This is great, Ryan. Like a mini masterclass in sec doms. I enjoyed the examples/explanations. Keep up the great work.
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@dimensionstomorrow3 жыл бұрын
That center of gravity explanation is great. So easy to understand. This is really helpful!
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I think there's probably a whole "harmonic functions" metaphor that could be made there.
@tdijon72 жыл бұрын
I studied music in my undergraduate degree, and I compose and arrange semi-professionally. This is by far the best explanation of secondary dominants I have come across. I loved the solar system and the planets analogy.
@Diamond_Eyes_243 жыл бұрын
Wow! - your sun > planet > moon analogy really helped my understanding. Thanks Ryan.
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I need to incorporate more metaphors for sure!
@Videokeys2 жыл бұрын
to be honest, you're one of the most underrated music lecturer, so calming yet easy to grasp. keep it Sir!
@douglasbroccone3144 Жыл бұрын
Yeah I love his vids Really relatable Analogies Love the solar system metaphor
@ethanbagley4712 жыл бұрын
My favorite part of a V/V in a minor key, is you get a raised 6th in context of the original key which sets up a very nice melodic minor sense of motion. Absolutely love this video. I haven't used Secondary dominants very often and it's always been difficult for me to know when to use a little bit more unconventional ones like V/iii or even V/ii. Awesome video
@kankaok1252 жыл бұрын
Ah I see what u mean
@kiwij1424 Жыл бұрын
You prefer the raised sixth in a sec dom? What about the flat fifth? Tritone of the tonic? Personally I find that colour more interesting but each to their own I guess
@veggiemush Жыл бұрын
The idea of relative gravity is fantastic, thank you
@pikupikuseru2 жыл бұрын
Wow. I was playing on my keyboard so I could try to follow along and wrap my head around the concepts. My immediate idea was so go from a V's subdominant, since that felt like the most intuitive place to start (C -> D -> G). And I was shocked to find out that movement is exactly what Queen uses in Somebody To Love. (Ab -> Bb -> Eb) I feel like this answered a question I've had for so long, but didn't know the words for. This relationship is so cool!! This is definitely something I'm writing down.
@HashtagObi2 жыл бұрын
That Sun. Planet. Moon. example is so perfect. Have watched loads of videos but that animation was 10/10
@potato58302 жыл бұрын
Really appreciative we’re able to get such great information thoroughly explained in such a concise, straightforward format. Thank you so much!
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate it!
@jvilmi3 жыл бұрын
This is all over Japanese music in general, not just anime, going back to the 70's at least. Funk and soul, pop, soundtracks, indie rock, metal, even in classical (Takashi Yoshimatsu). Some old euromovie soundtracks (Morricone, Francis Lai etc.) also do this a lot, but they seem less interested in staying in any one key, instead just constantly morphing and moving to different ones with borrowed chords and transpositions and whatnot, yet it all holds together perfectly. Very helpful video, you have a knack for explaining these things in an accessible way.
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Yea it's a defining feature for some reason! I'm a big fan of Yaosobi and the chromatic's in the melody on those secondary dominants are usually the most interesting parts of the melody. I wonder if anyone has looked into why it's such a common harmonic device?
@Warlowisnumberone Жыл бұрын
Without a doubt the clearest explanation of this subject!
@GooBoi_10 ай бұрын
I just gotta say, I've been trying to figure out harmony so much these past couple months and your videos have helped me TREMENDOUSLY! Thank you!!
@robinbelanger42942 жыл бұрын
I'm really curious, I always hear that Mozart uses a lot of V of V in his work and I'd love a video kind of following this exploring why, what is V / V to Mozart, how does he use it, why does he like it so much, how would the music be different without it?
@DukeIrritable2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your clear explanation, Ryan. I think you'll find V/iii in "Sexy Sadie" and "Martha My Dear" on the White Album. Two very different songwriters using the same esoteric trick on the same album.
@kurthartle54732 жыл бұрын
I'm really enjoying the examples and explanations. Thank you!
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
Glad you like them!
@trasimagenes7801 Жыл бұрын
Great video, the solar system analogy is really accurate, thank you and greetings from Spain.
@uffevonlauterbach Жыл бұрын
This just might be the best explanation of Secondary Dominants I've heard and watched. I had to go back a few times to better understand it, though. Of course, that's most likely on me, because I have a learning disability. But I was watching this and replicating the chords in FL Studio. At first, I didn't understand why the secondary dominant would be D minor. But as I started writing out each of the letters into a triad, I began to pick it up better, making me realize why it wasn't D, F#, A. Each triad is to remain with only white keys and no accidentals. After understanding that, it helped me better understand the rest of this video. Thank you very much for making this video!
