Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2015 22:35:09 GMT -5
So I thought you composers just put notes together, and see if they sound good. But there's more to music than that. I think. So, as a completely blatant pokemon music fan, What is music theory, and how does it affect the music you make anyway? Thanks   |
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Coaster
Pokémusic Trainer
I'm a drummer, I can use Counter all day long if I want!
Posts: 62 
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Post by Coaster on Feb 10, 2015 1:56:11 GMT -5
Music theory is a ginormous topic and I would recommend looking up online and/or video tutorials (piano lessons, notation, whatever) for a better teaching method than forum posts. xD At most basic, you get things like "listen to this note. this note is called C. this other note is called G. play it together with the C and you get a chord". And then it doesn't take long before it goes incredibly in-depth and jargony. (Somewhere in the middle you get stuff like "this track is in 3/4 A# Dorian with quartic harmonies and an ostinato in 16th-notes in the bass line".) Music theory basically picks apart the components of music, explains what those pieces are and how to use them, and explains why some things work together better than others. It's difficult enough to make any piece of music without at least a little music theory, even if you're just copying something you already know by ear, but coming up with something original takes some knowledge of things like chords, scales, rhythm, and the like. More importantly, music theory is pretty much the only way you can show someone (or a computer) how to reproduce your music, beyond sending a recording of you singing it. So it's pretty vital in that sense. There is a point where it gets to levels of ridiculousness and formula that you really don't need to know except for specialized purposes (classical music etc.) but it definitely takes a fair bit of knowledge to get started. |
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Post by Ludwig van Larx on Feb 10, 2015 8:00:13 GMT -5
Music theory is a ginormous topic and I would recommend looking up online and/or video tutorials (piano lessons, notation, whatever) for a better teaching method than forum posts. xD At most basic, you get things like "listen to this note. this note is called C. this other note is called G. play it together with the C and you get a chord". And then it doesn't take long before it goes incredibly in-depth and jargony. (Somewhere in the middle you get stuff like "this track is in 3/4 A# Dorian with quartic harmonies and an ostinato in 16th-notes in the bass line".) Music theory basically picks apart the components of music, explains what those pieces are and how to use them, and explains why some things work together better than others. It's difficult enough to make any piece of music without at least a little music theory, even if you're just copying something you already know by ear, but coming up with something original takes some knowledge of things like chords, scales, rhythm, and the like. More importantly, music theory is pretty much the only way you can show someone (or a computer) how to reproduce your music, beyond sending a recording of you singing it. So it's pretty vital in that sense. There is a point where it gets to levels of ridiculousness and formula that you really don't need to know except for specialized purposes (classical music etc.) but it definitely takes a fair bit of knowledge to get started. Pretty much this. I think of it as a guideline to composing music. However, I, personally, think it's essential to breaking down music and truly understanding it (for example, knowing what key a piece is in, what scale does it use, what mode does it use, is this a parallel period or a contrasting period (or if there's a period at all), what kind of cadence is this, etc.). But like Coaster said, it starts getting really ridiculous and complex, especially with chorale writing and counter-point because you have to resolve certain tones and chords a specific way, and if you don't, it can literally fuck up everything, and you'd have to start all over with whatever chorale or counter-point piece you're doing. Not only that, but there are doubling rules, and specific ways to use tritones and the leading tone, etc... So, to be honest, if you wanted to learn music theory, I'd suggest online videos (like Coaster mentioned), but mostly focus on learning chords (triads, but if you're feeling ambitious, 7th chords, too), scales, rhythms, meters, note values, and note names. That's basically all you will REALLY need to COMPOSE music. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2015 8:08:33 GMT -5
Thanks. I'm not that interested in learning it right now, but I may take the time to look into it later. I had no idea of how complicated music can be.
Also, I asked this moreover to make sure this forum has posts going still
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Post by Hydra1520 on Feb 11, 2015 13:52:15 GMT -5
I don't know much theory at all but I do plan on learning some of it in the future. Maybe in college idk. It seemes interesting tho. I mainly do whatever I think sounds good and if you don't like it then tough lol.
