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Created January 13, 2013

Music Theory

HERE IS A .SNG FILE WITH A SHORT CHILLOUT IDEA IN IT http://www.mediafire.com/download/dbvjymvbqt3xr7u/Chilled_song_for_you_guys_to_get_ideas_from.sng
HERE IS A .SNG FOR A DNB DRUM BEAT
http://www.mediafire.com/download/6d61bs9aclzkbn9/DnB_beat.sng

It has come to my attention that many people on soundation don’t have a basic understanding of music theory and subsequently some of them find it hard to make there own loops, stay in a key and make nice sounding melodies. I intend to change that by helping those people get to grips with the basics, I will also be giving a few tips targeted at those who already have a good understanding and have to help really improve there musical depth, such as some really neat key changes (Key changes are barely used on soundation), chromaticism, blues notes, extended chords, countermelodies and many more,

NEW!!!!: KRackEd EkHo had the idea of having a communal account so people can see the ideas of music theory for themselves as well as getting useful ideas. the user name is ‘DusksMusicTheoryProgram@gmail.com’ and the password is ‘duskmusicuk’ feel free to add new projects and test your ideas for others to see, I’ll be putting a few things up for others to use and get ideas from. the only things you cannot do is delete projects, change the password or do anything on the community with this account, this account is purely for use in the studio. if anyone does otherwise the account will be shut down, so please obey by the rules.

The Basics:
there are 12 notes on the key board A, A-sharp/B-flat, B, C, C-sharp/D-flat, D, D-sharp/E-flat, E, F, F-sharp/G-flat, G, G-sharp/A-flat, check the link to see how these relate to the piano roll http://www.ehowtoplaypiano.com/piano-lessons/piano-notes-for-songs/
…but you only use 7 at a time because there are only seven in each key, e.g. C,D,E,F,G,A,B,© an octave is C1 to C2 as C2 is the 8th note from C1 (as there are seven in the scale)
The gap between to note directly adjacent to each other (e.g. B and C or D and D-sharp) is called a semitone, 2 semitones are called a tone (e.g. the gap between C and D is a tone, check the piano roll or link to see for yourself)

Major Keys: the pattern of these tones and semitones for a major scale is T,T,S,T,T,T,S (e.g. C,D,E,F,G,A,B,© for C major or F,G,A,B-flat,C,D,E, for F major you simply pick a major key and to work out the scale for that key you use the pattern T,T,S,T,T,T,S to find all the notes.

Minor Keys: For a natural minor Key the pattern is T,S,T,T,S,T,T but for a harmonic minor the pattern is T,S,T,T,S,T+S,S (mess around and see which you prefer), so an A (natural) minor scale would be A,B,C,D,E,F,G,(A) an A (harmonic) minor would be A,B,C,D,E,F,G-sharp,(A). check this site for more http://www.loopblog.net/tutorials/music-theory-tutorials/understanding-basic-scales-more-loop-fun/ or http://www.music-tutors-uk.com/Theory/scales.html

Basic chords: the most common chord is a triad, it has 3 notes and the have intervals of thirds (in others words they have one note in between them (from the scale of the key), e.g. in C major the notes of the scale are C,D,E,F,G,A,B so a third would be C to E or D to F) in this clip, the chord C major is played first, the first note is C, the next note is E as it is a third away (one note in between), then a G is the next as it is a third away from E this gives you C,E,G and this is how you make triads. check this clip and my comments at the beginning for a proper lesson on chords http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/the-basics-of-chords
also check these clips for more on scales and chord sequences (more to come) http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/simple-chord-sequence-in-c-major-sequence-i-v-vi-iv-1-5-6-4
http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/harmonic-minor-scales-a-minor-to-d-minor-pattern-t-s-t-t-t-s-s
http://soundation.com/user/duskmusicuk/track/major-scales-c-major-to-f-major-pattern-t-t-s-t-t-t-s

Comments

false blonde Avatar
false blonde
over 11 years ago

I have taken 7 years of formal musical training. If you ever need my help, just let me know.

Audial Avatar
Audial
over 11 years ago

you can do any modulation (key change) you want within reason, and yes f major is a closely related key, you can check by seeing if the f major chord (F,A,C) uses notes that are in the C major scale, and yes they do, so it will work, although I hope you aren't planning on using both keys at the same time, I would not advise that, you can change the key of the piece, but not use 2 keys at once. or at least that is what I would do

Kracked Ekho / illRipper Avatar
Kracked Ekho / illRipper
over 11 years ago

wow dusk your group is booming. this is a wonderful but late group. now i have a question, Am I able to combine cmajor and fmajor?

Sen-Debowski Avatar
Sen-Debowski
over 11 years ago

Just joined this group now and I am a music enthusiast not just producing or directing music but i understand the rudiments and theory which is what this group is all about right? So lets see how we can use this platform to introduce people into the essence of music and its basics, I am game to make short video tutorials only that I dont have a keyboard and or how to capture one on my computer. I am sure something can work out

Audial Avatar
Audial
over 11 years ago

...continuation... Other stuff like shakers and other percussion, risers, woops (like knife party use). I think these will be very useful to thicken out your songs textue Also I will probably compile a nice set of kickers, snares, claps, and other stuff for your house music. I may also add a few piano loops with simple harmonies, and other melodies and hamronies on other instruments, but please avoid using these as much as possible and make your own harmonies and melodies, otherwise the song isn't really yours

Audial Avatar
Audial
over 11 years ago

After I've compiled some melodies and harmonies, i was thinking about making a few loops that you guys will be able to download and use in your songs, It won't be anything too special as I want you guys to make the most important parts of your songs and only use samples to fill out the texture and add some depth, so I'll make some samples with things like vinyl sounds, crackling, scratches, and people messing around with the disk, also other fx like submarine sounds, clocks ticking, crashes, reverse cymbals, reversed piano chords, flanged/phased guitar riffs, atmospheric pads, breakdown fx,

Live_For_Music10 Avatar
Live_For_Music10
over 11 years ago

This has been flagged as inappropriate

Audial Avatar
Audial
over 11 years ago

Please bear in mind that this group is for educational purposes, not for promoting your songs

xMorris Avatar
xMorris
over 11 years ago

Hello, I'm doing a project for school and i have to write my own song, since i'm not really good at making beats. Can someone make me a beat? It has to sound a little bit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC4fdSqx6FE if someone make me one you will get credit. Pleaaaaase help x

rinzler12 Avatar
rinzler12
over 11 years ago

This has been flagged as inappropriate

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