@RyanLeach Жыл бұрын
A secondary dominant will always be a dominant 7th chord, so if you are seeing a Dm then it's not a secondary dominant. Which example was that in? If you mean around 2:30 then Dm is the target chord, but A7 is the secondary dominant because it is the dominant chord from the key of D minor.
@uffevonlauterbach Жыл бұрын
@@RyanLeach Ooh! OK! Sorry. I made a mistake. 😥 Thanks for your explanation. I was trying to understand why it was C and Dm, and not DM and forgot that I was supposed to focus on the dominant chord itself. Excuse my last comment.
@ercumentturkses6041 Жыл бұрын
Such a clear lecture! Not confusing, right on the topic! Thank you sir. I get it better now thanks to you!
@etistyle96 Жыл бұрын
really well explained. that's so clear ! It's a big breath of fresh air for me who just started to dive into music theory.
@robinbelanger42942 жыл бұрын
I've been frantically binging all your videos since I found you - you're so GOOD at this! This one, for me, is really fantastic (not that they alll aren't). So clear and well illustrated. Also metaphors/models that let me visualise structure and relationship like gravity and the solar system is so incredibly useful for me and how I think (why I play chess and like physics). So I'd love to see more of them!
@HeavenestStCyr Жыл бұрын
That planetary system analogy did something to my brain...idk what... but something. And I love it!
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
What's another music theory topic you would like to see a video about?
@e7mac6933 жыл бұрын
Chromatic Mediant chords!
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Of course! Although I think we need a more user friendly name.
@Gee-no3 жыл бұрын
How about reharmonization?
@fungalroot2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge, your videos are very educational
@samucarodrigof Жыл бұрын
Thank you Ryan. Very good content with clear explanation.
@alaindubois15052 жыл бұрын
I think why this video is so great is your perspective from film score and modes first, then going into the usual 'pop' [contemporary] kind of chord progressions. I never studied chord progressions, but was also challenged to not end on the tonic decades ago. It satisfies our western description of modes to go from dark to light, or from happy or 'forthright' to sad or sinister, but while something sung in a foreign language in a 'dark' mode may bring us to tears, I would rather say a change into a 'darker' mode takes us to another plane [or planet]. Instead of sad, dark or sinister, I could add 'mysterious' or even a 'profound' surprise. So, the illustration of the solar system having the Sun as the fundamental tone/key/mode and moving to other planets is the best illustration I've heard of. I'd still challenge the notion that we must end where we begin. We may not need resolution, or we may be tricked into ending up at another solar system. Do we need to go home? [Could a lyrical dance piece have impressionistic chord movements rather than sticking to the more popular chord progressions? I haven't looked into orchestral film score chord changes yet.] I'll have to watch this again when my studio is set up. I'm glad to have found such great 'lessons'.
@christopherravelbell889910 ай бұрын
Love the Solar System metaphor for secondary dominants.
@DLCaster2 жыл бұрын
Truly a splendid tutorial and it demystified the concept of Secondary Dominants for me.
@eduardotepoxteca91712 жыл бұрын
Man you are the best explaining this kind of things even though I knew this topic the focus you give to them helped me to give it a wider perspective. Amazing channel
@kimchee10002 жыл бұрын
Your explanations are so refreshing
@maximilianludwig7680 Жыл бұрын
Such a great concept, it makes music so much more interesting! Good voiceleading makes secondary dominants even "shinier", and less awkward. On a side note, the rhythm on Maxwells Silver Hammer has been notated with a few mistakes (e.g. dotted 8th note F# on beat 3 into 16th note E into D on beat 4 and dotted 8th notes in bar 2 and 3 are missing), but since this lesson isn't about rhythm, it's not so important.
@howardhewitt17972 жыл бұрын
So enjoyed this. The examples make all the difference. Thanks!
@quantumexilemusic Жыл бұрын
This was absolutely helpful, this really made me understand harmony better. Thank you!
@ComposerRocks2 жыл бұрын
I think of secondary dominants as: In a chord progression where a chromatic chord would add some welcome color from the diatonic chords of the scale, select any degree of the scale, other than the tonic, to which you want to go ("target chord"); but instead of going to the target chord immediately, go to its V7 chord first and THEN to the target chord. So, in key of C Maj, instead of, say, I - IV - vi - V - I (C - F - Am - G - C), where Am is the target chord in the progression, try I - IV - III7 - vi - I (C - F - E7 - Am - G - C) .
