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To Learn The Sound with Dr. Guy Shkolnik (PhD in Bach, Music Theory Influencer)

Metadata

description

What makes a Beatles chord progression work? Why does that Stevie Wonder song sound the way it does? Music theorist and composer Dr. Guy Shkolnik joins the pod to breaks down all that good stuff and more: harmony, counterpoint, composition across all genres (even how Japanese music is different!!). With a PhD in music theory and a social media following built from deep-dive breakdowns (and years of university teaching under his belt including international Berklee College of Music associated harmony, counterpoint, and ear training classes), Guy knows how to make it “click.” Let’s dive deep in, follow the white rabbit, and find out why music works. (And why we love it!)

status

complete

date

2025-10-21

kind

guest

guestSlugs

guy-shkolnik

listenUrl

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/To-Learn-The-Sound-with-Dr--Guy-Shkolnik-PhD-in-Bach--Music-Theory-Influencer-e39q216

lmwUrl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JwRiild-EA

appleUrl

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-learn-the-sound-with-dr-guy-shkolnik-phd-in-bach/id1567355195?i=1000732775537&uo=4

spotifyUrl

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ejeDwLWV7hClXbMYFKfnC

youtubeUrl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znnc40iLHxU

topicsDiscussed

Music theory
Bass
Classical and orchestral music
Japan
Jazz
Songwriting
Theory in popular music
Translating theory to practice
The interplay of melody and harmony
Negative harmony concepts
Voice leading importance
Influence of classical on contemporary music inspirations

hostNote

In this enlightening episode of **Love Music More**, we have the pleasure of welcoming Dr. **Guy Shkolnik**, a renowned music theorist and composer with a PhD focused on Bach. With a vibrant following on social media, Guy specializes in deep-dive analyses that demystify complex musical concepts and uncover the genius behind iconic songs across genres. In this episode, we explore a wealth of topics from harmony and counterpoint to the intricacies of composition, specifically how these elements differ even between cultural contexts like Western music and Japanese city pop. Guy's infectious passion for revealing the structure beneath beloved songs will inspire both musicians and music lovers alike to approach their craft with renewed curiosity and openness. We follow the white rabbit deeper into the world of music and what makes it resonate so profoundly with us!

selectedMoments

label
Introduction and Background
startSec
109
note
Guy discusses his passion for music theory and the excitement of analyzing songs.
label
Starting with Basic Chord Progressions
startSec
271
note
Guy talks about breaking down barriers for beginners in music theory.
label
The Role of the Bass in Harmony
startSec
455
note
Discussion on how bass lines influence harmony in composition.
label
Tendencies vs. Rules in Music Theory
startSec
530
note
Guy explains how music theory can be manipulated like grammatical tendencies.
label
Chords and their Emotional Impact
startSec
696
note
Explaining how stability in chords affects musical emotion.
label
Interplay Between Classical and Jazz
startSec
862
note
Guy shares insights on how classical training can enhance jazz composition.
label
Understanding Negative Harmony
startSec
2616
note
Dissecting the concept of negative harmony and its practical applications.
label
The Effect of Scale Choices on Emotion
startSec
3365
note
Discussing the feelings and atmospheres different scales can evoke.
label
The Open-ended Nature of Music Theory
startSec
3599
note
Questioning how many keys exist and the abstract nature of keys in music.

excerptQuotes

text
I've loved your deep dives into music theory and I was also totally obsessed with your little mini videos going through some of the Japanese city pop harmony.
startSec
112
reviewed
true
text
Harmony is often taught but in isolation. You need to have that teacher or that system or someone that can translate this for you.
startSec
273
reviewed
true
text
If you guys want to visit your friends here, okay, I'm fine with it, but for me, it's C. So that would be great for a song intro.
startSec
861
reviewed
true
text
I avoid using the term rules because I know how people feel about it. It’s more like tendencies, just like with grammar.
startSec
532
reviewed
true
text
The Beatles, for example, I was playing passing chords here or beautiful examples by Bach. These are passing chords, so what key is it in?
startSec
697
reviewed
true
text
When you're exposed to classical voice leading, it shows you better and maybe more elegant ways of doing things.
startSec
1020
reviewed
true
text
The idea of negative harmony is like a mirror harmony, where you can see different sides of musical ideas.
startSec
2620
reviewed
true
text
You can personalize it by adding semitones to only some of the keys and it makes it sound more organic.
startSec
3199
reviewed
true

faq

question
Who is Dr. Guy Shkolnik and what is his expertise?
answer
Dr. Guy Shkolnik is a music theorist and composer with a PhD in music theory, specializing in harmony, counterpoint, and composition. He is known for his engaging breakdowns of music theory concepts across different genres.
question
What does negative harmony mean in music?
answer
Negative harmony is a musical concept that explores the idea of mirroring chords across a tonal center, offering composers new and creative ways to approach harmonic progressions.
question
How does music theory apply to popular music?
answer
Music theory provides fundamental insights that can enhance creativity in writing popular music, allowing musicians to understand structures and emotional impacts behind their compositions.

transcriptPublished

false

draft

false

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