Music Theory Basics Walkthrough

Overview

• A crash course in music theory covering the basics in 30 minutes.
• Contains exercises to internalize concepts and improve music production, songwriting, and mixing.
• Video also serves as bonus content for an online class.

What is Music Theory?

• It's the language behind music, aiding in understanding, interpreting, and communicating music.
• Helps in understanding how chords, notes, rhythms, and melodies work together.
• Can become as natural as speaking a language with practice.

Notes and Frequencies

• Sound is made from vibrations; faster vibrations = higher pitch.
• Consistent vibrations create a consistent pitch, also known as a note.
• Popular music mainly uses 12 notes, which are culturally preferred due to their harmonious relationships.

Musical Notes & Keyboard Layout

• Notes are named A through G on white piano keys.
• Black keys are sharps (higher) and flats (lower) relative to neighboring white keys.
• Notes repeat in octaves (twice the frequency).

Scales, Keys, and Intervals

• Music is built on note relationships in keys.
• Key: a set of notes that sound good together; Scale: notes played in sequence.
• Major scale pattern: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half.
  • Example: C Major scale uses all white keys on the piano.
• Numbering notes in a scale aids in understanding musical relationships.

Major and Minor Scales

• Major scales have a happy sound; Minor scales sound sad.
• Relative minor scale starts on the 6th degree of the major scale.
• Triads (3-note chords) are fundamental: root, third, and fifth.

Chords in Music

• Chords are formed by playing multiple notes simultaneously.
• Major and minor are the most common types of chords.
• Formula for chords: Major (4 then 3 semitones), Minor (3 then 4 semitones).
• Diminished chords (3 then 3) are less common.

Constructing Chord Progressions

• Chord progressions use numbered scales for flexibility across keys.
• Triads in a major scale: Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor.
• Roman numeral notation: Uppercase for major, lowercase for minor.
  • Example progression: I-V-vi-IV (1-5-6-4) in any key.

Inversions

• Inversions change the order of notes in a chord to create a different sound.
• Useful for smoother transitions in chord progressions.
• Example: C major inversion - EGC instead of CEG.

Melodies

• Melodies are sequences of notes that create the main theme or tune.
• Interaction between melody and chords involves tension and stability.
• Major pentatonic scale (excluding 4th and 7th notes) often sounds pleasing.

Rhythm and Counting

• Music is divided into measures or bars, typically 4 beats per bar.
• Notes can be whole, half, quarter, eighth, or sixteenth notes.
• Subdividing beats allows precise rhythm notations: 1-e-&-a, 2-e-&-a, etc.

Practical Exercises

1. Apply major scale formulas to different starting notes.
2. Create and identify triads in various keys.
3. Practice chord progressions using Roman numeral notation.
4. Experiment with chord inversions for smoother sound.
5. Compose melodies and explore tension and stability with chords.
6. Write rhythms using sixteen-note notation.

Conclusion

• Practice regularly and use these principles to enhance musical skills.
• Additional resources and a comprehensive course available online for further learning.