@parkercadmin36662 жыл бұрын
Hello! This video and your Modes explanation video are incredible. Tasteful and helpful examples with easyyyyyy to understand explanation!
@violacomedy2 жыл бұрын
I found this out myself by playing Beethoven (badly) on the piano and finding out it was (nearly) all cadences!! Glad to know it has a name. Great lecture
@mr88cet Жыл бұрын
I like your Sun-planet analogy! Secondary dominants often appear right after the diatonic chord on the same root. So, possibly an even-better illustration (easier to see and hear than C A7 Dm G C), might be C F _Dm D7_ G G7 C.
@2002jorgeparr2 жыл бұрын
You are AWESOME 😎 RYAN!!!!
@mmt1335 Жыл бұрын
Your channel is a blessing Ryan 🙏 Thank you for all the great content !
@art1co Жыл бұрын
The comparation with gravity and solar system is totally accurate
@SnowAngelfish8 ай бұрын
5:20 i think you meant theres a B natural in the G major not G minor. Nice vid. Liked the planets and gravitation analogy. Very cool.
@pavelsabacky2 жыл бұрын
That solar system analogy is very poetic and understandable, it should be used in all harmony books ! :-D
@maximilianbeiel68122 жыл бұрын
Great content! In 13:44 in bar 5, the Dm6/F could be considered as B7/F (not too unstable because of the downwards walking base (G-F-E)), but functioning as the 5th of E7.
@tinikadavis24122 ай бұрын
And you see the pattern of 2-5-1 in Cm Bars 11, 12, 13) that cadenced to 2-5-1 of Bb (13, 14, 15)
@nizzbeats2 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU!
@Archangel_Michaels Жыл бұрын
Music is a gift of God and you are doing God's work here on earth, blessings !
@bjulin Жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot!
@ttguitarstringstt15502 жыл бұрын
Thanks again! I find you videos very helpful
@nmonye01 Жыл бұрын
Great video
@SpaghettiToaster2 жыл бұрын
The Hare Hare Yukai example is a modulation.
@nigeldarrah45736 ай бұрын
Wonderful analogy with the universe and orbiting planets (and the orbiting moons of each). I just didn’t understand when we borrow the V of a chord and bring it in, are we keeping the sharps/flats within the key of the chord we borrowed from, or adapting it to fit the center scale/mood/universe we are in?
@RyanLeach5 ай бұрын
Borrow from the target key. So if you are in C major and going for the V of G, which is D, use F#
@unclemick-synths10 ай бұрын
This is great 👍
@colinliaubass17122 жыл бұрын
I use the same analogy of how the notes/chords react the tonic is the sun is the tonic and the other chords are the other planets😄
@MultiDman20112 жыл бұрын
I’m a little confused, when you pick a degree that is diatonically minor to derive a new dominant from the corresponding key, how is the 5th degree of the newly formed minor diatonic structure always dominant?Shouldn’t the 5th degree be a minor/minor 7 if you follow the structure of diatonic harmony in the minor format? What is it I’m missing? Plz help 😭
@MultiDman20112 жыл бұрын
I’m new to theory, so idk if I explained my question well enough. Like the diatonic structure is M m m M M m d M And say you picked the 2nd degree to derive the secondary dominance. The diatonic structure for the minor would be the same as it is for the major, but started from the 6th degree instead of the first, right? Making it m d M m m M M m So when you’re using that newly formed diatonic harmonic structure to find the new secondary dominant chord, wouldn’t it be the 5th degree of that newly formed structure, making it minor and not dominant? Or am I overthinking or missing something?
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
In minor keys we traditionally use the "harmonic minor" to get the V chord, because it has a stronger resolution. So in A minor you raise G to G# because it leads better G# to A.
@MultiDman20112 жыл бұрын
@@RyanLeach I see, took a minute to register😅, but I understand now. Thank you so much for the clarity and wonderful and informative music theory content! I never thought about constructing diatonic harmony using any other forms of the minor scale until now.
@johnwade74303 жыл бұрын
The Oxford Harmony is a pretty good intro to Secondary Dominants - Bk 2 I think.
@RyanLeach3 жыл бұрын
Nice I'll have to check that one out.
@RemyLuciani2 жыл бұрын
Great video! I have a quick question: on Bohemian Rhapsody, why the G7/B to Cm on bars 4 and 5 is a V/ii? Did you mean V/vi? :)
@johnh14159 Жыл бұрын
Kakariko village reminds me of chopin nocturne op 9 no 2.
@joeldcanfield_spinhead7 ай бұрын
@13:43 I want to be sure I have this right. Does that mean the E A D G is V of V of V, then V of V, then V to I?
