Welcome

Note: this is the original large-print version. The second version is found here. The most recent (responsive) version is here.

Welcome to Chordmaps.com, home of Music Theory for Songwriters and Music Tools for People. If you arrived here looking for the Playable Interactive Music Theory Maps, please click on the picture.

If you are interested in basic music theory lessons for songwriters,  read on.

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Introduction and Table of Contents

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
1st Steps in Sight Reading - Note Positions On The Grand Staff

       ... this is an on-going project

Other topics at Mugglinworks.com

Aviation Cartoons
...the aviation humor of Joel Mugglin

Music Tools For People
...explore chords using just a mouse

Songs from "Da Jesus Book"
...from our Sunday School to Yours

Bible Bee 2009
...thoughts on Scripture memorization

Sunshine Studios
...songs and stories

Songs, Lyrics & Stories
...thoughts across the years

Chess On The Beach
...chess t-shirt designs and watch games

Fractal Backgrounds
...for artists and designers

A Pennywhistle for Christmas
...learn to play Christmas songs

The Chemistry Song
...a fun way to learn a bunch of ions.

Sunshine Studios Soundfonts
...from my instrument collection

Festival Shekeres!
...percussion project

Cool Little Sax
...the portable "island" woodwind

Copyright 1999-2009 Steve Mugglin
Permission is given to make not-for-profit copies
of this material.