The FASTEST way to improve your chord progressions - Inversions
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- How to bring your chord progressions to life by using inversions. Make better bass lines, more connected chords and more interesting chord progressions. Whether you are a songwriter, composer or performer, inversions are your friend. In this tutorial, composer Guy Michelmore explains, what they are, how to play them and how they can improve your music. Improve your music in under 20 minutes. It all starts here.
Check out Guy’s "How to Write Music" course!
Download our FREE guide: thinkspaceeduc...
- - - How To Write Music - - - -
How To Write Music explores the fundamental skills that underpin every great piece of music whether it’s a song or a film score, string quartet or video game sounds track.
Check out the free guide here to get you started: thinkspaceeduc...
I love this dude and his silly sense of humour. He's that teacher that everyone likes!
Spot on was thinking the same!!
Yes!
The teachers I remember best and most fondly are those with a great sense of (dry) humour :-)
I wish any of my music teachers were like this guy. I would have learned so quickly as he knows how to keep my attention and explain things easily.
Guy, I really wish I'd had a music teacher like you 45 years ago so I could now be a burnt out composer rather than a burnt out programmer! ;)
Never too late :)
I started learning playing piano at 44. I follow this wonderful teacher.
When you stick around to watch a video that teaches you things you've been knowing for years...you know the content is good :) great as always Guy!
Worse even, this video made me look up what a stream deck is and then order one.
@@Pieter_Auper My work is done! You wont regret it
@@ThinkSpaceEducation It arrived today and i'm now setting it up for BBCSO.
What a mighty and fun little box this is.
Thanks for pointing at it!
@@Pieter_Auper I've had an XL since they came out, I love it. Particularly love that you can write plugins for it if there's something it doesn't do already, if you fancy some programming, or know a friendly programmer :)
Particularly nice when you make use of connecting to other things to reflect the state of them on the streamdeck screen. For example mine is connected to a game I play, Elite Dangerous, and it doesn't matter if I change the state of a toggleable control from the game or from the streamdeck it still updates the state on the streamdeck screen whichever route you took as the plugin and the game are communicating both directions.
I've not see any decent DAW plugins like that yet. You can use the built in toggle hot key with a toggleable thing in a DAW, but if you change it with your mouse the streamdeck won't update.
I have seen a streamdeck plugin that does MIDI CCs but have not experimented with it yet. It could turn the stream deck into a MIDI controller if it's good enough. Must remember to check it out myself.
@@IainMNorman The midi plugin works like a charm. Had to install LoopMIDI to get it to work in my DAW but now have some nifty keyswitch profiles for BBCSO.
Unfortunately i can't code but for people who can i guess possibilities really are endless.
I'm not going to regret buying this, this will increase my workflow a lot!
He has more energy than me in the 20's.... I am in the 20's
Maybe he has more energy now than back in his 20's. So there's hope for you :)
He loves what he does
Two hours of your videos did more for me than two semesters of music theory long ago. Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more, Guy has renewed my passion for music; real music. I have been playing for over 50 years and I was BORING! Thank you so much Guy, I have found my inner musical child again. You project so much joy in your videos it is infectious
Honestly sir... nobody, NOBODY has worked as hard as you did, using the real car analogy, to explain the first inversion of a chord. Now, students will NEVER forget the system! Respect.
thank you so much for going to the extra trouble of moving cars to show your point. i don’t know why, but it creates a visual picture in my brain about the theory. now i’ll never forget it, I’ll just picture the cars moving thank you.
The day is suddenly brighter! Why? Guy posted a video. Guy's presentations are what does it.
A fantastic teacher who makes you want to learn more.
MichelMORE 😉
Man I started to playing with synth a one year ago and I'm really happy that my UA-cam teacher is you...and i must say Guy is "the man"... cheers
Amazing, the sunglasses of doubt didn't fall down. The sound is so much better Guy.
Glued on
My world is better because of you, Guy!
I took music theory courses 20 years ago in community college ....then applied almost none of it in my rock cover band. I've recently started playing around with a DAW and orchestra plugins.
Watching Guy's videos has been amazing. Much of this I remember from classes - and so much that I never learned. He teaches in such a fun way. This is the best music instruction channel on UA-cam. So appreciative for this content.
YOU ARE AN AMAZING TEACHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I know many people don’t like music theory, but it really does make life much easier. I’ve only begun my songwriting/composing journey quite recently, but I’ve been a musician for 25 years. I started playing guitar when I was 15. It’s been my knowledge of music theory that has helped me the most as I’ve transition to making music on my computer. I’ve dabbled with piano some, took lessons for a year when I was a kid but didn’t take to it. It wasn’t until after I started playing guitar and understood how to form chords all over the neck that I started enjoying the piano. Guitar may be my first instrument for performing, but piano has become my first instrument for writing, and that’s only because I learned how to translate chords I played on guitar onto the piano. Oh, and Guy, I love your channel. I signed up for How to Write Music over year weekend, and it’s been a real creative boost. Also, I can relate to your feelings about leaving the news business for a better life. In my former life I was a news videographer here in the States. I left that world behind about 12 years ago in search of a better life. These days that’s as a commercial video editor, but I also have a life outside of work (which didn’t use to be true) and so I am able to learn and grow in my journey towards being a professional musician (currently seeking the production library path since I am so familiar with that route due to my commercial work). Glad I found your channel and courses to help me along the way! Cheers from Louisiana!