@JustinTrudeau1971 Жыл бұрын
Amazing video. I thought a secondary dominant had to be a seventh chord? No?
@paulwelding2 жыл бұрын
Love this channel, your explanations are easy to grasp, one thing though, the ambient noise of your room from the microphone is off putting, maybe consider capturing your audio from the keyboard and adding it later so you don’t hear the key presses. Other than that, awesome work.
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Paul, glad you like the videos.This is one of the first videos I ever made, don't worry I've improved the production value since then!
@AltaMihartescu2 жыл бұрын
at min 2:11 in the C major key example, are those the diatonic chords of D minor? I am having troubles finding A7. Triads or 7ths they all look like the 5th will be an A minor or A minor 7. I am not sure what I am doing wrong.
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
It’s only A minor in “natural minor” but there’s also melodic minor and harmonic minor, which raise the 7th scale degree. So in the key of D minor it’s a C#.
@AltaMihartescu2 жыл бұрын
@@RyanLeach I think I figured...the key word is dominant here, no kidding :) ...we always talk about dominant V and that's always a V...like V7/II or V7/V meaning in the key of C wither A7 either D7...E7 B7 and so on...no?
@papaschlumpf13902 жыл бұрын
*shows secondary dominants of I to VI Somewhere out of a dark corner: "There is another"
@ChrisMuellerMusic2 жыл бұрын
That is a really good video. What I still don’t understand, is why you - or the concept of secondary dominants - say, that the five chord in minor is major. I mean, I get why it has to be major in order to work as a dominant chord, but „when zooming in to the planetary level“ and thus treating the new chord as our new tonal/key center, to me, every minor mode has some sort of a minor chord on the fifth degree of the scale. So why is it, that all of a sudden, a major chord is on the fifth degree of the minor scale? What don’t I understand?!
@wandamccurine846 Жыл бұрын
Ryan will you help me to understand how to use the secondary chords when I'm playing? Please help!!!🙁
@OneDrunkWizard Жыл бұрын
I don't understand why, in your example, you use A7 as a dominant for Dm instead of just Am? Why a major 3rd/flat 7?
@ahknown2755 Жыл бұрын
is it ok when using the secondary dominants, if the melody uses the notes of those secondary dominant chords while theey're being played?
@RyanLeach Жыл бұрын
Yes of course. If you use the raised third (for example G# in an E7 chord) you will probably want it to resolve up to A. If you use the b7 (eg. the D in E7) it will sounds good to resolve down to C or C#
@ronfrancis60129 ай бұрын
Well, I'm totally confused by what you're doing. When you say "go into the key of Cm", what key is that? If you mean a relative minor, (in this case Cm Aeolian}, then it should be Gm7 is diatonic to that key, not G7. Likewise it can't be C Melodic Minor because, even though id does have a G7, A and B are not flattened, and C Harmonic Minor doesn't have a flattened B. Am I missing something obvious? Can you please explain how that is the key of Cm, and/or why there is a G7 in it?
@RyanLeach9 ай бұрын
The V chord is typically raised to major in minor keys. It comes from the harmonic minor. In minor key pieces natural, melodic, and harmonic minor are not exclusive but all three can be and are used
@ronfrancis60129 ай бұрын
@@RyanLeach, Thanks so much Ryan. It seems minor keys/modes are more flexible than I had realised. :)
@mumbisolomon80852 ай бұрын
❤❤❤❤
@ShaharHarshuv2 жыл бұрын
8:17 don't you mean secondary dominant of the vi? (Cm is the vi of Eb)
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
Yup should’ve said five of six
@samfletcher53682 жыл бұрын
I’m confused, cause every google search says the 5th chord of Dm is Am.
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
This might help explain harmonic minor kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKjIn6Z3aslnpJI
@joeldcanfield_spinhead7 ай бұрын
Immediately followed this with David Bennett's vid on secondary dominants, and besides Bohemian Rhapsody for V of iii he points out Mr. Sandman by the Chordettes, which includes a fun amplification of the whole concept: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn7SoYB4nq1-nLMsi=dg5GmoJzv97kY2HF&t=550
@faithouma520510 ай бұрын
Jazz harmony
@freewheelburning88342 жыл бұрын
your a funny guy
@duqueadriano00812 жыл бұрын
create discord server.
@RyanLeach2 жыл бұрын
discord.gg/UY9P4bbW
@clubandbardjs11 ай бұрын
Good video….Fair play… I can hear your pedals…..and the cosmic stufff……leave it out…..