Where to start

[pollyrythm]

Im looking to learn more about harmony & ask that someone point me in the right direction?

I have limited knowledge about chords pr music theory. I want to learn so I know where I can "go" which will open up creative opportunities & help me harmonise melodies etc.

I just get sick of messing around not knowing what Im doing etc.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

[weaponEX]

I'm a nerd who likes talking about music theory! (plus I've been playing piano for 20 years)

a) There are 10001 tiny tricks, and you'll never learn them all.
b) The best things come out of ignorance or chance.
c) Knowledge brings fear.

What would you like to know?

[jopy]

I have limited knowledge about chords pr music theory. I want to learn so I know where I can "go" which will open up creative opportunities & help me harmonise melodies etc.

It always helps to know: Do you know simple triadic chords and keys? What kinds of music do you like?

If you already know chords, maybe you could get a simple fakebook (a book that has melodies and simple chord forms, but not written out harmony) with songs you know and like and work from that. Even those online song posting sites that have chords and lyrics can be useful if you know the songs well enough. That's a good way to learn both about music theory, and also how to figure out what sorts of things musicians you like get the sound they get.

It's not always bad to learn theory straight from a book to get a start, but after a while it sort of becomes like reading a dictionary to learn a foreign language--the sooner you get involved with real "conversations" (i.e. songs) the faster you'll feel comfortable. After you play a number of songs with standard chord progressions your hands and ears start to help you harmonize melodies.

[Ogg Vorbis]

Books and fakebooks are a real help but the ear will be the ultimate thing in telling you where a melody and harmony should go. To train your ear, analyze lots of recordings, figure out the melodies and harmonies and transitions. You'll develop your "inner hearing" and not just your knowledge of chords or scales.

[llatham]

Im looking to learn more about harmony & ask that someone point me in the right direction?

I have limited knowledge about chords pr music theory. I want to learn so I know where I can "go" which will open up creative opportunities & help me harmonise melodies etc.

I just get sick of messing around not knowing what Im doing etc.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

1. Take lessons on your instrument with an instructor who is able to incorporate theory in a balanced manner with the practical.

and/or

2. Take a class - many universities, music academies, music stores, and so on offer basic introductory courses. Some high schools teach it so if you're not out of school yet, check to see if your school offers it, or you have a regional arts school.

and/or

3. Scour the internet - there's plenty of info out there. Some of it is good and some of it is bad, but if you read enough, you'll find that those that tend to agree on a subject are more likely to be correct than the one off site that follows no conventions.

4. Pick up some texts. You can find real-deal theory texts like universities use at Amazon etc. They're expensive though. There are also "Theory for Dummies" kinds of books too (seriously, the Dummies one exists!).

There are also theory books for instruments, or for people studying on an instrument that are far less expensive. The "Master Theory" series is quite good (and not instrument specific) and Alfred and Hal Leonard and publishers like that make plenty of theory books geared to various age levels and skill levels - usually for pianists to use in conjunction with lessons.

5. Listen to music and figure out what's happening. You know the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" - well, same is true about music - a sound is worth a thousand theoretical descriptions of that sound and that sound's relationship to other sounds. If you listen to music, and figure out what's going on, you'll have a much easier time integrating any theory knowledge with your practical playing knowledge. How much theory you "need" or choose to learn is ultimately up to you, but for my 2 cent's worth, it's always better to know it and not need it, than to need it and not know it!

HTH,
Steve

[fidelio67]

Theory is for analysis and learning, your ear and your heart are for composition. Try humming over what you have recorded. Record that too if it helps. Then work out what you hummed. Seriously.

[Ogg Vorbis]

Theory is for analysis and learning, your ear and your heart are for composition. Try humming over what you have recorded. Record that too if it helps. Then work out what you hummed. Seriously.

Wow, that's an awesome post! Ringing like crystal.

[jopy]

Theory is for analysis and learning, your ear and your heart are for composition. Try humming over what you have recorded. Record that too if it helps. Then work out what you hummed. Seriously.

+1

[Nick@SoundDT]

Theory is for analysis and learning, your ear and your heart are for composition. Try humming over what you have recorded. Record that too if it helps. Then work out what you hummed. Seriously.

Extremely good advice here. Keep reading up on theory and trying to apply it where you can, but there's absolutely nothing that beats humming along with what you've written so far. Once you get the notes that you hummed down in the sequencer (or whatever you're using), you can go back and figure out why it works in a theoretical way. Once you understand the theory behind what came from the heart, you will be empowered with the options that are opened up before you.

- Nick

[Pale1]

I've used a lot this site www.musictheory.net