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Post by Ludwig van Larx on Feb 12, 2015 9:02:08 GMT -5
I don't know much theory at all but I do plan on learning some of it in the future. Maybe in college idk. It seemes interesting tho. I mainly do whatever I think sounds good and if you don't like it then tough lol. I think it'd be a good idea. It is a guideline, in my opinion, but I do think it can improve one's composing skills because music theory kind of does open up a lot of possibilities. So, for example, if someone gets stuck in a song/piece nowadays, what does he or she do? Set it aside for months and finish it whenever? Or if he or she ever finishes it? That used to happen to me a lot, but ever since I've learned more music theory, I've been able to complete a lot of my projects recently, and I've even re-done some of the old ones that are about a year or two old. So, I do think it's a good idea to learn it, if one is really serious about composing and wants to take it to a professional level (i.e. video game composer, film composer). But more importantly, what music theory does is help you explain what you did, and that all goes back to what I said in my first post. lol But I mean, if you're happy with your music, that's all that really matters, to be honest. |
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Post by DragonAirazel on Feb 21, 2015 10:45:05 GMT -5
I don't know much theory at all but I do plan on learning some of it in the future. Maybe in college idk. It seemes interesting tho. I mainly do whatever I think sounds good and if you don't like it then tough lol. I think it'd be a good idea. It is a guideline, in my opinion, but I do think it can improve one's composing skills because music theory kind of does open up a lot of possibilities. So, for example, if someone gets stuck in a song/piece nowadays, what does he or she do? Set it aside for months and finish it whenever? Or if he or she ever finishes it? That used to happen to me a lot, but ever since I've learned more music theory, I've been able to complete a lot of my projects recently, and I've even re-done some of the old ones that are about a year or two old. So, I do think it's a good idea to learn it, if one is really serious about composing and wants to take it to a professional level (i.e. video game composer, film composer). But more importantly, what music theory does is help you explain what you did, and that all goes back to what I said in my first post. lol But I mean, if you're happy with your music, that's all that really matters, to be honest. I'm currently in a music theory class right now. Though I've only "learned" things that I've already known (ostinatos, key signatures, time signatures, etc.), I feel that that sort of thing is the reason why I managed to pick up music in the first place. I know for a fact that the class is going to get into things I don't know very soon, and I'm honestly hoping that it will help me regain the ability to finish my compositions. So I'm with Larx on this one. Music Theory is something good to know. By the way, Larx, the course syllabus mentions four-point counterpoint. Thanks a lot for making me fear that. |
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Post by Ludwig van Larx on Feb 21, 2015 12:48:05 GMT -5
I think it'd be a good idea. It is a guideline, in my opinion, but I do think it can improve one's composing skills because music theory kind of does open up a lot of possibilities. So, for example, if someone gets stuck in a song/piece nowadays, what does he or she do? Set it aside for months and finish it whenever? Or if he or she ever finishes it? That used to happen to me a lot, but ever since I've learned more music theory, I've been able to complete a lot of my projects recently, and I've even re-done some of the old ones that are about a year or two old. So, I do think it's a good idea to learn it, if one is really serious about composing and wants to take it to a professional level (i.e. video game composer, film composer). But more importantly, what music theory does is help you explain what you did, and that all goes back to what I said in my first post. lol But I mean, if you're happy with your music, that's all that really matters, to be honest. I'm currently in a music theory class right now. Though I've only "learned" things that I've already known (ostinatos, key signatures, time signatures, etc.), I feel that that sort of thing is the reason why I managed to pick up music in the first place. I know for a fact that the class is going to get into things I don't know very soon, and I'm honestly hoping that it will help me regain the ability to finish my compositions. So I'm with Larx on this one. Music Theory is something good to know. By the way, Larx, the course syllabus mentions four-point counterpoint. Thanks a lot for making me fear that. You should be afraid... be very afraid... haha. But counter-point isn't as bad as chorale writing. At first, counter-point isn't too bad. To be honest, I thought it was fun. If you ever need help with it, I'll be glad to give you a hand, haha. Just a few things, though: never do parallel perfect intervals (hidden as well, so never move from a 6th to a 5th), never leap more than a 5th or an octave and avoid all augmented intervals (so never move step-wise in like an A2), and avoid outlining the tritone or using it at all (as well as a 7th). Those are like some of the biggest no-nos ever. lol There are some more, but I'm sure you'll cover those soon. XD |
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Deemo R.
PokéMusic Grunt
Brrr...
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Post by Deemo R. on Feb 21, 2015 15:33:41 GMT -5
I'm currently in a music theory class right now. Though I've only "learned" things that I've already known (ostinatos, key signatures, time signatures, etc.), I feel that that sort of thing is the reason why I managed to pick up music in the first place. I know for a fact that the class is going to get into things I don't know very soon, and I'm honestly hoping that it will help me regain the ability to finish my compositions. So I'm with Larx on this one. Music Theory is something good to know. By the way, Larx, the course syllabus mentions four-point counterpoint. Thanks a lot for making me fear that. You should be afraid... be very afraid... haha. But counter-point isn't as bad as chorale writing. At first, counter-point isn't too bad. To be honest, I thought it was fun. If you ever need help with it, I'll be glad to give you a hand, haha. Just a few things, though: never do parallel perfect intervals (hidden as well, so never move from a 6th to a 5th), never leap more than a 5th or an octave and avoid all augmented intervals (so never move step-wise in like an A2), and avoid outlining the tritone or using it at all (as well as a 7th). Those are like some of the biggest no-nos ever. lol There are some more, but I'm sure you'll cover those soon. XD As someone who enjoys the harmonic minor scale, I have always dreaded the rules against augmented intervals. On the usefulness of theory classes as a whole, my Theory teacher explained to me that what we learned serves mostly a classical environment for composition (which isn't a problem if that's your thing), but it sets a rather wide array of boundaries for you. Composing within certain restrictions is a very important skill to hone. Plus, there's no denying that it feels a bit good to be able to analyze a piece as you're playing it. Theory helped me with sight-reading on certain instruments. It also helps me explain my musical ideas to people without having to show them the sheet music or haphazardly singing an approximation. To refer back to the OP for a sec, some composers do just put notes together until they sound good. Theory is not necessary for making successful music, but if you're a knowledge-lover (learning4lyfe) and want to obtain a deeper understanding of musical analysis, theory does exactly that. |
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