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Music Theory Primer: Part I - Page 4

Forum Index > TL Community
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CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
April 07 2013 21:21 GMT
#61
Whhhaaaat! Amazing! This is exactly like something I've been looking for. I am bookmarking and will read over the summer, and hopefully put music into a year-long project. I will of course post any music I make here. Thanks for writing this.
RoieTRS
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States2569 Posts
April 08 2013 06:54 GMT
#62
It's not impressive until you show us some kind of trick that you can explain with the theory.
Like I can be a PhD in mathematics but it won't be impressive until I can do some indepth insight for a business or something.
konadora, in Racenilatr's blog: "you need to stop thinking about starcraft or anything computer-related for that matter. It's becoming a bad addiction imo"
nimbim
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany986 Posts
April 08 2013 15:37 GMT
#63
On April 08 2013 15:54 RoieTRS wrote:
It's not impressive until you show us some kind of trick that you can explain with the theory.
Like I can be a PhD in mathematics but it won't be impressive until I can do some indepth insight for a business or something.

I don't quite get to whom you are talking about what?
Music theory has no tricks. You can only go more in-depth or decide which classical rules you don't like and ignore them.
[F_]aths
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Germany3947 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-08 17:49:40
April 08 2013 17:48 GMT
#64
On April 08 2013 15:54 RoieTRS wrote:
It's not impressive until you show us some kind of trick that you can explain with the theory.
Like I can be a PhD in mathematics but it won't be impressive until I can do some indepth insight for a business or something.

Without knowing the theory, a composition will look arbitrary to you. With knowledge, you see what the composer actually has written.

It is a bit like seeing letters versus understanding the language.

With knowledge of music, you know how to create tension and release, so you can create nice effects in your piece. You know how you can express yourself through music. It is not just writing down a melody you have in your head.
You don't choose to play zerg. The zerg choose you.
sharkeyanti
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States1273 Posts
April 08 2013 23:16 GMT
#65
Music Theory, at least from a compositional standpoint, is best seen as a tool. There are many ways to write a song, and western music theory happens to be a highly evolved thing. Another practical application for learning theory is that it helps with playing, both in a memorized and more importantly an improvisatory fashion. It also aids in learning music very quickly. If you ever have a teacher who says that theory is not essential to becoming any sort of musician, then leave him/her.
Hi Mom
RoieTRS
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States2569 Posts
April 09 2013 01:22 GMT
#66
On April 09 2013 02:48 [F_]aths wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 08 2013 15:54 RoieTRS wrote:
It's not impressive until you show us some kind of trick that you can explain with the theory.
Like I can be a PhD in mathematics but it won't be impressive until I can do some indepth insight for a business or something.

Without knowing the theory, a composition will look arbitrary to you. With knowledge, you see what the composer actually has written.

It is a bit like seeing letters versus understanding the language.

With knowledge of music, you know how to create tension and release, so you can create nice effects in your piece. You know how you can express yourself through music. It is not just writing down a melody you have in your head.

I major in music.
I can write down the fundementals of garchenspoosh but if I don't show the purpose of studying garchenspoosh you get some longwinded useless piece of info like this OP.

User was temp banned for this post.
konadora, in Racenilatr's blog: "you need to stop thinking about starcraft or anything computer-related for that matter. It's becoming a bad addiction imo"
urSa
Profile Joined July 2011
United States77 Posts
April 09 2013 04:09 GMT
#67
pretttyyyy cool...if you have time you should totally do a music theory for guitar guide :p
TangSC
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada1866 Posts
April 10 2013 02:10 GMT
#68
wow this is really well-done!
Coaching www.allin-academy.com | Team www.All-Inspiration.com
blacksheepwall
Profile Joined June 2011
China1530 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-10 14:08:08
April 10 2013 14:07 GMT
#69
This is fuckin' awesome! Thanks about a billion.
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ // </3 Taeja
SchfiftyFive
Profile Joined September 2010
United States131 Posts
April 13 2013 07:47 GMT
#70
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.
My IQ? // "Unprotected sex is like fast expanding in close positions. Its risky, but feels great when it works out" Cim9
[F_]aths
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Germany3947 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-13 12:35:44
April 13 2013 12:19 GMT
#71
On April 13 2013 16:47 SchfiftyFive wrote:
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.

In this regard I have a slight critique regarding the article. It does not tell much about how intervals sound. And why unison, octave, fifth and fourth perfect are intervals while the others come in two versions. And what the pitch relationships of those intervals are.

Of course the primer is already very large and one can guess that the next parts will be going deeper into intervals.

