Music Theory For Producers (This Is All You Need)
TLDRThe video teaches key music theory concepts needed to write and produce music professionally. It covers the 12 notes used in music, major and minor scales, how to build major, minor, and seventh chords, the Nashville number chord system, common chord progressions, and ways to make chord progressions more interesting by breaking music theory rules. The goal is to provide the essential music theory required to write great songs, sparking viewers' interest to potentially learn more through the instructor's paid online music production course.
Takeaways
- 😀 You only need to know a small part of music theory to write professional music
- 🎹 There are 12 notes in Western music that repeat in different octaves
- 🎵 Learn major and minor scales - they are the foundation for melodies and chords
- 🎼 Chord progressions communicate mood and tell a story without words
- 🎹 The Nashville number system allows you to easily play songs in any key
- 🎸 Basic chords are built by playing the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a scale together
- ⏯️ Spice up chords by adding 7ths, 9ths, etc for more interesting sounds
- 🎵 Learning chord progressions gives you creative freedom as a musician
- 😎 Once you know the rules, you can break them tastefully for unique effects
- 🎶 With some music theory basics, you can start making your own great songs
Q & A
What percentage of music theory does a musician need to know in order to write and produce music professionally?
-According to the script, a musician only needs to know a relatively small slice of music theory in order to write and produce music professionally. The script mentions that after 15 years of writing music and 10 years of producing, the speaker will provide the exact amount needed.
What are the 12 notes that make up all Western music?
-The 12 notes that make up all Western music are A, B, C, D, E, F, G and the black keys B flat, D flat, E flat, F sharp and A flat.
What is the difference between a half step and a whole step?
-A half step is the distance between two notes that are right next to each other, like A to B flat. A whole step is the distance between two notes that are one note away from each other, like A to B.
What is an octave in music theory?
-An octave refers to two notes that are 12 notes apart, such as A to A, but one is higher and one is lower. These notes sound the same because the higher A vibrates at twice the frequency of the lower A.
What are the simple patterns to remember for the major and minor scales?
-The major scale pattern is whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step. The minor scale pattern is whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step.
What is the Nashville number system and why is it important?
-The Nashville number system assigns a number to each note in a scale, which helps identify chords and progressions. It's important because it provides a simple shorthand for communicating chord changes, keys, and harmony among musicians.
What are the basic triad chords that accompany the major scale?
-The chords that accompany the major scale are: 1 - Major, 2 - minor, 3 - minor, 4 - Major, 5 - Major, 6 - minor.
What are some ways to make basic chords sound more interesting?
-Some ways are: adding the 7th note to make 7th chords, adding the 2nd note of the chord, adding the root and 5th notes on top of chords, using augmented and diminished chords, and borrowing chords from parallel minor/major keys.
When is it appropriate to break the rules of music theory?
-It's appropriate to break rules tastefully by using non-diatonic chords, mode mixture, and other techniques to add interest and color to chord progressions. This should be done judiciously when transitioning between sections or wanting to create a specific mood.
What concepts should a beginner start with when learning music theory?
-A beginner should start by learning the names of notes, half vs whole steps, major and minor scale patterns, triad chords, and simple chord progressions in major keys. These form the foundation before moving on to more advanced concepts.
Outlines
🎼 Learn Only the Music Theory You Absolutely NEED
The instructor explains that most music theory is unnecessary for songwriting and production. He will teach a small, essential slice that covers notes, scales, chords and chord progressions to unlock creativity.
🎹 Understanding Half Steps and Whole Steps Between Notes
The paragraph covers the 12 notes in Western music, the white and black keys on a piano. It explains the half step between adjacent notes and whole step when skipping a note, using examples on a piano.
🎵 Nashville Number System for Chords and Scales
The Nashville number system assigns a number to each note in a scale, which helps when building chords. It teaches major and minor scale patterns. Memorizing these patterns allows playing scales and writing songs in any key.
🎚 Building Chords and Chord Progressions
The instructor explains how chords are built from the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a scale, providing examples of C major and C minor chords. It then shows common chord progressions using the Nashville number system.
🎛 Spicing Up Chord Progressions
The paragraph demonstrates adding 7th and 2nd tones to chords to make them more interesting, using chord progressions as examples. It also shows adding root and 5th tones on top of chords for flavor.
😎 Breaking the Rules with Augmented & Minor Chords
After teaching music theory rules, the instructor shows how to break rules tastefully to spice things up. Examples include augmented chords, major 2 chords, and making major chords minor for emotional impact.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Music Theory
💡Scale
💡Chord
💡Chord Progression
💡Nashville Number System
💡Seven Chord
💡Two Chord
💡Augmented Chord
💡Breaking Rules
💡Transitions
Highlights
All music is made up of 12 notes - the white keys A B C D E F G and the black keys.
The distance between two notes right next to each other is a half step, and the distance between notes one note away is a whole step.
It's helpful to remember that the black notes are in sets of three and sets of two.
The C major scale is all the white notes in a row starting with C.
Learn the formula for major and minor scales, not just the scales in one key. This allows you to play scales in any key.
Chords are groups of 3 or more notes sounded together as a basis of harmony.
Major chords use the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a scale. Minor chords lower the 3rd note by a half step.
Chord progressions, melodies and lyrics tell a story with music by pulling heartstrings and setting mood.
The 1 chord is major, 2 minor, 3 minor, 4 major, 5 major and 6 minor in every key.
Refer to chords by numbers instead of names. This makes playing in different keys easy to follow.
Add 7ths, 2nds and root/5th notes on top to dress up basic chords.
Augmented chords and major 2 chords are good transitions that break music theory rules.
Making a major chord minor (like the 4 or 5 chord) tells a different story.
Making a normally minor chord major (like the 3 or 6) adds soul.
Don't feel overwhelmed. Music theory is a language that takes patience and practice.
Transcripts
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