Seriously how could anyone possible dislike this video? It was pretty much all review for me, but I learned and enjoyed every moment of the video.
Guy, you put so much humor, effort and creativity in your videos that I watch it even if I know the topic very well. Thank you.
Soooooo underrated! This guy is the best music teacher ever
👏👏👏👏 the thing with the cars is sooooo cool!!!!!
Sir! I love your studio and the place where it is! In the nature! That’s what I’m dreaming of too! Amazing! Thank you for teaching us and giving us musicians ideas and Tipps! You have a big fan from Vienna, Austria! 😊
Such an effective teacher, humorous and brilliant!
thanks a lot grandpa... love u so much. keep sharing
Came for the music teaching, stayed for the mental breakdown haha and the music teaching. This comment aplies to all your videos i've seen. Thank you so very much for being this nice (fun) and informative
I love the ENERGY Guy, it Makes the lessons feel better to me.🤞🏾😁
You're so good
And he's acting like a 20 yo girl😄
You went full original Top Gear. So Awesome love it.
Guy is an absolutely amazing teacher. Thank you, sir.
Love the effort you put in to moving the car, well done :-)
I really appreciate your work and videos. I can't express how valuable your videos are to me because of the amount of knowledge I can acquire from them.
I really can't afford to pay someone to teach me more deeply, so I've been looking for a mentor or a guide. I only had 1 composer offer me a free hour. It was golden.
I'm still looking for more opportunities
Guy, I wish we could meet. Your material is super helpful. As you may remember, I'm your accordionist of the group. I do inversion quite often, but your introduction as a base line is easily translated to the LH of my instrument. You are making me better.
Often it's the simple things we sometimes overlook which could make or break that burst of inspiration. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. Much appreciated, and couldn't have found this video at a better time 👍
We are learning from a true master!
That is the most hilarious way to explain inversions I have - and very likely will - ever seen. Thanks Guy 🤣
dudee i love this guy
he's so good at theory and HUMOUR ofc.
In this video you said you’re not into making anybody learn what they don’t want.
I have been enrolled in our local community college’s music theory 1 class for 6 weeks. We are yet to cover inversion. We’ve been learning “step wise,” solfege, curwin hand signs, etc. I don’t want to talk trash about the course, but I definitely do not envision a time where I’ll be using those “skills:” It’s too late to drop the course without affecting my transcript, so I continue on.
Thank you for the funny and informative methods you use to teach music theory!!!
I love that car thing, is one of the best resources I've seen in a music video, amazing as always Guy!!
Thank you for explaining it in such a meaningful and easy to understand way! I subscribed.
Your the GUY that everyone would want to learn from! Entertaining videos which got me learning...
Excellent introduction to inversions! Nice sesame street like opening scene.
This channel gives me life.
You have a nice sense of humor sir. Thanks for the video :)
Oh god Guy you are bonkers! Love it! When he got in the cars. looool the easiest quickest way to learn inversions. I'm dead.
A definite 'So THAT's what you do!' video. Had done this unknowingly and wondered why the chord sounded different...
Relatable there. I've been messing around with music lately and I've found all sorts of cool stuff on accident. I might miss learning it for the first time, honestly.
i hope you are doing well sir. Just found your channel a few days ago and your videos are great! I have similar passion for writing music. Started using inversions intentionally after you made clear how it works. I'm writing a "Stradivari cello" bass line under a quickly changing chord folk/sea shanty-like chord progression, and those inversions make it sound so much more interesting. THANK YOU
A new favorite hangout... thanks!!
Perfect for a day like this, thanks Guy, seriously, keeping that good spirit up.
thank you for the cars and drone visual
Hahahaha .... just last night i was wondering how i can create music ... THAT WONT PUT ME TO SLEEP WHILE EDITING ....
i seem to play a lot in the minor keys ... of which i craft bamboo flutes in .... INVERSIONS !!!! i gotta try it ....
Kudos on your opening shot with you upside down... and when your inversion sign came into screen from the top down rightside up ,,,, i laughed so hard i almost fell out of my chair .... i know it must be much more work for you using all your different camera angles along with vid editing .... i just like you to know your extra over the top icing on the cake editing mixed with a most delightful sense of humor is much appreciated .... Bongo Dave - GOOD HAPPENS / LOVE SHALL PREVAIL
Thanks Guy! Can't wait to get home after work to try this out
You make the best youTube videos when it comes to teaching music. Thank you sir 🙏 love from India 🇮🇳 ❤
I learn more from Guy's vids than any other music UA-camrs.
