How to Write an Octatonic Riff
Using the Half-Whole Diminished Scale
Almost all popular music (in every genre and subgenre) is made using the major scale or the natural minor scale. That’s a vast ocean of music from only two…
Read moreSep 14 2023
Almost all popular music (in every genre and subgenre) is made using the major scale or the natural minor scale. That’s a vast ocean of music from only two…
Read moreJul 28 2023
Humans are walking paradoxes! You know those times when you’re feeling two contradicting emotions at the same time? Like when you’re in a difficult situation but you feel hopeful about the future, while…
Read moreMar 1 2023
The first thing you notice in the opening riff of “Ego Death” by Polyphia is that there are two layers. There’s a bass line and a lead melody all in…
Read moreAug 11 2022
"I’m not thinking like a bass player would. It gives you all of these possibilities as a bass player to play melodies, riffs, chords." –Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree songwriter-producer)
Hello revolutionary music makers, we…
Read moreAug 4 2022
"It's all played on telecaster with an almost clean tone, and to me, it sounds heavier than if I'd played it with a whole bunch of overdrive." –Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
Hello revolutionary…
Read moreJul 5 2022
"I'm not a fan of the whole 'guitar shredder' phenomenon. I love that people can play like that, but the fact is they feel the need to remind everyone they can play like that constantly.…
Read moreMar 31 2022
In this lesson you'll learn how to improve your Djent riffs using a hack from Meshuggah "I Am That Thirst", which is off their new album "Immutable". But first… Tea!
Hello revolutionary music makers…
Read moreOct 25 2019
Ray Harmony and the Hack Music Theory revolution are put to the ultimate test in this Halloween Special. Is it possible to make great music that's not in any scale or mode? Spoiler alert: Yes! By the way, please note…
Read moreSep 6 2019
Learn how to use a music theory hack from Bob Marley “Could You Be Loved” to write a legendary song intro that won’t get skipped!
WELCOME
Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA Revolution Harmony)…
Aug 9 2019
Can you believe it? After 13 years, there’s finally new music from Tool. So in this lesson you’ll learn a music theory hack from TOOL “Fear Inoculum”, and how to use it to write your own odd time signature riffs…
Read moreAug 2 2019
What does Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber’s song “I Don’t Care” have in common with the metal subgenre Djent? The answer is shocking and eye-opening, so click play to find out now! Subtitles/CC available.
Just before we jump in though…
Read moreJul 19 2019
Learn how to write a melody (or guitar riff) using modal mixture, as heard in Opeth “Heart in Hand” off upcoming album “In Cauda Venenum”. Subtitles/CC available.
Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA…
Read moreMar 21 2019
Hello revolutionary music makers, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony (AKA Revolution Harmony), and welcome to Hack Music Theory. We help you make great music that stands out, so you can move and grow your audience! If that…
Read moreMar 7 2019
What makes a great djent riff? Two things: the right notes, with the right polymeter. So in this video you’ll learn all that, plus you’ll learn how to make your riffs stand out by adding a second melody…
Read moreDec 9 2018
4/4 is the most overused time signature, ever! So if you want your music to stand out, the easiest way to do that is to use odd time signatures. Wait, but don’t odd time signatures sound odd? Not if…
Read moreOct 30 2018
Happy Halloween!
Are you brave enough to watch the Scariest Music Theory Video on YouTube?
You've been warned, so click at your own risk, and good luck ;)
Ray & Kate
Oct 27 2018
Does your music get bodies movin’, and the party started? If not, don’t worry, you just need to add some bounce. So in this video, you’ll learn a super easy yet super effective hack to bring da bounce to your…
Read moreSep 22 2018
You want people moving to your music, right? But, are you bored of using the same old four-on-the-floor drum beat to achieve that. Well, then you need to add an African flava to your rhythm (and your chords!), as…
Read moreSep 15 2018
Learn what "melodic rhythms" are, and how you can use them to inject primal energy into your music, like Architects does in their new single “Hereafter” (from upcoming album "Holy Hell").
Hello revolutionaries, and welcome to the Hack…
Read moreAug 24 2018
Happy New Music Friday, and welcome to the Hack Music Theory show! So, Alice in Chains, new album out today, woohoo!!! I’ve been a fan since their debut album dropped way back in 1990, so I’m super stoked to reveal…
Read moreAug 11 2018
Happy New Music Friday, and welcome to the Hack Music Theory show! So, today Tom Morello dropped his new single “Rabbit’s Revenge” (from upcoming album "The Atlas Underground"), which I’m super stoked about, as I’ve been a massive Tom Morello…
Read moreAug 3 2018
In this Hack Music Theory lesson, you’ll learn how to write a BIG guitar riff (even if you don’t play guitar) like San Holo in “worthy”. But first... Tea!
Hello! I’m Kate Harmony, this is Ray Harmony, and welcome to…
Read moreMay 21 2018
TesseracT has a liberating approach to time signatures, so in this music theory lesson, you’ll learn their hack to magically change your song's tempo without changing its BPM. But first... Tea!
Hello, we are Kate Harmony &…
Read moreMay 14 2018
TesseracT has a refreshing approach to time signatures, so in this music theory lesson, you’ll learn their hacks to liberate your chord progressions from 4/4. But first... Tea!
Hello, we are Kate Harmony & Ray Harmony (AKA…
Read moreApr 2 2018
Hello, we are Kate Harmony & Ray Harmony (AKA Revolution Harmony), and welcome to the Hack Music Theory show, where you are empowered with notation-free theory for making great music in DAWs. In today's video/podcast, you'll learn 2 hacks…
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