th, 11th and 13th chords (or add9, add11, add 13 chords) and songs in which they occur.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Cheers! I’m actually doing a video on 9ths, 11th etc in a few weeks time 😊😊

[@DeGuerre]

By the way, speaking of added note chords, there is a fun example of anti-word painting in "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" by Gershwin. On the line "our romance is growing flat", the word "flat" is sung on an added ♯11.

[@ronniegibboni8327]

i think a 9th is just a second thts one octave higher

[@kelvinortegasantillan5010]

He did

[@Marre2795]

@@DeGuerre or is it a b5?

[@GuilmonLover2010]

The Jaws theme just goes back and forth between the tonic and the flattened second.

[@Gleestuff3000]

As someone whose school music teacher never taught theory, these videos are so helpful. Thank you for making them!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Glad you like them!

[@kane6529]

Shame on your teacher

[@ShaharHarshuv]

Finally someone is starting to talk about ear training that is based on tonal context and not interval identification.

[@Ana_crusis]

Yes and it makes no sense

[@ShaharHarshuv]

@@Ana_crusis What makes no sense? Tonal ear training or interval ear training?

[@Ana_crusis]

@@ShaharHarshuv read my comments

[@AR-qn9mq]

I hardly ever comment on KZbin (considering how it dominates my life) but I really look forward to your content. It is a big part of my weekend. Thank you David. Keep up the great work. You are positively affecting the lives of people you'll probably never meet - and we will never get the chance to say thank you on person.

[@DeGuerre]

Something worth noting is that in tonal jazz (and music influenced by it), the 7th degree (both major and minor) can feel different because it is treated as a consonance. I'm trying to think of a good example to help you remember it, and all that comes to mind is "Fascinating Rhythm".

[@chrisisbell3080]

Correction: The subdominant is so named because it is as far below the tonic as the dominant is above it - not because it is a degree below the dominant.

[@anniebeeezie]

I think he knows that, but just wanted to make it seem easier to understand for the viewer

[@PanchoMarconi]

In Spanish the leading tone is called "la sensible" the sensitive tone. Is more descriptive. I like it

[@Brokenface]

Also in Italian Is called " la sensibile"

[@bruhmomentum7528]

In Portuguese it is called “a sensível”

[@PanchoMarconi]

@@nicolascorre6830 Are you sure? we're talking about the VII tone, just below the tonic or "fundamental" in spanish

[@nicolascorre6830]

@@PanchoMarconi sorry, I misread... It's "la sensible" in french too!

[@komavid]

I thought you were going to mention the opening theme for The Simpsons when speaking about the Flattened Fifth. The chord sounded totally like it. Nice video!

[@JiveDadson]

Purple Haze

[@aldeayeah]

The one in Simpsons is an Augmented Fourth ;)

[@Brokenface]

@@aldeayeah or a diminished fifth which are the same notes

[@unstabilizer]

@@Brokenface But in the context of that song it is a #4th because it's a Lydian feel.

[@aldeayeah]

@@Brokenface hence the ;) more seriously, in the context of the scales/modes/tonalities that use those notes, the "lydian sound" you get from a sharp four is pretty different to the "black sabbath sound" you get from a flat five, so it makes sense to think of them as separate things but yeah, in a vacuum they are the same

[@bradlucid]

Love how he just casually mildly juxtaposed Where Ever You Will Go & Let It Go as if theres nothing contrasting about them at all 😂 its like garnishing pizza with icing sugar lol. Thanks for the vid David, much appeciated. You're always so concise and relatable in the way you teach and explain information-intensive concepts.

[@chrisboule970]

I think this is a really unique take on using popular music to identify scale degrees, sometimes even out of context. Most interval training focuses a lot on intervals, especially ascending. Awesome!

[@saabgang]

I like to view the flattened second as a leading tone, but backwards. Very fun to write songs using that flat 2 to pull you back to the tonic.