I like to praise the introduction into rhythm. Music is not only about which notes to play, but also when and how. Tempo and rhythm is very important.
You don't choose to play zerg. The zerg choose you.
MichaelDonovan
Profile Joined June 2011
United States1453 Posts
April 13 2013 20:18 GMT
#72
Have you considered writing textbooks? You might be able to make some money.
Deleted User 135096
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3624 Posts
April 19 2013 03:53 GMT
#73
On April 14 2013 05:18 MichaelDonovan wrote:
Have you considered writing textbooks? You might be able to make some money.

Thanks for the kind words, but I would have to do so much more work in order to feel competent in doing so, at least in this specific arena. I have occasionally mused on the idea of writing or working in other areas though where I would be considered more of an expert by my peers.

I did want to mention that I decided that I would add audio examples to this initial piece, but I'm entirely too busy at this current juncture to really tackle this properly. Hopefully sooner rather than later, but I need to attend to other tasks first.
Administrator
Uzee13
Profile Joined June 2012
United States17 Posts
April 23 2013 02:57 GMT
#74
TL Music community FIGHTING! :D
Keep calm and carry on
Uzee13
Profile Joined June 2012
United States17 Posts
April 23 2013 02:59 GMT
#75
On April 13 2013 16:47 SchfiftyFive wrote:
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.


Hey, is there a place I could message you about Full Sail? I'm considering going there for Music Production.
Keep calm and carry on
sharkeyanti
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States1273 Posts
April 23 2013 04:08 GMT
#76
On April 13 2013 16:47 SchfiftyFive wrote:
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.


If you are having trouble with intervals, I'd suggest practicing at musictheory [dot] net if you haven't already. Simple tools, just practice like 10-20 minutes a day.
Hi Mom
Deleted User 135096
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3624 Posts
April 23 2013 22:55 GMT
#77
On April 23 2013 13:08 sharkeyanti wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 13 2013 16:47 SchfiftyFive wrote:
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.


If you are having trouble with intervals, I'd suggest practicing at musictheory [dot] net if you haven't already. Simple tools, just practice like 10-20 minutes a day.

The aural skills tools are about the only thing on that website that I could honestly recommend to anyone. They are good for listening and drilling basics of interval and pitch identifications, but If you wanted to really learn theory properly they make really obvious mistakes or omit incredibly important materials all the time. Also somewhat related, I have yet to find a good online tool for drilling chord progressions as well, most are either really basic, or use bizarre progressions (substitutions, incorrect functions of chords) in tonal harmony which entirely negates any effectiveness of what it's trying to teach in the first place.
Administrator
sharkeyanti
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States1273 Posts
April 24 2013 02:21 GMT
#78
On April 24 2013 07:55 wo1fwood wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 23 2013 13:08 sharkeyanti wrote:
On April 13 2013 16:47 SchfiftyFive wrote:
As a full sail student its really nice to have so much MTH knowledge on one giant post. The full sail resources are nice but its individual sections. I struggle with intervals personally, this enlightened me a little bit. I will definetly try to spread the word to my classmates and Music Production staff as an external resource.


If you are having trouble with intervals, I'd suggest practicing at musictheory [dot] net if you haven't already. Simple tools, just practice like 10-20 minutes a day.

The aural skills tools are about the only thing on that website that I could honestly recommend to anyone. They are good for listening and drilling basics of interval and pitch identifications, but If you wanted to really learn theory properly they make really obvious mistakes or omit incredibly important materials all the time. Also somewhat related, I have yet to find a good online tool for drilling chord progressions as well, most are either really basic, or use bizarre progressions (substitutions, incorrect functions of chords) in tonal harmony which entirely negates any effectiveness of what it's trying to teach in the first place.


Agreed, use mainly for intervals. It's not something one should use to learn the whole topic. As to chord progressions, I think I've only ever had a teacher play it live for quizzes and whatnot. Again, another thing that is learned better by doing and slowly figuring out. Maybe we should just start an Oxford debate, wo1fwood.
Hi Mom
Dworkin
Profile Joined April 2011
Australia9 Posts
April 26 2013 12:39 GMT
#79
This is exactly what I have been looking for, in terms of covering the fundamental concepts and providing just the right amount of depth to maintain readability. I haven't found any on-line source of this information that is presented as well as your OP. Great work, thanks!

Any harpists on TL by any chance?
LyE
Profile Joined March 2013
United States1 Post
April 30 2013 05:40 GMT
#80
I am so impressed by this article. But also depressed cause it reminds me of Destiny. Rest in peace, valiant knight...
Queens should definitely be able to fly. How else can zerg harass mineral lines? Oh wait....nm xD
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