KVR Audio

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:15 am

I'd like to learn the basic musical theory behind most electronic music, but I don't want nor do I have the time to learn extensively and in details every aspects of it. I wish I could, but I study full time in another field and my brain has limits!

If there's a website I don't know of which would provide me this kind of information I'd be very happy with it. Otherwise, I'm looking for a book.

So far I have written and composed music in FL Studio going on "by ear", most of the time I'm really happy with the results, but at the same time it is a very long process, I guess if I knew music theory better I could compose more efficiently.

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:31 am

Step 1, ignore all of the negative music theory posts blasting electronic music that will probably follow.

Step 2, consider learning some piano ... it will probably help you get ideas down way more quickly

Step 3, check out some courses at macprovideo, or Groove3, etc.

http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorials/mu ... pplication

Learning to play piano (or any instrument) will become a great asset for you if you are serious about music.

Make your good luck and music by working hard

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:03 pm

billcarroll wrote:Step 1, ignore all of the negative music theory posts blasting electronic music that will probably follow.

Step 2, consider learning some piano ... it will probably help you get ideas down way more quickly

Step 3, check out some courses at macprovideo, or Groove3, etc.

http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorials/mu ... pplication

Learning to play piano (or any instrument) will become a great asset for you if you are serious about music.

Make your good luck and music by working hard

I'm going to check these videos tonight!

thanks!

HordePrime · Post by **HordePrime** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:05 pm

Do you need to know the rules of calculus in order to add up two digit numbers? No.

Do you need to know the rules of music theory in order to produce electronic music? No.

Although people like to kid themselves otherwise to make them feel important, "music theory" really applies only to a fairly narrow field of music; mostly what people call "classical" music. But the reality is, for modern "popular" styles, very little of it is actually relevant.

So if you're only interested in electronic music and so on, just do whatever you want. Who cares about the theory?!

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:41 pm

HordePrime, you don't seem to know what music theory even functions towards. It is a way to codify and describe to the next person what happens when a device has been seen to work, no matter what it is.

Three idiot analogies so far to tell people to ignore music theory. A Modus Operandi, WOOOT. You're on quite a roll!

Here's an analogy: this is like going to Production Techniques and telling people asking about how a compressor works how meaningless that is, 'it's not rocket science. just turn the knobs, stay creative'.

(not everybody needs to know how it breaks down, some people gain a lot of experience in music directly. what do you hope to gain by this anti-theory MO though.)

HordePrime · Post by **HordePrime** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:01 pm

jancivil wrote:Three idiot analogies so far to tell people to ignore music theory. A Modus Operandi, WOOOT. You're on quite a roll!

I don't think people should ignore theory. Quit the opposite in fact.
What I do think however is that "music theory" in the traditional sense is irrelevant to many modern styles of music, particularly if they are produced by amateurs in a bedroom.

Do you honestly think people need to "avoid consecutive fifths" in electronic music for example? Are tritones forbidden? Do suspensions need to be prepared? Is a fourth really a dissonance? etc.

coquillo · Post by **coquillo** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:16 pm

"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art." - Charlie "YardBird" Parker

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:34 pm

coquillo wrote:"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art." - Charlie "YardBird" Parker

this quote!

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:38 pm

Be more specific, what styles are you interested in "at the moment."

padillac · Post by **padillac** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:17 pm

There's a good set of books called Harmony / Music Theory / Composition for the Computer Musician. I found them to be very good.

about music theory not being relevant to electronic music: well you can learn it and understand why it's not relevant if that's the case, or you can remain ignorant of music theory and say it's not relevant. I know which rather side I'd be on. This is not directed at you of course since you're here asking for a book

but for others who might pop in and see the "music theory is irrelevant" comment.

HordePrime · Post by **HordePrime** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:26 pm

padillac wrote:you can learn it and understand why it's not relevant

I would suggest that learning something simply to understand why it's not relevant is not a particularly good use of one's time.

manducator · Post by **manducator** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:42 pm

The guide formerly known as Ravenspiral Guide:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... sc&start=0

Free music theory course with many references to electronic music.

padillac · Post by **padillac** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:47 pm

HordePrime wrote:
padillac wrote:you can learn it and understand why it's not relevant
I would suggest that learning something simply to understand why it's not relevant is not a particularly good use of one's time.

Dismissing it as irrelevant without investigating further is a worse error imo. I'm certain you can make good music without ever cracking a book on music theory - using your ears and brain with respect to your own music and others will get you personally satisfying results. I'm also certain that studying music theory is a reasonable thing for a musically-inclined individual to want to do. So if we concede that you don't need music theory, but a person wants to spend his/her time doing so because it's interesting and perhaps even useful, what are good resources for learning music theory?

Nanakai · Post by **Nanakai** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:55 pm

HordePrime wrote: Do you honestly think people need to "avoid consecutive fifths" in electronic music for example? Are tritones forbidden? Do suspensions need to be prepared? Is a fourth really a dissonance? etc.

Those are stylistic constraints that are described by theory, not theory itself.

Do you think that it helps to learn about and hear musical intervals? What about rhythm and meter? Key centers and resolution? There are plenty of topics that, when properly understood, will lead to better music.

HordePrime · Post by **HordePrime** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:15 pm

Nanakai wrote:Do you think that it helps to learn about and hear musical intervals? What about rhythm and meter? Key centers and resolution? There are plenty of topics that, when properly understood, will lead to better music.

Understood, perhaps. But not necessarily "studied".
So, for example, a person doesn't need to know what a "diminished fifth" is to be able to use it (or not).
A person doesn't need to know what "syncopation" means to be able to use it.
A person doesn't need to know the key signature of F# major... and so on.

By all means, study it if you want, but don't expect it to magically make you write better electronic music.
Theory is no substitute for natural ability.

Recommend me one essential music theory book for EM