[@hadinasrallah8928]

i usually understand absolutely nothing but i love your videos and the fact you constantly mention the beatles. also you made me (casual paramore fan who bascially just likes/knows their hits )listen to brand new eyes by paramore and its so good

[@ricardotmc]

Try to learn the basics first, soon enough u Will rewatch his videos one day n realize u r starting to understand almost everything, a few more practices of the theory and u Will find yourself fluent in music theory, it took me a solid couple of years studying here on YT to be confortable teaching and now most of my buddies come to me to ask for music theory related stuff even though some of them still play better than me .

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Brand New Eyes is great!!

[@hadinasrallah8928]

@@ricardotmc will definitely do I always wanted to improve my guitar playing that way thanks for actually making me consider it even more

[@hadinasrallah8928]

@@DavidBennettPiano yeah it’s honestly one of my favorite pop punk albums now

[@jenniferduarte4293]

Agreed, I love how he pulls examples from so many genres and times

[@floydturner2346]

Re: your analysis of the Subdominant: In the Prince example, that Eb is acting as the b7th of the V chord. What we hear is a V-I cadence (F7 to Bb). In that context, the Eb isn't acting as a Subdominant., it's a flattened Leading Tone. You need to find an example of a Sus. chord (before it's resolved) to demonstrate the sound of a 4th.

[@nbnewman]

A good example of the sharpened fourth is "Maria" from West Side Story. The flattened sixth can be heard in the riff of "Smoke on the water".

[@GabeWilliams]

These are so insightful, I think it’s time I get these down so I can hear them and their chords by ear and tell what they are.

[@atrus3823]

Hurt by Nine Inch Nails has a pretty prominent/distinctive tritone in its melody as well. Also, you'll find the flat second is super common in metal and other harder rock descendants.

[@jeffwalker6815]

If you like NIN and David Bennett, you should check out Ixi music's channel if you don't know it already.

[@atrus3823]

@@jeffwalker6815 thanks, but already subscribed! Great channel 👍

[@hobobear188]

I'm always impressed by the level of technicality he discusses. Smart young man.

[@zzzaphod8507]

A couple of minor issues: the "flat 2nd degree" label in the upper left appears early at 14:41 instead of 15:07. Also, if you want the degrees in order at 16:45, the sharpened fourth needs to go after the subdominant.

[@MaggaraMarine]

Another thing worth mentioning is that both the major and minor 3rd degrees are called mediant, and both the major and minor 6th degrees are called submediant. Mediant and submediant don't only refer to major scale degrees. So, the proper names would probably be major/minor mediant and submediant, if you want to use those names.

[@curtpiazza1688]

Great explanation about mediant and submediant!

[@skyes00t]

I always love when you post new videos! You are great at teaching me music theory and understanding it!! Great work as always, can’t wait for the next video

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@iVoteForJesus]

Love you david 💗💗 are you planning to make a video about Negative harmony ????? this is concept in music theory never failed to fascinate me ✨ Thank you again for educating us

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! Perhaps I will at some point! It’s quite an unusually, non-traditional idea but it is super cool, particularly as an alternative lens through which to think about music 😊

[@d.c.8828]

@@DavidBennettPiano I would love to see a video on negative harmony!

[@snookerwither9955]

The leading tone is very prominent in the guitar riff of Faster by Manic Street Preachers. In the intro and verses, the riff basically just switches between the tonic and leading notes

[@ashwin_ramakrishnan]

Nitpick, but I think you're playing "Let It Go" on the piano as 5-7-1, but the notes should be 6-7-1 @10:02. (unless I'm wrong) Love your videos!

[@Adamis9876]

Thanks for saying this for me

[@brusselssprouts560]

Good as always, and I really find your insights good to drill into the fact that lots of contemporary music have roots in more traditional music, but also stretch the boundaries. These are things music should do.

