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Anyone got super basic overview of all music theory that's easy to understand?
I know "scales" and "chords" but there's like so much more out there and it gets confusing. Wish there was some thing that just easily explained it all, kind of got lost researching it. DO you guys use theory in ur songs?
Comments
I use theory when there is a problem. It's a tool, not a dictator.
I have had years of music theory practice, and it helps me out quite a bit. When I want to produce a more complex piece, I tend to notate a melody and chords by hand first.
Anyways, if you have some basic musoc theory knowledge but need more help, I heard good things about Scaler 2. It is iPad only but should help you out. I'm sure others will have better suggestions than me/can guide you better/can help you (and me too) to learn how to use Scaler 2, etc.
What would you say needs to be memorised in music theory?
Not sure, but if I had to guess, scales and chords are an excellent foundation. Circle of fifths and all that.
I just remembered that this website should be able to help immensely.
https://www.musictheory.net/lessons
Seconded.
OP, Scaler 2 really is a worthwhile tool. I’d also recommend Tonality. And a Suggester as a freebie for practice.
Something like this might be up your street:
https://musictheoryforelectronicmusic.com/downloads/music-theory-for-electronic-musicians-the-book/
Some notes sound together, some don’t.
Thanks guys, I had not thought of searching for an app, I'll try those two apps out lol
The Kindle version of that is currently just over 5 Euros at Amazon
Also have to mention Max Konyi. Has some great courses over at Udemy (Though better to support him via the links through his site).
https://www.maxkonyi.com
And this is a book that takes a thoroughly unorthodox approach to the ideas of music-theory (Can read the first 6 chapters online, for free:
https://www.howmusicreallyworks.com
Sounds like a deal. Have you read it? Any good?
I've not read it, though i might consider it.
I already bought the 3 Konyi courses, the Wayne Chase book and this:
https://www.amazon.es/Music-Theory-Step-Step-Understanding-ebook/dp/B01JX6EFKW/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_ES=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=35PUXPM77NETZ&keywords=Music+Theory:+From+Beginner+to+Expert&qid=1684055406&s=digital-text&sprefix=music+theory+from+beginner+to+expert,digital-text,189&sr=1-1
So another book might be overkill. But hey...at luxury coffee prices you never know 🤣
Hey, only the price of one month of Logic Sub... Hey wait, that's cheap! 😂
Maybe not all of it, but the highest scored answer here: https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/22525/what-makes-an-interval-perfect
def worth a read. The comments are enlightening, too.
Underrated comment
Go to udemy.com
Or there’s Hooktheory
https://www.hooktheory.com/about
It depends what you are trying to accomplish. If you already know the basic scales and how to spell the basic chords, then you’re no longer a beginner. At this stage you study whatever it is you need to learn to accomplish a specific goal.
Ear training will probably be a more productive use of practice time than studying theory, unless you have a particular need for theory.
8-Bit Theory admits teaching beginners is not the focus of his channel, but here's a beginner theory lesson
🤣🤣🤣
My personal favourite. It focuses on things like cadences, tension and release etc... the stuff that makes music work effectively.
Edly's Music Theory for Practical People is a well written basic introduction that will teach you enough to be dangerous.
https://edly.com/theory-book/
If you want to go on a long journey, check out Harmonic Experience by W. A. Mathieu.
https://coldmountainmusic.com/books/
What @richardyot said.
What LOTS of people confuse is theory and composition. Theory is a framework that tries to ascertain rules and WHY things work in a rigorous and step by step logical level. It’s a bit like programming in machine language, when what most people need is to go one level of abstraction up into composition.
Yeah you can learn I IV V and scales and modes, but I have found that concepts like phrasing, motifs, diverging and converging lines, tension and release are more helpful. You do need a basic understanding of theory for this, but not a whole lot - that is no need for Riemannian or other theory
I always liked the approach of Hooktheory. It s more about traditional songwriting but you learn a lot.
https://www.hooktheory.com/
They also have a free ebook flying around in the internet somewhere....
Edit: Ah sorry someone mentioned it already 🤣
I don't know if it's better than other stuff listed already in the thread, but I always like to recommend anything by Nahre Sol:
https://www.nahresol.com/elementsofmusic
Extremely well done. I really enjoy her youtube channel.
Music theory isn't really the kind of thing you can just read and absorb. Yes, you do need to read and be exposed to it. But really grokking it will only happen over long periods of time by playing/practicing/making music.
Is this already posted?
https://www.reddit.com/r/TechnoProduction/comments/9o5adi/ravenspiral_guide_to_music_theory/
https://epdfx.com/download/ravenspiral-guide-to-music-theory_58bf560fe12e89905badd374_pdf
I have printed this book and it is a good read.
And this one is easy to find on the internet as a PDF:
Harmony & Theory (Keith Wyatt & Carl Schroeder), old book but pretty good too.
The interesting thing is, if you stay in the diatonic realm, music gets predictable. These books help you to get out of that box. The Hooktheory apps do this too.
Also check the Hooktheory website, they have a list of useful chord sequences, and there is also a section with the melody of a lot of songs to play yourself. That way you can train your ears.
And when it comes to this question: DO you guys use theory in ur songs?
The general consensus is (AFAIK) that there was first music, and then later the theory to explain what is happening (in Western music). The theory is only describing, not dictating.
There are as many theories about music as there are about UFO’s and Intelligent Life in the Universe.
And that’s a good thing because people can’t seem to agree on that makes music good so we need a lot of approaches to the act of making it.
It’s time for us to discuss the music theory of alien life forms. If you make music without an atmosphere do you need to pump in oxygen or other gases or just put your ear against a rock for induction of the oscillations. Is that the original Rock music?
If you hit someone with a rock is that space music?
Seriously, before the internet I would spend hours the university library looking for more clues on how to organize sound into music. The internet just turned that search into a lifetime of learning while at home and no one to say “hush” when you have an Aha! Moment.
I found the jazz theorists to work best for me and then film composers like Mancini’s practical advice and the guys that explained Stravinski’s approach. Good stuff Maynard.
Thanks!
And I even left out the “good” 🥱