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Created January 13, 2013

Music Theory

HERE IS A .SNG FILE WITH A SHORT CHILLOUT IDEA IN IT http://www.mediafire.com/download/dbvjymvbqt3xr7u/Chilled_song_for_you_guys_to_get_ideas_from.sng
HERE IS A .SNG FOR A DNB DRUM BEAT
http://www.mediafire.com/download/6d61bs9aclzkbn9/DnB_beat.sng

It has come to my attention that many people on soundation don’t have a basic understanding of music theory and subsequently some of them find it hard to make there own loops, stay in a key and make nice sounding melodies. I intend to change that by helping those people get to grips with the basics, I will also be giving a few tips targeted at those who already have a good understanding and have to help really improve there musical depth, such as some really neat key changes (Key changes are barely used on soundation), chromaticism, blues notes, extended chords, countermelodies and many more,

NEW!!!!: KRackEd EkHo had the idea of having a communal account so people can see the ideas of music theory for themselves as well as getting useful ideas. the user name is ‘DusksMusicTheoryProgram@gmail.com’ and the password is ‘duskmusicuk’ feel free to add new projects and test your ideas for others to see, I’ll be putting a few things up for others to use and get ideas from. the only things you cannot do is delete projects, change the password or do anything on the community with this account, this account is purely for use in the studio. if anyone does otherwise the account will be shut down, so please obey by the rules.

The Basics:
there are 12 notes on the key board A, A-sharp/B-flat, B, C, C-sharp/D-flat, D, D-sharp/E-flat, E, F, F-sharp/G-flat, G, G-sharp/A-flat, check the link to see how these relate to the piano roll http://www.ehowtoplaypiano.com/piano-lessons/piano-notes-for-songs/
…but you only use 7 at a time because there are only seven in each key, e.g. C,D,E,F,G,A,B,© an octave is C1 to C2 as C2 is the 8th note from C1 (as there are seven in the scale)
The gap between to note directly adjacent to each other (e.g. B and C or D and D-sharp) is called a semitone, 2 semitones are called a tone (e.g. the gap between C and D is a tone, check the piano roll or link to see for yourself)

Major Keys: the pattern of these tones and semitones for a major scale is T,T,S,T,T,T,S (e.g. C,D,E,F,G,A,B,© for C major or F,G,A,B-flat,C,D,E, for F major you simply pick a major key and to work out the scale for that key you use the pattern T,T,S,T,T,T,S to find all the notes.

Minor Keys: For a natural minor Key the pattern is T,S,T,T,S,T,T but for a harmonic minor the pattern is T,S,T,T,S,T+S,S (mess around and see which you prefer), so an A (natural) minor scale would be A,B,C,D,E,F,G,(A) an A (harmonic) minor would be A,B,C,D,E,F,G-sharp,(A). check this site for more http://www.loopblog.net/tutorials/music-theory-tutorials/understanding-basic-scales-more-loop-fun/ or http://www.music-tutors-uk.com/Theory/scales.html

Basic chords: the most common chord is a triad, it has 3 notes and the have intervals of thirds (in others words they have one note in between them (from the scale of the key), e.g. in C major the notes of the scale are C,D,E,F,G,A,B so a third would be C to E or D to F) in this clip, the chord C major is played first, the first note is C, the next note is E as it is a third away (one note in between), then a G is the next as it is a third away from E this gives you C,E,G and this is how you make triads. check this clip and my comments at the beginning for a proper lesson on chords http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/the-basics-of-chords
also check these clips for more on scales and chord sequences (more to come) http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/simple-chord-sequence-in-c-major-sequence-i-v-vi-iv-1-5-6-4
http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/harmonic-minor-scales-a-minor-to-d-minor-pattern-t-s-t-t-t-s-s
http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/major-scales-c-major-to-f-major-pattern-t-t-s-t-t-t-s

Comments

TITUSKULLY Avatar
TITUSKULLY
almost 6 years ago

Hello I posted an original classical track.

Audial Avatar
Audial
almost 6 years ago

You guys are absolutely right, the spice of life comes from the accidentals and the whacky scales! The minor and major scales are only the very basics, definitely go check out the much more interesting stuff like blues notes and modal scales, I personally love using the double harmonic scale (variant on the Phrygian mode) it's got this awesome middle eastern vibe :)

DUTCH Avatar
DUTCH
almost 6 years ago

@Ocean off-key is easy. If it sounds out of tune with the rest of the chord progression.


But yes you're right about notes not having to be in the key. Sometimes you just take a c, and then take a d and put em together, but then it still depends on the other chords if it will fit or nah :P
I love the term off-key or out of key tho. Feels professional to say ;)

Cozy Avatar
Cozy
almost 6 years ago

Hey guys. You guys should come check out my new song i put out. I think you guys will like it.

OTydal Avatar
OTydal
about 6 years ago

In concert music (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, etc.), if you had no accidentals or variations from the key, you'd have a very dry piece or a very generic piece. What grasps the listener is the weird, almost awkward (sometimes minor!) chords that are resolved with a nice diminished or major chord. I just wanted to prove that key is not the supreme overlord of music. BUT, don't throw key out the window, because key helps you keep track of what's normal and what isn't, so you can use notes stylishly. However, if it isn't used stylishly, then it sounds like crap. Oh well.

OTydal Avatar
OTydal
about 6 years ago

I find it funny when people say something is off-key. Key is just a format for chord structures. Basically, composers write music in keys like Concert C because that is what the majority of the chords are going to be dealing with and provides a kind of guide for chords, but that doesn't mean they 100% have to be notes in that key. For example, if you tune an instrument to Eb (C to Eb), and I play a D#, that doesn't necessarily mean ERROR. It can add effect, suspension, unpleasantness, etc. People think key is everything, but what really matters is if you got the feel you were going for.

Brightt Avatar
Brightt
about 6 years ago

As the time until my EP shrinks, I thought you guys should check out my new FL Studio track. I don't have a name for it yet, but I am extremely proud of it https://soundation.com/user/Brighto-Music/track/more-fl-studio-stuff (I also recommend you guys check out my EP news on my account and leaving feedback)

Voxel - (info in bio) Avatar
Voxel - (info in bio)
over 6 years ago

Hey! I’m releasing my music tips and tricks for free! This questionnaire will come down in January so get them while you can!

Chordial Avatar
Chordial
over 6 years ago

My first album, 'Lost In Music', is out now!! Please check it out on soundcloud, I worked 8 months on these 11 songs :) It's also now up for free download on my soundation, check out a couple songs: 'She Was Love Itself' and 'Fidelity' <3

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