[@astro_cat030]

Is it me or his voice is just soothing my ears and so smooth. I would love to hear David sing 😌

[@actuallythepie]

ive been waiting for this one for a while! thanks

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊

[@UmbraSolphira]

This is why we love solfege! Great for learning tonal degree

[@MisterM2402]

3:28 - Those three notes are the same as "She's the One" by Robbie Williams, so that's another example of the Mediant, for your British viewers anyway!

[@Eryktion]

Aren't the function names exclusive to the harmony? So the chord on the 5th degree is a dominant. But when you play the tonic chord and the melody plays the note on the fifth degree, it's just the 5th of the tonic. That's how I always thought about it. But maybe that's just because I learned music theory from books in german.?

[@phatman811]

you’re not wrong

[@Eryktion]

@@phatman811 does it mean I‘m right 😅?

[@Willriii]

I would say the function names are not exclusive of the harmony...... see the above discussion (in the comments) about a sharp 4th vs a flat fifth. Its relative to the key you are in and where the music has come from, where its going, and how you are conceptualizing the harmony.

[@isaaccastro4846]

Its really appreciated the non beatles examples

[@thesongwritersdropin2565]

Thanks very much Dave . After a long time playing music and just getting by on my ear ,these are proving to be extremely valuable and helpful . Keep up the great work . 💯👍

[@gabriels287]

The flattened 2nd degree is also found in When you wish upon a star. The note of the "on" in "upon".

[@MaggaraMarine]

It's actually a sharp one, or a secondary leading tone of the 2nd degree. This is quite important because while it's the same note, it behaves in a different way, and scale degrees are also about tonal behavior. In that context, I definitely hear it in relation to the 2nd scale degree (as a secondary leading tone). Flat 2 on the other hand would have a tendency to resolve down to the tonic, and if you listen to a song with an actual flat 2, you'll notice that it feels quite different from the leading tone of 2.

[@fleischsaftausderdose2372]

11:35 another good example for #4th is "Maria" from West Side Story

[@Marina-pe1gx]

I thought he was going to say this!:)

[@krumelkeks5581]

Great Video, your examples are, if you can imagine what a supertonic (and others) should sound like, very useful and I am thanking you for giving me another new view in the music theory.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊😊😊

[@elephanta2023]

Thanks! Just wanted to point out the flattened 2nd (not of the tonic chord) in "Paranoid Android". I believe there's an F in the melody over E major chord in rain section.

[@houseofleaves126]

These videos are great for remembering the stuff I forgot from music class 😅😅. Great video!

[@condolcezza5850]

This has helped me so much with music theory thank you so much. From one music theorist to another

[@chrisisbell3080]

The flattened supertonic is quite common in baroque music as part of the Neapolitan sixth chord. Vivaldi and Telemann often used it.

[@raywt3237]

I really admire your knowledge. Your videos and the accompanying comments make me realise I'm not a musician, I'm just someone who can play guitar. I'm going to try and learn musical theory

[@yoavyehuday9020]

In the song michelle by the beatles when they sing “I will say the only words that you’ll understand” they also stay on the dominant degree of the scale

[@samanthabudrik7462]

Having learned that Don't Look Back in Anger starts on the fifth degree, is it considered word painting because they're singing the word 'so'?

[@wgstass]

Thank you David. I think a very good example for the b5 degree is „Dancing Days“ by Led Zeppelin

[@hill2610]

Middle 8 and david bennett videos in one day? My music/youtube filled brain is satisfied

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I watched Middle 8’s new video earlier… I loved it!

[@marcospatullo]

I think a good example of the Flattened Second is the begining of the vocal part of Enter Sandman. The guitar keeps playing E and F (phrygian mode) and then it changes for the Eolian Mode (G-F#-G-A-E)

[@steamedbryce]

My go-to for the supertonic is My Way since it's such an iconic line and also the supertonic is often known for resolving to the tonic

[@ALACGltd]

Wonderful video dude. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Have a lovely year ❤

[@dylansbjpm]

The song Innuendo by Queen makes really great use out of the tension of the minor second scale degree during the verse section!

