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Really, that Music Theory for Practical People book is great -- don't be put off by the 'for dummies' look of it. I finally figured out modes by reading it ... and a bunch of other niggly music theory things that I struggled with for years. It's the next best thing to a proper course with a good teacher.

everyone here has put forth great advice. I cannot add to the discussion, I don't think :P

however, knowing the steps of the scale in any Root Chord and the corresponding chords based off those steps is perfect for either figuring out what SHOULD go next, or what COULD go next...

example:

what SHOULD go next

C - Dm - Bdim - C

what COULD go next

C - Dm - Bdim - Cm

and if you wanted to build off THAT

C - Dm - Bdim - Cm - Ab - Eb - D7 - G - G7 - C

MSUsousaphone wrote:The next time you're playing the scale, only play up to the 7th note. Close your eyes and do it. Let it ring there for a bit. You'll notice an insane need to play the 8th (or the root) because the tonal points in that scale are all centered around that note. The Key.

My music theory teacher would end class on a fifth or a seventh chord and never resolve it to the tonic just to irritate us.

PumpkinPieces wrote:

MSUsousaphone wrote:The next time you're playing the scale, only play up to the 7th note. Close your eyes and do it. Let it ring there for a bit. You'll notice an insane need to play the 8th (or the root) because the tonal points in that scale are all centered around that note. The Key.

My music theory teacher would end class on a fifth or a seventh chord and never resolve it to the tonic just to irritate us.

FUCK YO CADENCE!

Haha theory humor.

Yeah the one thing that I gleaned from 3 quarters of college level theory and voice leading,....ALWAY RESOLVE THE 7th.

That said,...I think the best thing about knowing theory (not that I'm all that accomplished) is that if you know the "rules" it makes it that much easier to break them.