Books for learning music.

[Coenf99]

Hi guys,

I’m making music for a while now and I want to get better at it, but I don’t know exactly what I need. Most of the stuff I’ve learned is through youtube videos.

I’m looking for detailed book(s) which is also some what beginner friendly for learning mixing and sounddesign. Also I’m looking for something for learning piano. I’m afraid that if I take a piano book I will have to learn piano notes. I don’t know if that is very benifical, because the music I prefer to make is based on techno/garage.

There are so many different books online, so I came here to ask advice. In the most ideal world I would take real life lessons, but it cost here around 6000€ a year which I can’t afford. Only class lessons would be a option too, but I may prefer books because I can read them back and that would be easier because english isn’t my native language.

[colonel_mustard]

Don’t be afraid of notes. Here’s a cheap, good book for anybody to get started:
The AB Guide to Music Theory Vol 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1854724460/ ... 8CbPRQQ8HV

Another no-knowledge-required book is ‘Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers’ by Dennis DeSantis. It’s Ableton-branded but the content isn’t specific to any particular DAW/environment:
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/making- ... trategies/

[Coenf99]

Don’t be afraid of notes. Here’s a cheap, good book for anybody to get started:
The AB Guide to Music Theory Vol 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1854724460/ ... 8CbPRQQ8HV

Another no-knowledge-required book is ‘Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers’ by Dennis DeSantis. It’s Ableton-branded but the content isn’t specific to any particular DAW/environment:
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/making- ... trategies/

Thanks I’ll keep those 2 in mind. I use ableton and I know the basics of the daw, but I can still learn a lot.

When I make a track it often starts to get a bit boring. Not necessarily because I don’t have ideas, but mostly because I lack of the technique. Also I only use 2 scales, because I only know 2(1 minor, 1 major) and yeah you get yourself in a pretty limited environment that way. Also I suck on playing live chords.

[Distorted Horizon]

Dance music manual

[jancivil]

Do you have any actual experience with extant music outside of the DAW?
You can really end up with a lot of spinning your wheels in a rut attempting to write without that.

Books aren't really where it's at, those things can be a red herring. I always liken this to, you can't learn to swim from reading a book about it.
Also I would find a book which tries to hip you to music theory and mixing in the same book quite suspect.

food for thought maybe, anyway. YMMV.

raw material, more scales is not really through itself going to amount to more interest, I mean if your major scale thing is boring your synthetic scale thing or whatever will be boring but odd.

[Coenf99]

No. I never had musical training either besides the time I put in on learning through videos online. But I never actually find something which is properly arranged where I could learn from step by step. That’s why I search now for something which is clear organized. I may find quit some stuff I already know or heared about, but I don’t really care, I just want to have a clear guide.

Yes, you can’t swim by reading books, but without a proper instructor there is a big chance you will drown. So I think a combination for me would be good.

It’s not that I can’t come up with interesting ideas, but I usually can’t put them to something which stays interesting for a longer time. I can arrange a song, but it often feels empty. I am aware of basic music structure, but all the techniques to make the structures interesting are difficult for me.

[colonel_mustard]

The Syntorial developer is working on a new thing to help beginners make tracks from scratch. It's not ready yet, but you could ask to be on the beta if that appeals to you:
https://www.audiblegenius.com

The first few lessons look like they might be frustratingly basic, but the later ones might offer something. It's step by step, anyway.

When it's ready, of course.

There's another thread around here about getting the most out of tutorials:
viewtopic.php?f=62&t=525698

Also Ask.Video and LinkedIn Learning and I expect other sites offer free 1-month trials, which might be of value to you:
https://www.ask.video/library/genre/audio
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/searc ... production

[jancivil]

Yes, you can’t swim by reading books, but without a proper instructor there is a big chance you will drown. So I think a combination for me would be good.

You are in no imminent danger of perishing by getting yourself immersed in some music; analogy fail. You choose to miss the point, fine.

all the techniques to make the structures interesting are difficult for me.
Well, you're trying to invent yourself as a writer of music out of whole cloth (or so it appears). Find music where the techniques clearly work and take notes. If you're not a self-starter in this regard, definitely get a 'proper instructor', by which I mean to say a person who will work you through some pieces of music.

But I never actually find something which is properly arranged where I could learn from step by step.
Great excuse. Learn by doing, by actual involvement*. Or don't.

You need to learn about music in some music, full stop. You'll just deceive yourself to believe otherwise. If you don't heed that, you'll be stuck right here. (*: Reading about techniques on paper or watching Youtube is easier than playing music, apparently.)

[ThomasHelzle]

Victor Wooten: "The music lesson".

Cheers,

Tom

[Proxima4]

I could suggest Michael Hewitt ‘Music theory for computer musicans’ Brilliant I own it, but can’t believe the current price on Amazon, Shocking.

However, Computer Music magazine released a magazine last month called ‘88 Music theory tips’ which was brilliant and easy to soak up if you take into considerations from others on YouTube.

I like Michael New’s music theory lessons. Easy and bite size.

Just remember one thing, there is a difference between ‘Music Theory’ and musicianship regarding keyboard playing and writing a good tune.

‘Theory’ and ‘Practice’.

[Proxima4]

Also your statement about learning from arrangements, reminds me about a technique you can use to learn by; loading a reference track you like into a DAW.

Then place markers at points where there are changes in the track and make a template set.

Here’s a version of that technique on YouTube, but there are other tutorials.