[@MusikeXavier]

I would add the following caveat: when the chord (or harmony) accompanying a note changes, its quality changes as well, even if the note stays the same. For example, the melody note G, the fifth scale degree in the key of C, with a harmonic background of C, it feels aurally like a fifth, but when the accompanying chord changes to, say, G7, even if the melody note stays the same, G, it rather sounds like a root, which it is, based on pitch classes, even though it's still the fifth scale degree.

[@FMEEvangelist]

Great video, but my question is… if I listen to a piece of music, how do I know if the first note is the dominant note of an A key or the tonic of E? I can’t see how you can tell without knowing the key. Not a musician so this might be a dumb question.

[@xLightcrystalx]

It's not a dumb question, and I'm probably not qualified to answer that, but that's exactly what he is trying to say at the start, the notes don't matter nor does the exact key. The tonic of a key sounds completely different to the 5th degree. I think you should see it the opposite way. You assume that when listening to a song most people go "oh yeah that's an A a C and an E" but in reality what happens is we are always off. So the A we have in our minds might be an A flat, the C a C flat, and the E is flat as well. So we guess the key incorrectly. But one thing we guessed correctly regardless of key is that it's the first, second and fifth degrees of whatever scale. The reason is that the notes in relation to each other have a sound, regardless of key.

[@lu6754]

Super interesting video as always!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@FiveFigsDigital]

Great topic. Glad I support you. Thanks.

[@TheMister123]

2:00 - Maybe I'm mistaken, but isn't "Baby You're a Rich Man" on the dominant, since the chorus is in C?

[@jasondeshan4635]

You could argue the song is in C, but I’m hearing G Mixolydian. Which makes perfect sense on why some might hear C , and others G. Solid video.

[@MaggaraMarine]

Listen to the song and hum the note that sounds like tonal center to you. I quite clearly hear it in G. I mean, almost the whole song is played over G in the bass, and the vocal melody is quite clearly centered around G too. I don't hear C as a stable note in that song - if I played a C, I would want to hear it resolve down to B, the 3rd of G major. In C major, this B note would have a feeling of tension to it - it would want to resolve up to C, but I'm not hearing this tendency at all in the song. That's really the most fool proof way of figuring out the key of the song - sing the melody and listen to the feeling of the notes. Which of them sound stable? Which of them sound tense? If B sounds tense, like it wants to resolve up to C and stay there, then it's in C. But if it sounds more stable (and doesn't want to resolve up to C), then it isn't in C. All in all, the question is, what note should the song end with to make it sound "complete"/"final"? I don't think playing a C in the end would make it sound final (again, I would want to hear it resolve down to B). But maybe you hear it differently? It is true that the song uses the notes on the white keys, but that's not the same as "being in C major".

[@TheMister123]

@@MaggaraMarine I just listened to the entire song to test your suggestion. Sure, the bass line jumps around a bit, but to my ears the G chord obviously serves as the dominant. I tried multiple times to try and resolve down to a B, and no, I couldn't do it. Only C sounds resolved.

[@MaggaraMarine]

@@TheMister123 Okay, then we simply hear it differently. I on the other hand can't make myself hear the C as a stable note, and G clearly sounds like the tonal center to me.

[@TheBrettWilson]

Yeah it's a bad example to use. It initially sounds like G mixolydian but the melody in the chorus (if not before) shifts to the key of C by way of resolving from the 5th (G) down to the third (Sol - Fa - Mi "rich man too"). The Fa-Mi tone tendency (in C) is too much of a give away and is certainly not flat 7 - 6 in G. Therefore the note in question, at this point in the song, is the 5th not the tonic.

[@cobar5342]

I always admire your knowledge and your style of explanation

[@マリージョー]

The caption for flattened 2nd comes in around 14:50 when you’re still talking about the subtonic in the Stones number

[@zingkhe]

just one point. Most of the ear training videos ive come across on youtube only focuses on ascending intervals so we're biased towards playing or making music keeping that in mind. But creators should not neglect descending intervals which i believe is equally important if not too important.