Thank you
You are a great teacher
Just found this channel today and it's already my favourite
I love the way you explain things. You have a great sense of humor and I LOVE it
my favorite chord progression with inversions I've learnt recently is instead of the typical chord 5 to 1 you go from chord 5 (add 7th) in 3rd inversion to chord 1 in 1st inversion (5^7d to 1b)
Thanks, Guy
Very useful. As someone who is not classically trained in any way, this is just a great way to liven up my dull progressions
I'm glad I watched this video, despite knowing what inversions are.
It reminded me of the concept of making strange chord progressions based on shared notes, rather than a scale.
So I wrote this strange progression: Gadd9 F6(b5) Em7 D6 Abm7
Amazing Video Mr. Michelmore, thank you
Love the energy in your videos! Always a great way to start the day
You have great enthusiasm.
Superb video (as always).
Brilliant tutorial thanks 🔥😄👌🏾
Yes guy! Cheers, I definitely did not know this, how it relates to bass is something g iv wanted to know for years
Always good to re-cover the basics - I've been doing this wrong for 30 years!
Thank you…..enjoyed that.
I am a VERy visual learner. I LOVE HIM!!!
Another Great Video
Very interesting and fun, thanx, learned a lot
*******Superbly brilliant as always!! I cannot get enough of his videos! He oozes charisma all the damn time! So effortlessly glorious & wonderful to watch!!!! *******
Just had the great fortune of finding your channel, you are a legend good sir
excellent video and production value :D Thank you so much!
Guy, back at it, with the most creative music teaching videos on UA-cam!
You are really fantastic, I am a italian pianist and i recently discovered your channel thanks to a friend who produces in cubase. He recommended me your videos and they are really always very sharp, useful taken care of, but above all they are very funny.
What you do in this channel is simple, useful and fun.
Hope you make a million followers, you have great competence.
Forgive my bad English XD
Loved the cut to the cars lol. I'm just starting out with piano, and your UA-cam channel is REALLY making me consider your Music Theory course. Keep up the awesome work! :)
Love your T-Shirt sir ❤️
I'm rather confused.... As the Range Rover is black, wouldn't this be C minor???
Damn...I wish you weren't right... Respray time
@@ThinkSpaceEducation lucky it wasn't Morris Minor...........i'll get my coat
It was a double inversion, since the steering is on the other side, too.
Also looks like you drive on the semitone half of the road and not the half step side.
😂😂😂 I'm dying!! LMAO!!
Didn't know that my favorite played chords are mostly inversion like C/E and I've been using its almost every time i play with my guitar etc.Thanks for clarifying this and its a knowledge boost knowing what inversions actually do and the advantages of using it.
Light bulb! This is excellent, Guy. I have done this many times, but never knew they were inversions. Embarrassed, yet enlightened :) Thank you
Again, this old man is crazy hauahua best music channel ever! Haha
very affable!! gotta luv him..man.
An exercise I use to force myself to learn inversions. Play the chords of an entire song within one octave. Could be root to root or any other starting note you choose. Also leads to an economy of motion.
Thanks so much :) I really hope you get more recognized
Good stuff, Guy. Relieved that rag top is not one of those retro hippy Beetles with plastic flowers in a plastic vase on the dashboard. Nuff said. PS - Hot tip. That lawn needs some love and attention. How can you possibly play cricket or croquet on that patch :).
I love it he makes it fun to learn piano
Another fun and excellent video. Thank you!
Inversions are the best
Just went to the store here in Florida and they had garibaldi biscuits! Got'em. haven't had them for years since Luton haha.
Audience falling asleep is not always an issue - just ask Max Richter! Great video Guy, very well explained.
I just love to watch your videos 🙏 Great
Great teacher, not easy to make music theory fun, It is fast learning for me, thank you
A good visual mnemonic for inversions: start your C chord in root position, (C, E, G), move just the bottom note (C) up an octave = 1st inversion (E, G, C). Essentially moving the 1st note of the chord up, creates a First Inversion (now spelled E, G, C).
Continuing in the same manner, move the bottom note of this First Inversion up an octave and you create a Second Inversion. Or stated more simply:
First note of the chord up an octave = First Inversion; then move the Second note of the chord up an octave to make it a Second Inversion.
I'm more confused about inversions after watching this than before 😮 Other sources say that 1st inversion = root at the top... so C major (root position C-E-G) would become E-G-C... But here, Guy says 1st inversion equals moving the third to the bottom, becoming E-C-G? And that 1st inversion therefore is the same as C/E? Is... is that correct?
Any other year and that demonstration would've been done with a few slips of paper.
Gotta do something to cure that 2020 boredom!
I love these videos...
Love this guy
Doesn't matter how much you know .. there's always something you can learn from this guy.
I have the music theory and how to write music...very helpful to my music!
I love you.You make things so interesting and I like how enthusiastic you are.