[@4shir_jr698]

honestly, for flattened second you can use many metal songs (because many of them use phrygian). one of my favorites - "Critical Darling" by Slipknot. the song starts with going from first to flattened second

[@millielovinmusic]

Thank you so much for these videos, they are incredibly helpful! I'm surprised you didn't mention Radioheads Videotape as an example for the flattened sixth, love that one ✨

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Glad you like them!

[@colinliaubass1712]

Every major and minor scale share the all but 1 scale degrees In major: 1st is the tonic 2nd is the supertonic 3rd is the meidiant #4th/4th is the subdominant 5th is the dominant 6th is the submeidiant 7th is the leading tone/leading note In minor: 1st is the tonic b2nd/2nd is the supertonic b3rd/3rd is the meidiant 4th is the subdominant b5th/5th is the dominant b6th/6th is the submeidiant 7th is the subtonic

[@jacksonsay37]

The song "My Way", popularized by Frank Sinatra, has the first phrase of the verse ending with a flattened second.

[@PhoenixFlight94]

In the flat 7 section you have flat 2 on screen

[@DotsAndLinesMusic]

David Bennett: *just counts up to the flat 6th* My brain: "Bruno says it looks like rain..."

[@andlucarr]

You voice is as beautiful as yourself.

[@barrycoulter6951]

This gave me ideas on how to sing some vocal lines… thx! Always learning something from u!

[@tabascocat5102]

Leading Tone = 'Dreaming' by Blondie. (That little semitone as always fascinated me).

[@dominiclipari]

I have this theory that the flat 6 is the key to making a song rock. Whenever a song lands heavily on the flat 6, either as a power chord or as a major VI chord in a minor key, the song just takes on some serious power. Some examples: - Cowgirl in the Sand by Neil Young (chords alternates between Am and the bVI, F) - Crazy on You by Heart (main riff ends on the bVI) - In Bloom by Nirvana (2nd chord) - Still of the Night by Whitesnake (during the breakdown in the middle, the riff alternates between i and bVI) Anybody else feel this? Any other good examples?

[@dashapurpose7979]

I need more of this kind of video!! Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@najla1178]

Do an analysis of the chord progression in Billy Joel’s Souvenir. PLEASE

[@BHHartman]

Forever I’ve thought John was saying “half of what I say is meaning less” (less than what?)… “half of what I say is meaningless” makes waaaaay more sense.

[@royalex21]

"Rock Lobster" by The B-52s is a good example of the #4th scale degree.

[@stoatystoat174]

This is my favourite of your videos 😄 stuff about where vocal lines are is stuff a sub par guitarist wouldn't have spotted without help. (Edit : spelling)

[@joermnyc]

Was reading something interesting, “Racing in the Street” by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is for the most part just: I IV ii IV… the V chord barely appears (in the intro, and then during a transition). The lack of a V chord really gives the song a “desperation” feeling. (It’s a pretty sad song.)

[@josemariareyes3448]

The most impressive thing about this video is how he got the Prince clip in unedited, must be the sponsor

[@philbreen2]

Hi David could you do a video on the use of sub dominant, dominant and tonic chord sequences in songs...I'm not sure how important this is in composing?

[@bombshell284]

''Wherever I may roam'' has the flat 2nd degree quite distinctive.

[@cliffbungalow9373]

Was hoping to hear Hurt, but a very enlightening video never the less.

[@composer7325]

Excellent video, David, thank you.

[@erfoo543]

If I remember it correctly it is called subdominant because it has the same interval between a tonic and a dominant but below the tonic

[@Marina-pe1gx]

Those of us who have perfect pitch watching the first minute of the video: 🙃 Great video, didn't know about this.

[@ilanmetoudi]

Great vid as always! How about Antônio Carlos Jobim's one note samba for a dominant in the key of G?

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Great suggestion!

[@j0wita]

Thank you, David, I’ll definitely try that.

[@gonzalohiguain2589]

Quite a famous flattened second would be György Ligeti's Musica Ricercata n°2 as heard in the movie Eyes Wide Shut

[@drewdavis2392]

At [1:15], I was expecting him to break out into "Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start..."

[@philipkudrna5643]

My classic Lydian/Sharp 4th example is „The Simpsons“ (with „Simp“ being the sharp 4). Hadn’t known the X-Files flat 6 example, though, as well as „the calling“ for the leading tone. Those were great!

[@Ioganstone]

David, why dont u do a video (because this seems very similar) what is more important to look out for, the interval of 2 notes or the scale degree.

[@jehmarxx]

I call the b2 phrygian tone, b3 minor tone, #4 lydian tone, b6 plagal minor tone, and b7 backdoor tone.

[@bartek7057]

PRINCE!!! WE NEED MORE

[@mistershaf9648]

Try "One Note Niggun", by Joey Newcomb. It stays on Eb throughout.

[@SnowghostFilms]

With the mediant, since you were playing in Bb major, I thought you were going to do the “Mama” from the first verse of Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@thepurpleones]

13:11 reminded me of cry me a river by justin timberlake

[@juniorm641]

'you don't have to say what you did'

[@jamesdean6660]

Bro, is it not the subdominant because it's the note which the tonic would be dominating? This is what I heard. This makes better sense than it just being the tone below the dominant.

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

Hi David, love your work. I listened to the use your ear link and found it to be a 3hr sales pitch. I didn't learn anything I didn't already know, by the end of it. ☹️ "Methinks he doth protest too much" not sure it's worth the $442.61AUD.

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

@@Ana_crusis thought so.

[@radiozelaza]

Laura Palmer's Theme from Twin Peaks has the prominent flattened sixth sound as well

[@nimnone]

Great vid! 😀🙏 Will you make a video about finger settings? I have seen in your videos that you Pivit much less then me. You spread your fingers instead.

[@alloyoopproductions9804]

Here’s what I would call the remaining four scale degree names, maybe they are kind of ridiculous but this is the best I came up with: Sub-Leading Tone (b2) Super Submediant (b3) Anti-Tonic (Tritone) Super Mediant (b6)

[@i.setyawan]

This is the first time (to my memory) that someone is telling me that relative pitch is much more useful than being able to identify a particular note (which I assume will extend to being able to identify the key of the song). While my skills at recognizing scale degrees is nowhere near perfect, most of the time I am able to recognize the scale degrees of a song (and therefore could "replicate" the melody, but in an arbitrary key of my choosing). My biggest problem (I thought) has always been my inability to recognize the pitch/the key of the song. This was a problem back in the days when I was still actively playing music; when I want to cover a song with my friends, I never can get the key right. I get the melody OK, by extension I get the most of the chord degrees OK, but I always end up asking what key the song is in.

[@MaggaraMarine]

You need to get good at identifying the tonic of the song. If you can hear it in scale degrees, just find the tonic by trial and error. There's really no other way of doing it if you don't have absolute pitch. I would suggest using your voice and humming the tonal center. Find the tonic using your voice, is a way of making sure you can actually feel where the tonic is. Or maybe just stop the song when you hear the tonic, and then go through all 12 notes in order, and figure out which one of those sounds like the tonic of the song (but I would still suggest also using your voice - hum the note and try to find it on your instrument). That's how I do it if I don't know the key - I just play a random note, and then start going through notes in order until I find the right note (or if I want to challenge myself, I may only play one note and then use my knowledge of intervals to figure out the interval between the note I played and the note I heard).

[@jan-christianwagner472]

Can you do a video like this about the natural Chords of a Scale, so that it helps us to hear the Chordprogressions

[@DarqIce]

@18:00 Wot? :D

[@vicsheilahartley7404]

Great video David. How do these notations work with Modes? Thank you. Vic Hampshire